Plastic Selection for Tough, 1mm Thick Part 1

[Bokononestly]

Hello,

I'm hoping to injection mold a credit card shaped trinket. What would be a good resin to make a part that is tough and flexible like an actual credit card? I was thinking polypropylene because it's long crystal chains would prevent cracking. Although I'm worried polypropylene would feel cheap. The part must also be relatively transparent.

Are manufacturer's ever open to trying different resins in the same mold?

Thanks for your help!

 

[CoryPad]

A credit card is made from PVC via sheet extrusion, not molding. Polypropylene will be more flexible and less likely to crack compared with PVC, but it is not very strong. How about PET, the same polymer used for carbonated soft drink bottles? Strong, tough, transparent, inexpensive.

 

[MintJulep]

Why are you constraining yourself to molding?

Starting with a sheet and cutting to size would likely be easier and far less expensive.

ABS, ABS+PMMA, PET, PET-G, Polycarbonate all available in sheets.

 

[Bokononestly]

Thanks a lot Cory and Mint. I'll take a look at PET and the other plastics you listed. Mint I was thinking of molding because the widget has some 3 dimensional features, like chamfered edges around holes to lead the pencil in.

 

[MintJulep]

Possibly a 5-axis water jet could cut to size and cut chamfered features.