Source for PBT for sublimation?

[team08]

Not sure if this is a good place to post it but I found lots of good information on here so far. Anyways, I am looking for a glossy white plastic for sublimating graphics. One side should be glossy (for graphics) and the other side prepped for epoxy resin bonding. I really want to keep suppliers in the US, I currently have to order from Germany from Isosport for this product. It is for snowboard topsheets if that helps (I am a small shop making custom boards). Lightweight, inexpensive and resistant to UV, and chipping/cracking are the properties I would desire. Material thickness of .030" roughly or thereabouts is nice too. I am open to any and all suggestions for sources/alternative materials. Thanks in advance!

 

[Demon3]

I heard that other materials used for the clear coating on snowboards include nylon 11 (or maybe 12) and MABS. You can find materials data and suppliers for all polymer materials at

http://www.matweb.com

 

[team08]

I dont actually clear coat anything at this point, I actually sublimate the graphic right onto the platic topsheet.

 

[plastx]

Try GE Polymershapes at

http://www.gepolymershapes.com/shapes/

or 1-866-437-7427. GE makes VALOX which is PBT and Polymershapes sells sheet and film. I've used VALOX for keyboard keycaps where we subliminated the printing.

Mike

 

[patprimmer]

PET, PBT, and various nylons will all absorb dyes by the sublimation method. I suspect polycarbonate might also work, but I never actually saw any data.

PET (Mylar or Melinex are two common trade names) is widely available and relatively low cost. I think it is used for overhead projector slides.

Nylons 11 and 12 are easier to glue than polyesters are.

Polycarbonate is very easy to glue.

All of the above are fairly good to UV and also respond well to UV stabilisers.

A clear top coat can contain a concentrated UV stabiliser where it does the most good.

Regards

eng-tips, by professional engineers for professional engineers
Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips Fora.