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Oct . 06, 2025 00:35 Back to list

PVC Rigid Sheet (Vacuum Forming): Strong, Safe, Affordable?


A Practical Insider’s Guide to PVC Rigid Sheet (vacuum forming)

Every few months I walk a thermoforming line and, to be honest, you can tell in five minutes if the sheet is right. Stable bubble, predictable sag, tidy trim. That’s why PVC Rigid Sheet (vacuum forming) keeps popping up in medical packaging, tool trays, and electronics housings—it forms cleanly, holds detail, and doesn’t ask for drama.

PVC Rigid Sheet (Vacuum Forming): Strong, Safe, Affordable?

What’s trending (and why it matters)

Two things: lead-free stabilizers and cleaner forming windows. Many buyers now specify Ca-Zn stabilized PVC with RoHS/REACH declarations. On the floor, operators ask for sheets that heat evenly and resist webbing. In fact, several customers told me they’ve switched from HIPS for better detail and from PETG to save cost without giving up flame performance.

Key specs at a glance

Thickness 1–5 mm (≈ ±0.05–0.10 mm tolerance)
Width 1–3 mm: 1000–1300 mm; 4–5 mm: 1000–1500 mm
Length Any; common: 1220×2440, 1000×2000, 1500×3000 mm
Colors Dark grey (RAL7011), light grey, black, white, blue, green, red, custom
Finish Glossy or matt
Density (ISO 1183) ≈1.40 g/cm³
Tensile Strength (ISO 527) ≈50–60 MPa
Vicat Softening (ISO 306) ≈73–80 °C
Flammability (UL 94) Typically V-0 for rigid PVC formulations

Values are indicative; real-world use may vary by color, thickness, and tooling.

How it’s made (the short version)

Material: PVC resin (K≈65–67) with Ca-Zn stabilizers, impact modifiers, lubricants. Process: extrusion or calendaring into sheet, gauge control, optional corona (≥38 dynes) for better printing. Forming: preheat around 140–160 °C, plug assist if deep draw, vacuum, cool, trim. QC: thickness scan, color ΔE, tensile (ISO 527), Vicat (ISO 306), impact, and sometimes water absorption (ISO 62). Service life is typically 5–10 years outdoors (shade) and 10–15 years indoors, depending on UV exposure and cleaning chemicals.

Where it’s used

  • Medical/pharma trays and clamshells (stable geometry, easy sealing)
  • Electronics and ESD housings (with antistatic grades)
  • Automotive dunnage, inserts, protective covers
  • Tool organizers, hardware packaging, signage backers

Advantages people point out: crisp detail, inherent flame resistance, good screw retention, and—surprisingly—nice printability when pretreated.

Vendor snapshot and comparison

Lida Plastic (No.316 Pingan West Street, Shunping County, Baoding, Hebei, China 072250) manufactures PVC Rigid Sheet (vacuum forming) in standard and custom colors, glossy or matt, with quick cut-to-size.

Vendor Certs MOQ Lead Time Customization Price
Lida Plastic ISO 9001; RoHS/REACH declarations ≈500–1000 kg ≈10–15 days Color, finish, cut, antistatic $ (cost-effective)
Regional Vendor B ISO 9001 ≈300–800 kg ≈2–3 weeks Limited colors $$
Import Aggregator C Varies ≈1000 kg+ ≈4–6 weeks On-request $–$$

Customization notes

Popular tweaks: antistatic surface (10⁹–10¹¹ Ω/sq), color-matched branding, low-gloss for glare control, and tight gauge for medical trays. For deep draws, ask for modified impact formulations and consider plug-assist tooling to keep wall thickness uniform.

Quick case studies

  • Medical device tray: switched from PETG to PVC Rigid Sheet (vacuum forming); cut material cost ≈18% and maintained seal strength (peel 10–12 N/15 mm) after EO sterilization.
  • Automotive dunnage: grey matt sheet reduced part scuffing; operators reported fewer webbing incidents at 150 °C preheat.

Testing and compliance checklist

  • ISO 527 tensile, ISO 306 Vicat, ISO 62 water absorption
  • UL 94 flammability (aim V-0 on rigid PVC grades)
  • RoHS/REACH SVHC statements; optional biocompatibility where applicable

If you want a quiet, predictable forming day, this is a solid, budget-friendly sheet—actually more versatile than many give it credit for.

References

  1. ISO 527-1/2: Plastics—Determination of tensile properties.
  2. ISO 306: Plastics—Thermoplastic materials—Vicat softening temperature.
  3. UL 94: Tests for flammability of plastic materials.
  4. Directive 2011/65/EU (RoHS) and Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 (REACH).
  5. ISO 9001: Quality management systems—Requirements.

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