Grafix Plastics: Understanding The Material And Its Uses

what kind of plastic is grafix

Grafix Plastics is a supplier of plastic film and sheets, offering a wide range of products for various applications. The company provides both commodity and specialty plastics, catering to industrial and commercial needs. Their product line includes clear and coloured polyester films, such as DuraLar and ClearLay™, as well as flexible vinyl sheets, polypropylene, and other polyolefins. Additionally, Grafix Plastics offers innovative craft plastic films for DIY enthusiasts and artists, suitable for various art techniques and printing methods. With a focus on user support and collaboration, Grafix Plastics has established itself as a key player in the plastic film industry.

Characteristics Values
Type Film and sheets
Plastic Type Polyester, Vinyl (PVC), Polyolefin, Polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP)
Thickness 0.007" to 0.010"
Size 12" x 12"
Finish Clear, frosted, coloured, hazy, translucent, glossy
Properties Acid-free, heat-resistant, waterproof, flexible, durable, electrical properties, chemical and temperature resistance
Use Cases Art, craft, document conservation, wire, cable, motor films, casting, printing, packaging, encapsulation of paper artifacts, industrial applications

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Dura-Lar Film

Grafix Dura-Lar® is a highly versatile polyester film that combines the best features of Mylar® and Acetate. It is a popular acetate alternative as it does not tear, absorb moisture, or discolour with age. Dura-Lar is available in a variety of types, including Clear, Hazy, Wet Media, Matte, Metallized, Dura-Bright, and Adhesive-Backed.

Clear Dura-Lar is an ultra-clear, glossy polyester film with a thickness ranging from .001” to .040”. It is a general-purpose film with high clarity and performance, suitable for protective coverings, layouts, colour separations, window applications, and overhead transparencies. It can also be used as an artwork surface for permanent inks and markers.

Matte Dura-Lar is a .005” film with a matte translucent drawing surface on both sides. This film is ideal for use with lead, ink, charcoal, paint, and coloured pencils, erasing cleanly, and providing an economical alternative to drafting film.

Wet Media Dura-Lar is a .004” film that is specially coated on both sides to accept water-based mediums, markers, and inks without beading, chipping, or running. It is perfect for planning painting compositions, as a painting surface, or for printmaking.

Hazy Dura-Lar is a tough, general-purpose polyester film with a hazy translucent finish. Its durability and physical and electrical properties make it suitable for applications such as wire, cable, and motor films, transfer film base, and casting.

Metallized Dura-Lar is an oriented polyester film with a thin coating of aluminium vacuum-deposited on its surface. It is well-suited for various industrial and decorative applications, including printing, packaging, POP, and display.

Dura-Bright .010” film is a strong, smooth, waterproof, and heat-resistant film available in white and black. These films can be used with various mediums and techniques, such as watercolour, alcohol inks, embossing, debossing, stamping, glitter, coloured pencils, and more.

Adhesive-Backed Dura-Lar is a .002” or .005” film with a permanent adhesive backing, making it ideal for laminating or using as a protective covering.

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Polyester film

Grafix Plastics offers a wide range of plastic film and sheet products, including polyester film. Polyester film is a type of plastic that is often referred to by the generic term "Mylar". It is a specific type of film with unique properties and applications.

One example of polyester film offered by Grafix is the Archival Grade DuraLar Polyester Film. This film is designed for the encapsulation of paper artifacts and document conservation. It is a high-clarity polymer film base that provides excellent visibility for the items being preserved.

Another variety of polyester film available from Grafix is the Clear DuraLar film. This product line offers high-performance, high-clarity polyester film at an affordable price point. Clear DuraLar film is available in a range of thicknesses and sizes, making it versatile for various applications.

Grafix also offers the Hazy DuraLar polyester film, which has a hazy translucent finish. This film is known for its durability and electrical properties, making it suitable for wire, cable, and motor film applications, among other industrial uses.

Additionally, Grafix carries the LaserPro™ family of polyester films, which have been specially coated for enhanced laser fabrication. This coating improves the efficiency of laser cutting and engraving processes, making it a popular choice for custom fabrication projects.

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Polyolefin family

Grafix Plastics offers a wide variety of plastic film and sheets for industrial, commercial, craft, and fine art applications. The company provides both commodity and specialty plastics.

Grafix Plastics is a member of the environmentally-friendly polyolefin family. Polyolefins have good electrical properties. Polyethylene (HDPE) is a well-known member of this family and is recognised for being highly environmentally friendly. HDPE requires few natural resources to produce, generates minimal waste, and is widely recycled.

Polypropylene (PP) is another member of the polyolefin family. Like HDPE, polypropylene has excellent electrical properties, as well as chemical and temperature resistance, making it ideal for many industrial applications.

Grafix Plastics offers a range of polyolefin products, including flexible vinyl sheets and films. These sheets and films are soft, flexible, and durable, making them suitable for various applications such as wire, cable, and motor films, as well as casting and transfer film bases.

The company also offers specialty products such as DuraLar, a high-clarity polyester film available in a hazy or clear finish. DuraLar is suitable for encapsulation, document conservation, and industrial and decorative applications.

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Archival and acid-free

When it comes to archival and acid-free properties, Grafix plastics offer a range of benefits for various applications, especially in the field of preservation and protection of valuable items. The acid-free nature of Grafix plastics makes them ideal for archival purposes, as they won't contribute to the degradation of the items they're intended to protect. This is especially important for documents, photographs, and works of art that need to be preserved for long periods.

Archival quality is a term used to describe products that are acid-free and safe for long-term storage of valuable items. Acid-free means that the product has a neutral pH level, typically around 7, which indicates that it is neither acidic nor alkaline. This neutral pH ensures that the product will not contribute to the deterioration of the items it comes into contact with. Over time, acidic materials can break down and cause discolouration, weakening, and even complete destruction of certain types of items.

The Grafix line of plastic products includes a variety of acid-free options that are safe for archival use. For example, their line of polyester films, often referred to by their brand name, is well-known for its archival-safe properties. Polyester film is chemically and dimensionally stable, meaning it won't react with other materials and will maintain its shape and integrity over time, making it perfect for protecting documents, photographs, and delicate artefacts.

Another acid-free plastic option offered by Grafix could be their line of inert and stable plastic sheets, known for their durability and archival qualities. These sheets can be used to create protective enclosures, ensuring that valuable items are preserved and protected from handling, light, and environmental factors.

The use of archival and acid-free plastics is crucial for preserving historical items, and Grafix plastics offer reliable solutions for archival settings. Their products ensure that treasured items are protected, and the integrity of the artefacts is maintained for the long term. Choosing the right type of plastic with these qualities is essential for successful preservation.

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Vinyl sheets

Grafix Plastics offers a wide variety of vinyl sheets and films, which are also referred to as polyvinyl chloride or PVC. Vinyl is a thermoplastic material, which means it can be reprocessed using heat and made into a broad range of formats.

The company's own registered trademark for vinyl film is Clear-Lay™, which is produced through calendaring or forced extrusion. Clear-Lay vinyl sheets are made of rigid PVC, which contains no plasticizers, giving the sheets a relatively hard texture.

Grafix also offers flexible vinyl sheets, which are soft and can be easily worked with. These sheets are loaded with plasticizers, which make them adhere to ultra-smooth surfaces. Flexible vinyl sheets have a targeted softness, which is referred to as "Hand" in the vinyl industry.

Another variety of vinyl sheets offered by Grafix is the Static Cling Vinyl, which is a soft, polished, flexible vinyl that acts as an alternative to adhesive films. This type of vinyl sheet clings to most smooth, glossy surfaces such as glass, smooth plastic, and shiny metal. It can be easily removed without leaving any residue, making it ideal for temporary applications like signs, decals, window graphics, and decorative projects.

Overall, Grafix Plastics provides a diverse range of vinyl sheets with varying characteristics, finishes, and applications to suit different customer needs.

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Frequently asked questions

Grafix Plastics offers a large variety of specialty and commodity plastic film and sheets.

Grafix offers specialty plastic film such as vellum, transfer paper, shrink film, and polyester and vinyl films in clear, frosted, and coloured varieties.

Some examples of commodity plastic film offered by Grafix include DuraLar Polyester Film, ClearLay, and flexible vinyl sheets.

The thickness of Grafix plastic film varies depending on the product. For example, their Ultra Clear Craft Plastic Film is 0.007" thick, while their Opaque Craft Plastic Film is 0.010" thick.

Grafix plastic film is durable, flexible, acid-free, and heat-resistant, making it suitable for various applications such as DIY crafts, fluid art, and industrial uses.

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