UHMW is often compared to PTFE, in relation to their low coefficient of friction or “how slippery the surface is”. PTFE is more slippery than UHMW, and has better thermal and electrical properties. However, for applications that require both a slippery surface with wear and abrasion resistance, UHMW is utilized as a more economical and durable polymer.
UHMW is often compared to PTFE, in relation to their low coefficient of friction or “how slippery the surface is”. PTFE is more slippery than UHMW, and has better thermal and electrical properties. However, for applications that require both a slippery surface with wear and abrasion resistance, UHMW is utilized as a more economical and durable polymer.
UHMW (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) plastic is a highly abrasion, impact, and wear resistant plastic with a low coefficient of friction. These performance properties make UHMW ideal for applications that require surface protection, sound dampening, or a quick solution to eliminate squeaks or rattles caused by adjacent movement. UHMW can be used in several different industries and in the most unique applications. UHMW Polyethylene can be produced into rods, rectangles, sheets, molded parts, thin gauge films, or adhesive backed tape products. CS Hyde is a supplier and converter of UHMW Film & Adhesive Backed UHMW in natural and black anti-static types.
Think of the noun convert- it is defined as “a change in form.” At CS Hyde we have in-house converting capabilities that enable us to change the “form” of standard polyimide roll products to produce custom width rolls, sheets, and specialty die cut parts.
Polyimide is manufactured in plastic film, sheets, adhesive tape, or extruded parts. CS Hyde is a distributor of DuPont® Kapton® Polyimide films and Kapton® adhesives tapes. Depending on your application we also supply different types of polyimide tapes and film with additional additives for application specific properties like Electrostatic dissipation (ESD), or thermal insulation.
Kapton® or polyimide is an amber colored polymer plastic founded by E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company in the 1960’s. Kapton® is widely known for its high temperature resistance, dielectric strength, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance. These properties make Kapton® a performance polymer commonly used in the electronics and aerospace industry.
Due to the current pandemic clear performance plastics are in high demand for use in the production of clear plastic face shields or Sneeze Guards. In the beginning these face shields were being produced for nurses and doctors on the front line, to provide any extra layer of protection over their face mask. In concept, these face shields are worn to prevent individuals from touching their face and provide a moisture resistant barrier from airborne particles. In response to the unforeseen future many more industries could be implementing these face shields as a uniform requirement. For instance, dentistry, food packaging, food service, mail carriers, child care centers, or any job or service that requires point of purchase situations or jobs that cannot be done at a social distance. Contact sports like football or lacrosse could also be soon implementing these protective face shields. Below is a guide for material tips and technologies used to manufacture clear plastic face shields and sneeze guards.
Many different companies and individuals have created their own face shield designs, utilizing different plastics and fabrics/fibers to construct their face shield headbands. Some designs have incorporated silicone foam to be utilized as a spacer that provides comfort and a space gap to create ventilation and prevent fogging. For strapping systems, some designs have incorporated stretchable elastic, similar to the kind used in your favorite pair of sweatpants. Other strap designs incorporate 3D Printed plastic frames or specialty die cut rigid plastics. More cost-effective designs do not use a strapping system and instead utilize special cut outs in the clear plastic shields enabling them to be attached to either normal eyewear (glasses) or headwear (hats).
CS Hyde recommend’ s using Velcro® One-Wrap® straps. Velcro® is conformable, extremely durable, and reusable. Utilizing Velcro®’s hook and loop technology the straps can be placed on each side of the shield and fastened by stitching or a type of riveting system. A faster process would be to create a slit in each side of the shield and run the Velcro® through each of the holes, making sure hook surface is on the outside. This process would create a buckle around the rectangular piece of plastic where the slit was created, the excess hook straps could be tightened around your head and then fastened down onto the loop surface. For example, imagine the Velcro® strap shoes we had to wear before we knew how to tie our shoes. Incorporating Velcro® One-Wrap creates the same concept, securable and fully adjustable straps for your face shield design.
Choosing the right plastic for face shields depends on cost, durability, and processability. For these type of face shields clarity and transparency is a critical property requirement when identifying the right plastic. Most commonly face shields are produced from clear thermoplastic films including Polyester (PET), Polycarbonate (PC), or (PETG) in a thickness range from .007” to 030” or 7 mil. to 30 mil. (thousands of an inch). Each of these films have exceptional clarity, with only a couple factors setting them apart. Polyester is most chemical resistant, Polycarbonate is more abrasion resistant, and PETG is most cost effective. All these plastics have moisture resistance properties and can perform extremely well, so choosing the right plastic would depend on property specifics and budget costs related to your application.
CS Hyde supplies optically clear Polyester (PET), Polycarbonate (PC), and (PETG) films. Available in thickness ranges from .005” to 030” or 5 mil. to 30 mil. (thousands of an inch) depending on material. We can supply plastic films in slit to width rolls, sheets, or packs of custom cut face shields.
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In terms of processability or fabrication Polyester (PET), Polycarbonate (PC), or (PETG) can be easily cut with a utility knife. CS Hyde does not recommend laser cutting these plastic films because of their low melting point and possibly of discolored edging and smoke fume generation requiring an extra step sanitation procedure. Other cutting methods include rotary die cutting and overhead die cutting. These methods require a custom tool or mold to be made according to dimensions. Although rotary die cutting and overhead press die cutting can be a precise, fast method for production, there may be longer lead times and extra cost associated with manufactures who do not have in house tooling capabilities.
CS Hyde recommends digital knife cutting for mass producing face shields cut from clear plastic films. This type of cutting does not require special tooling and only requires a .DXF drawing (CAD data file format). This process utilizes an automated pneumatic knife/punch driven system that will cut the face shields according to specs replicated from the .dxf drawing. Digital Knife cutting creates smooth radius edges and precise punched holes. Minimal waste is also a benefit, due to the machines automatic nesting program. The nesting software enables the machine to maximize material usage by minimizing the outer matrix. Digital knife cutting is a cost-effective cutting method that produces quality finished products in short turnaround times. CS Hyde provides digital knife cutting in house at our Midwest Illinois facility. If interested in digital knife cutting or custom cut face shields, send us your drawing in .pdf format to sales@cshyde.
For more information Anti-static PET Film, please get in touch with us!