General vacuum forming material specs  (Download in Word Format)
To help you select vacuum forming plastics for your needs, the most common vacuum forming materials available & their specs are listed below, all of which we can vacuum form for you.

General vacuum forming material specs - when in sheet form
ABS = Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene  COND. = Conductive  HDPE = High Density Polyethylene  HIPS = High Impact/Polystyrene
PETG = Polyethyleneterephthalate Glycol  PP = Polypropylene  PVC = Polyvinyl Chloride  UVS = Ultra Violet Stable
specs ABS ABS (F/R) HDPE HIPS
Density (specific gravity) 1.08 g/cm³ 1.24 g/cm³ 0.96 g/cm³ 1.06 g/cm³
Izod notched impact strength @ 23°c 400-420 j/m 160-200 j/m 16 kj/m² 15.0 kj/m²
Izod notched impact strength @ -20°c 230-280 j/m 60-70 j/m DNS DNS
Vicat softening temperature 97-101°c 88-92°c 125°c 97°c
Heat deflection temperature 80-84°c 76-80°c 90°c 75-78°c
Tensile strength 30-40 MPa 40-45 MPa 23 N/mm² 20 MPa
Flexural modulus 2.0-2.2 GPa 2.0-2.5 GPa DNS 1.7-1.8 GPa
Flammability rating HB UL94 V0 HB HB
Forming Temperature 140-190°c 140-190°c 145-160°c 120-140°c
Melt flow index 6.0 g/10min 22.0 g/10min 0.4-1.0 g/10min 4.5 g/10min
Mould shrinkage (linear) 0.4-0.7% 0.5-0.7% 2.0-3.5% 0.4-0.7%
specs HDPE COND. HIPS COND. PP PVC
Density (specific gravity) 1.04 g/cm³ 1.13 g/cm³ 0.91 g/cm³ 1.37 g/cm³
Izod notched impact strength @ 23°c 27 kj/m² 10 kj/m² 40 kj/m² DNS
Izod notched impact strength @ -20°c 13 kj/m² 2 kj/m² DNS DNS
Vicat softening temperature 127°c 93°c 70°c 76-76°c
Heat deflection temperature 56°c 81°c 80°c 67°c
Tensile strength 29 MPa 20 MPa 29-31 N/mm 51-55 N/mm²
Flexural modulus 820 MPa 2100 MPa 25-27 N/mm² DNS
Flammability rating HB HB HB Class 1
Forming Temperature DNS DNS 155-175°c 110-190°c
Melt flow index 6 g/10 min-1 DNS 0.3-1.0 g/10min DNS
Mould shrinkage (linear) 1.4-1.6% DNS 1.5-2.0% 0.4-0.7%
Volume resistivity ≤ 10³ ≤ 10³ N/A N/A
Surface resistivity ≤ 104 ≤ 104 N/A N/A
Hardness shore A/D 98/65 99/73 DNS DNS
specs HI/PS CLEAR HIPS UVS PETG (@3mm)
KEY & NOTES
Density (specific gravity) 1.03 g/cm³ 1.02 g/cm³ 1.27 g/cm³
These material
specs
should be used
as a guide

(DNS=Data not)
(supplied by)
(mat'l. supplier)
Izod notched impact strength 2.3 j/m 120 j/m 88 j/m
Vicat softening temperature 90°c 97°c 83°c
Heat deflection temperature 71°c DNS 74°c
Tensile strength 26.4 MPa 23 MPa 26 MPa @break
Flexural strength 63 MPa 32 MPa 77 MPa
Falling dart impact strength DNS 50.5 j DNS
Flammability rating DNS DNS HB (V2>3.2mm)

For more vacuum forming / moulding help use the links below or view our moulding or vacuum forming material selection guides