What is the difference between thermoforming and vacuum forming?
Vacuum forming is a type of thermoforming; both processes require heating plastic to a malleable temperature and then cooling the plastic into a new form. Vacuum forming is an additional process during thermoforming in which vacuum pressure is used to conform plastic to the mold during forming. • What type of plastics can you thermoform? Plastics that lend themselves best to thermoforming are: acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), high density polyethylene (HDPE), high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polymethyl methacrylate (or “acrylic”) (PMMA), and polyethylene terephthalate modified with CHDM (PETG). Fiber Pad, Inc. will match custom colors and custom textures and will specify other requirements such as FDA approved medical and food material, electrostatic discharge material, and fire retardent material. Ask us about our experience with various types of plastic resins. • When and where do
