What Types of Plastic Used in Thermoforming? A Complete Guide

Thermoforming is one of the most widely used processes for packaging by industrial companies producing products. It is one of the most flexible, cost-effective, and versatile design options available to the manufacturer. There is an abundance of suppliers that provide thermoforming materials globally, and one of them is Bagla Group.

The Bagla group is a globally recognized leader of packaging films and thermoforming solutions for the food, beverages, consumer goods, and automotive markets. The most commonly used performance plastics are PET, Polycarbonate, Polyoefin, ABS, and UPVC, all of which present benefits but must also have variables based on their distinguishing characteristics in performance, costing, and sustainability.

This article will examine the types of plastic used in thermoforming, its properties and applications, and the importance of choosing the right material.

Understanding Thermoforming

Thermoforming refers to when a plastic sheet is heated to a plastic forming temperature, shaped into a mold, cut, and formed into a usable product. Thermoforming is often desirable due to the low cost involved in producing both small and large runs. 

The characteristics of the thermoformed product are dependent on the plastic used for thermoforming, as the selected type is chosen for its specific beneficial properties of strength, clarity, barrier properties, and recyclability.

5 Major Types Of Plastic Used In Thermoforming

Thermoforming can be accomplished with various plastics, sometimes recognized as a base material, depending on the advantages one has. Here are some of the major plastics currently being utilized by many industries that thermoform:

1. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET & PETG)

Though PET is often thought of primarily because of its clarity, strength, and infinite recyclability, it is NOT exclusive to clear containers; it has a plethora of uses outside of beverage containers, including food packaging and beverage applications. From a thermoforming standpoint, PETG is a modified type of PET that contains glycol to make it tougher and chemically resistant, but in general, it is typically used in the packaging of industrial devices..

2. Polypropylene (PP)

PP is lightweight, heat-resistant, value-oriented, and, conversely, a more cost-effective type of plastic used in thermoforming that needs some recognition. It is most often associated with food packaging when referring to microwave-safe meal packaging material or yogurt cups. Increasingly, automotive companies utilize it because it has flexible structure options to be more durable, rigid, and so on.

3. High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)

HIPS are easy to create, cost-effective plastics that are decent for surfaces with good impact resistance and surface gloss. It is used for food, dairy containers, disposables, trays, and cosmetics applications for their containers when cost, versatility are the most important requirements.

4. Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

ABS is strong and rigid, impact resistant, and is therefore suitable for more demanding performance applications. In the case of automotive dashboards, trims, electronics housings, protective packaging, and others, ABS is a common choice for thermoform plastics.

5. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

PVC offers good clarity and has some resistance to chemicals, making it suitable for a variety of applications, from blister packaging, clamshell packaging, and packaging for consumers. Even though it is a highly functional material, there is a shift towards more sustainable substitutes such as PET and PP(Polypropylene) since these are more commonly available forms.

Factors To Consider When Selecting Plastic Used In Thermoforming

Selecting the right types of plastic used in thermoforming films is critical to usability and cost. There are many considerations with choosing plastics, including: 

• Strength and Durability: Applications such as automotive or industrial trays often require rigid plastics and have high impact strength (e.g., ABS, PC). Weight-sensitive packaging can use lower-impact plastics, i.e., HIPS or PET. 
• Clarity and Appearance: Clarity plastics are required for food and other consumer packagings; for example, unpackaged pre-made foods and clamshells, well-defined food categories require clear plastics, i.e., PET and PMMA will produce the most clarity and clear appearance.
• Barrier Properties: certain plastics like PET and PP have exceptional barrier properties against moisture, oxygen, and some chemicals, allowing for petrol, or a barrier quality, to extend both shelf life, and you can allow for sharing products that need to be considered for certain types of products.
• Heat and chemical resistance: materials like PP and PC can withstand high heat and chemical exposures to achieve different characteristics.
• Cost and sustainability: materials like HIPS and PP are low-cost, while PET and PLA are recyclable and sustainable.
• Regulations: The type of plastic for food items requires FDA approval for safe use.

Applications Of Different Types Of Plastic Used In Thermoforming Across Industries

Thermoformed plastics are utilized in many industries, including the following:

• Food & Beverage Packaging: Trays, clamshells, containers, lids
• Consumer Goods: Cosmetic packaging, housings for electronics
• Automotive: Dashboards, trims, protective packaging
• Industrial Uses: Heavy-duty trays, housings for components

Bagla Group provides customized packaging solutions for each of the expectations and demands of these industries while maintaining performance, safety, and compliance.

Why Bagla Group For Thermoforming Solutions?

The Bagla Group has been providing high-quality packaging films and thermoforming products for decades and is a trusted supplier to industries worldwide. Here are a few reasons that so many companies are partnering with us for their packaging innovations:

• Variety of Materials: PET, PP, HIPS, ABS, etc.
• 7-Layered protections with precise thicknesses: Our custom protection will enhance barrier properties and performance according to your specific industry needs.
• Use & Efficiency: Our high output equipment provides productivity rates consistent with as much as 1200 KG per hour, ensuring we can scale one’s business with confidence.
• Global: We deliver service to many industries, across multiple continents, with a live load, reliability, and consistency.
• Sustainability: Our focus on recyclable and bio-based plastics includes the total replacement of all biodegradable products and enhances our contribution to a greener world.
• Custom Solutions: We will configure our thermoforming barrier films and materials to whatever your application requires.
• Modern Facilities: Our production lines are modern and efficient, which allows for consistent quality and performance.

As a leader in thermoform packaging innovations, the Bagla Group is ahead of the future of plastics with performance, protection, and sustainability.

Conclusion

The clarity, acidity, heat stability, overall toughness, and more of each polymer vary with plastic type, which will affect the performance, price, and sustainability of the outcome. PET is clear, PP is highly heat-tolerant, while ABS is rugged. As industries implement new solutions, the sustainable resin revolution will be in action, converting food packaging to renewable, compostable materials such as PLA and recycled post-consumer (PET).

Bagla Group, as an example, helps organizations innovate and identify affordable and sustainable thermoforming options all over the globe. Whether you are in the food or consumer products packaging sector, or making automotive vehicle components, the value of the right partner and materials is paramount.

For more information and opportunities, think of Bagla Group as your partner in global, packaging, and thermoforming solutions.

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