Plastic film and sheets FAQ

Can acetate film and sheets be recycled?  Yes it can, right along with paper, because it is a polymer made from wood pulp and cotton linters. There is no specific recycling symbol for acetate polymer.  So feel free to recycle it with any of your paper products.

Does acetate film and sheets resist tearing? Yes, in one direction. It’s very hard to tear acetate film in the direction perpendicular to the unwind direction.  Acetate will tear very easily in the unwind direction.

Is our acetate film and sheets biodegradable? Yes, it is. Acetate is made from cotton linters and wood pulp. So when put under conditions like composting, it will break down. Check out the spec sheet on our acetate film for more details.

Additionally, our acetate film and sheets can be recycled with paper.

Does acetate film and sheet products have good insulation properties? Yes. But not as good as those of polyester film products. Acetate is not as heat- resistant as polyester film, but holds up very well in cold temperatures.

Do Acetate film and sheets have good electrical properties? No, mostly because of acetate’s low melting point. Because electricity generates heat, you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures. For electrical applications, we recommend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Are acetate film and sheet approved for direct and indirect skin contact? Although acetate is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Are our acetate film and sheet products approved for food contact? Yes! This entire product line is suitable for use in con-tact with foodstuffs. It complies with FDA, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 (revised April 1995). Need us to provide a certification? No problem. Just let us know when you contact us to discuss your requirements.

Is acetate suitable for outdoor use? No. We do not recommend using acetate outside, especially for extended durations, because, over time, acetate film tends to swell and shrink with changes in atmospheric humidity. Also, long term exposure to sunlight will eventually cause it to yellow and become brittle. For very short term use (a few days), it should be alright, but beyond that, we can’t recommend its use outdoors. The best products that we stock for outdoor use are HDPE and polypropylene.

What is the heat resistance of Acetate film and sheets? Acetate starts to soften at 100C/210F. The film will soften very evenly which makes Acetate ideal for thermoforming and heat sealing application.

If you need an excellent high clarity film that is more heat resistant than acetate, please checkout our Clear DuraLar film and sheet products.

Is Acetate an archival grade film? Yes! A pH neutral film, Acetate is breathable, which means it will allow air and moisture to pass through it, making it ideal for storage applications. It will not outgas materials and it can be welded to itself.  It is also a clarity film, with optical transmission > 90% and very low haze.
Looking for a good “archival” grade film that is more of a barrier? Try our Archival Duralar™ product line,which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

We do not recommend using Acetate for long term outdoor applications.  Stock versions of this film do not contain any UV inhibitors, so when exposed to UV rays over long periods, the film will become brittle and lose its properties.  Temporary exposure should not pose significant problems.  For longer term outdoor exposure applications, you may want to consider some of our other film products such as HDPE and Polypropylene sheets.  Please contact a sales rep for additional information.

Acetate film is not designed specifically to be printed.  However, it can be Screen Printed, Pad Printed, Thermal Printed and Commercial Inkjet printed (Solvent, UV and EcoSolvent inks).  It may work with offset lithography or flexographic methods but it will depend on your ink systems.  We recommend that you contact your ink vendor to see what types of inks can be used with Acetate.  We can provide samples to have ink draws and tests done by your ink vendor.   If you're looking for digitally printable films, please check out our ComputerGrafix section.

Can any of our Vinyl film or sheets products be recycled? Yes it can, as long as it’s recycled with other PVC resin materials.  ClearLay, Flexible Vinyl, and Grafix Cling Film can all be recycled with materials that have this symbol on them.

Does ClearLay™ viny film and sheets resist tearing? Yes, it does. ClearLay offers quite a bit of durability as well. You know that annoying clamshell packaging that is so hard to tear? That’s ClearLay.

For more information, contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our PVC - Vinyl based film and sheets biodegradable? No, they are not. The only bio-degradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does ClearLay™ vinyl film have good insulation properties? Yes, at colder temperatures. Like other vinyl polymers, ClearLay is not very resistant to high temperatures, but it excels in low tempera-ture applications. ClearLay can be cooled down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and still maintain its properties.

Does Clearlay™ vinyl film and sheets have good electrical properties? No, mostly because of ClearLay’s low melting point. Because electricity generates heat, you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures. For electrical applications, we recommend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Is ClearLay™ vinyl film and sheets approved for direct and indirect skin contact? Although ClearLay is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Are ClearLay™ vinyl film and sheets food-safe? No. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger pro-duction minimums may apply.

What is the heat resistance of ClearLay vinyl film and sheets? ClearLay starts to soften at 85C/180F. The film will soften very evenly, which makes it the perfect film for thermoforming, blister packaging, and clam shell packaging.

If you need an excellent high clarity film that is more heat resistant than ClearLay, please check out our Clear DuraLar™ film and sheet products.

Is ClearLay™ vinyl film and sheets archival? No. Over a very long time, PVC, including ClearLay, can get brittle and break down. Even though our ClearLay product is pH neutral, and can be easily welded to itself, it can out gas materials. We can not recommend this product for long term archival storage solutions.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you need a good, long term, “archival” grade film, try our Archival Dural™r product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

We do not recommend using our stock ClearLay vinyl film and sheets for outdoor applications.  Although they may be suitable for short term projects, they not geared to tolerate extreme temperatures or sunlight.  Long term exposure to the elements can cause the material to yellow, become brittle or turn hazy. The best product that we stock for outdoor use is HDPE and Polypropylene.  However, it is possible for us to custom source formations of Vinyl that is designed to last outdoors for a specific period of time.  Many outdoor sign materials are made out of vinyl designed to last 5 years or more.  Please contact us for more information.

Can DuraLar be thermoformed? Not really, we can not recommend any of our grades of Duralar for thermoforming applications.  Because of it's higher heat tolerance, and bi-axial crystaline structure, it is not the best choice for thermoforming applications.  It's not impossible but we don't know many folks using DuraLar for this application.

Check out some of our other plastic film and sheet products which are better suited for thermoforming.

We can also provide PET/G, Nylon, ABS, and other thermoformable plastic sheeting on a custom basis.

Please contact us today so we can help you find the material you need for thermoforming.

Our experts are ready to help make your job easy! Please contact us with your requirements today by clicking start an inquiry.

Is DuraLar Biodegradable? No. None of our grades of Duralar polyester film is biodegradable! Although it can be recycled through a variety of recycling processes. At Grafix Plastics, we take your polyester film scraps and recycle it, thus avoiding landfill.

If you looking for a biodegradable film, check out:

Contact us for more help on locating a material that works right for you. Please contact us with your requirements today by starting an inquiry.

Duralar is not certified for contact with food. Grafix stocks other products that are FDA certified such as Acetate, Specific Grades of Polyester Film, HDPE & Polypropylene. Other food safe films are available to special order but will be subject to larger production minimums. Contact us today with your requirements, and let us try and help you locate what you need.

Is Clear DuraLar suitable for outdoor use? In the short term (less than 1 year), yes. For more than that, we do not recommend using Duralar for long term outdoor exposure. Long term exposure to the elements can cause the film to yellow, become brittle or turn hazy. The longer DuraLar stays outside, exposed to UV, the more can loose it's properties.

DuraLar can be custom manufactured to be UV resistant, however, production quantity minimum orders will apply.

The best Plastic Film products that we stock for outdoor use is HDPE and Polypropylene.

Our experts are ready to help make your job easy! Please contact us with your requirements today by starting an inquiry.

Yes, Archival DuraLar™ film can be recycled, as long as it’s recycled with other polyester resin materials that have the PETE recycling symbol.

Do any of  our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand and others, resist tearing? Yes, they do. Polyester film is one of the most tear-resistant materials we offer.

For more information on how DuraLar can work for your particular application, please contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand, and others, biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does Archival DuraLar™ film and sheets have good insulation properties? Yes, because of its combination of thermal and barrier properties. As a matter of fact, all polyester films have very good insulation properties. If you’re looking for a product that is optimized for insulation applications, try our Metallized DuraLar™ film products.

Does Archival DuraLar™ film and sheets have good electrical properties? Yes! Archival DuraLar’s combination of resistive, thermal and chemical properties make it an excellent archival film to be used in direct and indirect applications. For more demanding electrical applications like wiring, motor windings, driver electronics, and circuit board construction, our Hazy DuraLar™ is optimized for electrical applications, and is certified to UL VTM-2 electrical standards.

Please see the Archival and Hazy DuraLar spec sheets for specifics.

Is Archival DuraLar™ certified for direct and indirect skin contact? Although Archival DuraLar is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Is Archival DuraLar™ approved for direct food contact? No. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are, includ-ing acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger production minimums may apply.

Is Archival Duralar™ suitable for outdoor use? No! Over time, UV light will cause the film to turn yellow and become brittle.
If you do have a need for some type of material to provide outdoor protection, please contact us to discuss your requirements.

What is the heat resistance of Archival DuraLar™? Archival DuraLar will begin to soften at about 150C/300F. When DuraLar softens, it begins to lose its orientation; it gets wavy and begins to shrink. So if your film will only be exposed to a heat environment below 150C/300F, archvial DuraLar is a good choice.

Need to thermoform? Polyester films like archvial DuraLar don’t thermoform too well because of their crystalline structure. Try our Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene sheets and film for your thermoforming applications.

Can Clear DuraLar™ polyester film and sheets be recycled? Yes it can, as long as it’s recycled with other polyester resin materials. Clear DuraLar™ polyester film and sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have this symbol.

Do any of  our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand and others, resist tearing? Yes, they do. Polyester film is one of the most tear-resistant materials we offer.

For more information on how DuraLar can work for your particular application, please contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand, and others, biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does Clear DuraLar™ polyester film and sheets have good insulation properties? Yes, because of its combination of thermal and barrier properties. As a matter of fact, all polyester films have very good insulation properties. If you need a product that is optimized for insulation applications, check out our Metallized DuraLar™ film products.

Does Clear DuraLar™ film and sheets have good electrical properties? Yes! Clear DuraLar’s combination of resistive, thermal and chemical properties make it an excellent clear film to be used in direct and indirect electrical applications. For more demanding electrical applications like wiring, motor windings, driver electronics, and circuit board construction, our Hazy DuraLar is optimized for electrical applications, and is certified to UL VTM-2 electrical standards.
Please see the Clear and Hazy DuraLar spec sheets for specifics.

Is Clear DuraLar™ film and sheets certified for direct and indirect skin contact? Although Clear DuraLar is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.  Need polyester film that is certified for direct skin contact?  Let us know and we can source that for you.  Minimum order requirements will apply.

Is Clear DuraLar™ approved for direct food contact? No. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger production minimums may apply.

Is Clear DuraLar™  film and sheets suitable for outdoor use? For less than one year? Yes. For longer term exposure? No. Long term exposure to the outdoors, especially to ultraviolet light, can cause the Clear DuraLar to yellow, become brittle, and turn hazy. Clear DuraLar can be custom manufactured to be UV resistant; production quantity minimums will apply to your order.
For film and sheets that perform better under longer term out-door or UV exposure conditions, check out our HDPE and polypropylene sheets.

What is the heat resistance of Clear DuraLar? Clear DuraLar will begin to soften at about 150C/300F. When DuraLar softens, it begins to lose its orientation; it gets wavy and begins to shrink.

Need to thermoform? Polyester films like Clear DuraLar don’t thermoform too well because of their crystalline structure. Try our Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene sheets and film for your thermoforming applications.

Is Clear DuraLar™ archival? Yes and no. There are three aspects that go into determining whether a polyester film is actually archival grade: 1- whether it is pH neutral, 2- whether or not the film will impact what it comes in contact with, and 3- whether it can be sonically welded to itself. Clear DuraLar is pH neutral, and will not stick or transfer to other surfaces. Unfortunately, it is not treated so that it may be sonic-ally welded to itself.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you only need a high clarity, pH neutral film, Clear DuraLar is an excellent choice. If you also need to sonically weld the film, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

Yes they can – as long as they are recycled with other polyester resin materials. Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film and sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have the PETE recycling symbol.

Do any of  our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand and others, resist tearing? Yes, they do. Polyester film is one of the most tear-resistant materials we offer.

For more information on how DuraLar can work for your particular application, please contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand, and others, biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Do Hazy DuraLar™ film and sheets have good insulation properties? Yes, due to Duralar's combination of thermal and barrier properties. As a matter of fact, all polyester films have very good insulation properties. If you’re looking for a product that is optimized for insulation applications, your best bet is Metallized DuraLar film.

Does Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film have good electrical properties? Yes! Its combination of resistive, thermal, and chemical properties make it an excellent film to be used in direct and indirect electrical ap-plications, like wiring, motor windings, driver electronics, and circuit board construction. It is also certified to UL VTM-2 flame resistance standards.

Is Hazy DuraLar™ film and sheets approved for direct skin contact? Although Hazy DuraLar is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.
None of our stock films have this certification, however we can source an appropriate film for this sort of application, if need be.
Contact us today with your requirements, and let us try and help you locate what you need.

Is Hazy DuraLar™ approved for direct food contact? No. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger production minimums may apply.

Is Hazy DuraLar™ film and sheets suitable for outdoor use? It depends on how long you plan to use it outdoors. For less than one year? Yes, Hazy DuraLar is suitable for outdoor use. For longer term exposure? No. Long-term exposure to the outdoor elements, especially UV light, can cause Hazy DuraLar to yellow, and become brittle. Hazy DuraLar can be custom manufactured to be UV-resistant; production quantity minimums will apply
For a product that holds up well for the long term under outdoor conditions, or UV exposure, check out our HDPE and polypropylene sheets.

What is the heat resistance of Hazy DuraLar™ film and sheets. Hazy DuraLar will begin to soften at about 150C/300F. When DuraLar softens, it begins to lose its orientation; it gets wavy and begins to shrink. So if your film will only be exposed to a heat environment below 150C/300F, Hazy DuraLar is a good choice.

Need to thermoform? Polyester films like Hazy DuraLar don’t thermoform too well because of their crystalline structure. Try our Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene sheets and film for your thermoforming applications.

Is Hazy DuraLar™ archival? Yes and no. There are three aspects that go into determining whether a polyester film is actually archival grade: 1- whether it is pH neutral, 2- whether or not the film will impact what it comes in contact with, and 3- whether it can be sonically welded to itself. Hazy DuraLar is a pH neutral polyester film that will not stick or transfer to other surfaces. However, it is not treated so that it may be sonically welded to itself. Further Hazy DuraLar is a translucent film, and generally high clarity films are used in archival applications.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you only need a pH neutral film, Hazy DuraLar is an excellent choice. If you also need to sonically weld the film, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

Can Metallized DuraLar™ polyester film be recycled?  No, not in the traditional sense. The metallized coating on this film is a contaminant that will fowl up the recycling process.

Do any of  our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand and others, resist tearing? Yes, they do. Polyester film is one of the most tear-resistant materials we offer.

For more information on how DuraLar can work for your particular application, please contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand, and others, biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does Metallized DuraLar™ reflective film have good insulation properties? Yes! Its combination of thermal and barrier properties make it an excellent film for many thermal insulation applications. Its metal coating also acts as a barrier enhancement, while reflecting in-frared radiation. All polyester films have very good insulation properties; Metallized DuraLar takes that performance to the next level.

Does Metallized DuraLar™ film have good electrical properties? Depending on what electrical properties you need. Metallized DuraLar is made from our Clear DuraLar base film. So the film itself has excellent resistive electrical properties (acting as an insulator). The metal-coated side of the film is very conductive. With Metallized DuraLar you get the best of both worlds.  If that’s what you want.

Is Metallized DuraLar™ film approved for direct skin contact? Although Metallized DuraLar is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Is Metallized DuraLar™ approved for direct food contact? No, it is not. Grafix regularly carries other types of film products that are approved, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Unfortunately most of these materials are available with a metallized coating. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger pro-duction minimums may apply.

Is Metallized Duralar™ suitable for outdoor use? No. If sub-jected to sun and rain, the aluminum metal level on top of the film will corrode and fade quickly. This is not an appropriate film for outdoor use.

Looking for film products that perform well under longer term outdoor or UV exposure? Check out our HDPE and Polypropylene product pages.

What is the heat resistance of Metallized DuraLar™ film and sheets? Metallized DuraLar will begin to soften at about 150C/300F. When Metallized DuraLar softens, it begins to lose its orientation; the metal coating will crack, and the film gets wavy and begins to shrink. So if your film will only be exposed to a heat environment below 150C/300F, Metallized DuraLar is a good choice.

Need to thermoform? Polyester films like Metallized DuraLar don’t thermoform too well because of their crystalline structure. Try our Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene sheets and film for your thermoforming applications.

Is Metallized DuraLar™ archival? No. There are three aspects that go into determining whether a polyester film is actually archival grade: 1- whether it is pH neutral, 2- whether or not the film will impact what it comes in contact with, and 3- whether it can be sonically welded to itself. Metallized DuraLar is a pH neutral polyester film that will not stick or transfer to other surfaces. However, metallized DuraLar is not treated so that it may be sonically welded to itself, and its aluminum metal coating will oxidize over time.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you need a good archival grade film, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

Can any of our Vinyl film or sheets products be recycled? Yes it can, as long as it’s recycled with other PVC resin materials.  ClearLay, Flexible Vinyl, and Grafix Cling Film can all be recycled with materials that have this symbol on them.

Does flexible PVC film resist tearing? Sort of. Flexible PVC film will stretch quite a bit before it breaks.For more information, contact us with your requirements

Are any of our PVC - Vinyl based film and sheets biodegradable? No, they are not. The only bio-degradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does flexible PVC film and sheets have good insulation properties? Yes. Flexible PVC is a vinyl polymer. It’s not as resistant to high temperatures, but it excels in low temperature applications. In fact, vinyl films are widely used in refrigeration units.

Does flexible PVC film have good electrical properties? No, mostly because of its low melting point. Electricity generates heat, and you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures to keep it from melting. For electrical applications, we recommend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Is flexible vinyl ( PVC ) film approved for direct and indirect skin contact? Although flexible PVC is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Are flexible PVC (vinyl) film and sheets food-safe? No. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are food-safe, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger production minimums may apply.

Are flexible PVC film and sheets suitable for outdoor applications? No! Although they may be suitable for some shorter term outdoor projects, they do not tolerate high temperatures or excessive exposure to UV light. Long term exposure to the elements can cause the material to yellow, become brittle or turn hazy.

The best products we stock for outdoor use are HDPE and polypropylene. However, it is possible for us to custom source formations of vinyl designed to last outdoors for a specific period of time. Many outdoor sign materials are made out of vinyl designed to last five years or more: Please contact us for more information.

What is the heat resistance of flexible PVC film and sheets? Flexible PVC film starts to soften at 60C/140F. This is due to its plasticizer content. The softer the film, the more plasticizer, the lower temp it melts at. So if your film will only be exposed to a heat environment below 60C/140F, flexible PVC film is a good choice.

If you need a great film that will resist more heat than that, virtually all of our other plastic film products have a higher softening point. Check out DuraLar, Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene film and sheet products.

Is Flexible PVC film archival? No. Flexible PVC film is loaded with plasticizers, to make the PVC soft and flexible. These plasticizers can outgas from the film over time, making Flexible PVC inappropriate as a long term archival storage solution.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you need a good archival grade film, try our <Link: Archival Duralar product line>,which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

The term "Hand" is used to describe how something feels to the human touch.  The term is widely used in the fabric industry, but with respect to Vinyl Film and Vinyl Sheets, it means how hard or soft the Vinyl Film or Vinyl Sheets are.

Descriptions of different "Hand" ratings:

For more information on Flexible Vinyl Film and Sheets, please contact us today!

We do not recommend using our flexible vinyl film and sheets for outdoor applications.  Although they may be suitable for short term projects, they not geared to tolerate extreme temperatures or sunlight.  Long term exposure to the elements can cause the material to yellow, become brittle or turn hazy. The best product that we stock for outdoor use is HDPE and Polypropylene.  However, it is possible for us to custom source formations of Vinyl that is designed to last outdoors for a specific period of time.  Many outdoor sign materials are made out of vinyl designed to last 5 years or more.  Please contact us for more information.

Can any of our Vinyl film or sheets products be recycled? Yes it can, as long as it’s recycled with other PVC resin materials.  ClearLay, Flexible Vinyl, and Grafix Cling Film can all be recycled with materials that have this symbol on them.

Does Cling vinyl film resist tearing? Sort of. Cling PVC film will stretch quite a bit before it breaks.  See the elongation specification under the specs tab of the product sheet.

Are any of our PVC - Vinyl based film and sheets biodegradable? No, they are not. The only bio-degradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Does Cling PVC vinyl film have good insulation properties? Yes. Cling PVC film is a vinyl polymer. It’s not as resistant to high temperatures as polyester films, but vinyl excels in low temperature applications. In the case of Cling, it is possible that extreme low temperatures could cause the film to loose its “tack” and become less sticky. But that should not affect its insulation properties.

Does Cling vinyl film have good electrical properties? No, mostly because of Cling PVC’s low melting point. Electricity generates heat, and you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures because of that low melting point. For electrical applications, we recommend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Is Cling vinyl film approved for direct and indirect skin contact? Although Cling vinyl is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Is Cling vinyl film food-safe? No, they are not. Grafix stocks other types of film products that are, including acetate, specific brands and grades of polyester film, HDPE and polypropylene. Other types food-safe films are available as a custom order; larger production minimums may apply.

Is Cling vinyl film suitable for outdoor applications? No!  Although it may be suitable for some shorter term outdoor projects, it does not tolerate high temperatures or exposure to excessive UV light. Long term exposure to the elements can cause the material to yellow, become brittle, or turn hazy. The best products we stock for outdoor use are HDPE and polypropylene. However, it is possible for us to custom source formations of vinyl that are designed to last outdoors for a specific period of time. Many outdoor sign materials are made out of vinyl designed to last five years or more: Please contact us for more information.

What is the heat resistance of Grafix Cling vinyl film? Cling PVC film starts to soften at 60C/140F. This is due to its high plasticizer content. The softer the film, the more plasticizer, the lower temp it melts at. So if your film will only be exposed to a heat environment below 60C/140F, Cling PVC film is a good choice.

If you need a great film that will resist more heat than that, virtually all of our other plastic film products have a higher softening point. Check out DuraLar, Clearlay, Acetate, HDPE and Polypropylene film and sheet products.

Is Cling vinyl film archival? No. Cling PVC film is loaded with plasticizers, to make the PVC soft and flexible. These plasticizers can outgas from the film over time, making Cling PVC inappropriate for long term archival storage.

How will you be using this film in an archival application? If you need a good archival grade film for your long term storage needs, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

We do not recommend using our stock Static Cling for outdoor applications.  Although it may be suitable for short term projects, it is not geared to tolerate extreme temperatures or sunlight.  Long term exposure to the elements can cause the film to yellow, become brittle and crack or turn hazy.   Moisture will interrupt the bond between the film and the surface.  There are specialty static cling films that can be special ordered to help prolong the life of the film in outdoor applications.  Larger production minimums will apply.  Contact us today to discuss your project.

Our stock Static Cling vinyl sheets are not compatible for printing.  Specific grades of static cling film are available for specific types of printing such as Screen Printing, and Offset Lithography.  The only digital printing grades of cling film that are available are for inkjet printing and other low print methods.  If you’re looking to print on static cling, please contact us to discuss your specific needs

Can HDPE sheets be recycled?  Yes they can, as long as they are recycled with other HDPE resin materials. HDPE sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have this symbol.

Do HDPE sheets resist tearing? Sort of.  All Polyolefin sheets will stretch a bit before they break.

Are our HDPE and Polypropylene sheets biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Do HDPE sheets have good insulation properties? Yes, but not as good as those of polyester film products. Because HDPE is a polyethylene polymer, it’s not as heat-resistant as polyester film. Where HDPE excels is in low temperature applications. HDPE can be cooled down to -100 degrees Fahrenheit without becoming brittle.

Do HDPE and Polypropylene sheets have good electrical properties? No. Electricity generates heat, but because of polyolefin’s low melting point, you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures. For electrical applications, we recom-mend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Are HDPE sheets approved for direct and indirect skin contact? Although HDPE is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Are our HDPE and polypropylene sheet products approved for food contact? Yes! This entire product line is suitable for use in contact with foodstuffs. It complies with FDA, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 (revised April 1995). We can even provide certification to this effect; just let us know you need one when you contact us to discuss your requirements further.

Are HDPE sheets suitable for outdoor use? Yes they are. HDPE is a stable polymer material for outdoor use. It does not, however, have a specific life time rating. Product life time will vary with the outdoor conditions to which the film is exposed.

What is the heat resistance of HDPE sheets? HDPE starts to soften at 70C / 128F. The film will soften very evenly, which makes HDPE ideal for thermoforming, bending, and heat sealing applications.

Are HDPE sheets archival? Not really. These materials are pH neutral, and are the most UV-stable materials we stock. But because these materials are thicker sheets and not glass clear, there is no demand for this material in archival applications, so they have not been tested or certified for archival properties.

If you need a good all-around archival grade film, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

HDPE sheets are compatible with screen printing and offset-lithography.  Before you attempt to print on this type of material please contact your ink vendor to see what types of inks can be used with HDPE sheets.  We can even provide you with sample sheets of material, that you can then have your ink vendor analyze to determine the best ink systems to work with your process.  This material is NOT printable by digital methods, especially PPC/Laser printing.  Further, inkjet ink, unless it's solvent ink, with not stick to the surface of this film.  Contact us today with your printing requirements so we can help you get the material you need.

Yes, Mylar^® brand,  DuraLar™,  and other polyester film and sheets can be recycled, as long as it’s recycled with other polyester resin materials.  Uncoated, unlaminated, polyester film and sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have this symbol.

Do any of  our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand and others, resist tearing? Yes, they do. Polyester film is one of the most tear-resistant materials we offer.

For more information on how DuraLar can work for your particular application, please contact us with your requirements.

Are any of our polyester film and sheet based products, such as DuraLar, Mylar^® brand, and others, biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

There are very specific grades of Mylar^® brand, and other branded Polyester Film, that are certified for contact with food.  Those need to be sourced on a specific custom basis.  Grafix stocks other products that are FDA certified such as Acetate, Specific Grades of Polyester Film, HDPE & Polypropylene.  Other food-safe films are available to special order but will be subject to larger production minimums.  Please contact us today to discuss your requirements.

Mylar^® brand is not certified as biodegradable, although it can be recycled through a variety of recycling processes. We stock Acetate Film and Sheets, which are 100% biodegradable and environmently friendly.  Contact us to discuss your biodegradability needs today.

We do not recommend using Mylar^® brand (polyester film) for outdoor applications.  Although it may be suitable for short term projects, it is not geared to tolerate sunlight over long periods of time.  Long term exposure to the elements can cause the film to yellow, become brittle or turn hazy. The best product that we stock for outdoor use is HDPE and Polypropylene.   It is possible to custom manufacture Mylar^® brand (polyester film) with UV inhibitors on a custom basis, but steep minimum orders will kick in.  Contact us today to discuss your requirements for outdoor films.

Yes, Mylar^® brand,  DuraLar™,  and other polyester film and sheets can be recycled, as long as it’s recycled with other polyester resin materials.  Uncoated, unlaminated, polyester film and sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have this symbol.

Polyester film, is a polymer resin of the polyester family. Sometimes known as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), it is also commonly referred to by some trademarked brand names such as Mylar^® brand, Melinex ^®, and Grafix’s own DuraLar™. Polyester is the polymer name, and Mylar^® et al are brand names, for essentially the same thing. Check out our DuraLar and other Polyester Film pages for more information.

Can polypropylene sheets be recycled? Yes they can, as long as they’re recycled with other polypropylene resin materials. Polypropylene sheets can be recycled with any other materials that have this symbol.

Do Polypropylene sheets resist tearing? Sort of. All Polyolefin sheets will stretch a bit before they break.

Are our HDPE and Polypropylene sheets biodegradable? No, they are not. The only biodegradable film product we offer is acetate film and sheets.

Do polypropylene sheets (PP) have good insulation properties? Yes, but not as good as those of polyester film products. PP sheets are not as heat-resistant, but hold up very well in cold temperatures.

Do HDPE and Polypropylene sheets have good electrical properties? No. Electricity generates heat, but because of polyolefin’s low melting point, you want to keep this material away from elevated temperatures. For electrical applications, we recom-mend our Hazy DuraLar™ polyester film products.
Please contact us today and we can help you with your requirements.

Are polypropylene sheets approved for direct skin contact? Although polypropylene is perfectly safe for direct and indirect skin contact, it is not certified as such.

Are our HDPE and polypropylene sheet products approved for food contact? Yes! This entire product line is suitable for use in contact with foodstuffs. It complies with FDA, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21 (revised April 1995). We can even provide certification to this effect; just let us know you need one when you contact us to discuss your requirements further.

Are polypropylene sheets suitable for outdoor use? Yes! Polypropylene is a stable material under outdoor conditions. It does not, however, have a specific life time rating; product life time will vary with the outdoor conditions to which the film is exposed.

What is the heat resistance of polypropylene sheets (PP)? Polypropylene starts to soften at 70C/1580F. The film will soften very evenly, which makes HDPE ideal for thermoforming, bending, and heat sealing applications.

Are Polypropylene sheets archival? Not really. These materials are pH neutral, and are the most UV-stable materials we stock. But because these materials are thicker sheets and not glass clear, there is no demand for this material in archival applications, so they have not been tested or certified for archival properties.

If you need a good all-around archival grade film, try our Archival Duralar™ product line, which meets the Library of Congress’ specifications for archival polyester film.

Polypropylene sheets are compatible with screen printing and offset-lithography.  Before you attempt to print on this type of material please contact your ink vendor to see what types of inks can be used with Polypropylene sheets.  We can even provide you with sample sheets of material, that you can then have your ink vendor analyze to determine the best ink systems to work with your process.  This material is NOT printable by digital methods, especially PPC/Laser printing.  Further, inkjet ink, unless it's solvent ink, with not stick to the surface of this film.  Contact us today with your printing requirements so we can help you get the material you need.