PALIGHT® Flat Foamed PVC Sheet Fabrication Guide www.palram.
PALIGHT® Contents Subject Page Subject Introduction to PALIGHT 1 Adhesive Bonding of PALIGHT 4 Features and Benefits 1 Heat Bending 5 Cutting 1 Thermoforming 5 Drilling 1 Heating Cycle 5 Milling 1 Processing Temperatures 5 Routing 1 Painting 6 Thermal Expansion / Contraction 2 Graphic Applications 7 Screwing and Nailing 2 Direct Digital Printing 8 Installation 2 Laminating 8 Exterior Signs 3 Chemical Resistance 11 Tips on Sign Installations with Posts 3 PSDS Infor
Fabrication Guide Introduction to PALIGHT® PALIGHT foamed PVC sheet is versatile, flexible, lightweight, and durable and is ideal for use digital or screen printing, fabrication, and construction. PALIGHT Premium Foam PVC exhibits the whitest color available and has been successfully tested and approved by digital flatbed printer manufacturers worldwide. Printers and display buidlers will benefit from its consistent, smooth, and bright surface for producing high quality displays.
PALIGHT® Milling PALIGHT can be milled by using standard milling machines of various types utilizing the following guidelines: Relief angle: 5 to 10 Rake angle: -10 to 0 Cutting speed: 3,000 to 3,500 feet per minute Cutting feed: 0.12 inches per revolution Routing PALIGHT material can be easily routed using multi-fluted carbide tools on standard woodworking routers. Standard tools and machines can be utilized with no need to alter equipment.
Fabrication Guide Exterior Signs PALIGHT, when used correctly and with basic mechanical fixing methods is suitable for exterior use. Using PALIGHT can provide an excellent weatherproof sign substrate ready for screen printing, painting, or vinyl graphics. Tips on Sign Installations with Posts The following tips have been compiled to be used as a general guide for fixing PALIGHT for a minimum amount of breakage.
PALIGHT® Adhesive Bonding of PALIGHT General Information PALIGHT material can readily be bonded to itself or other materials. Commercially available adhesives that are suitable for bonding rigid PVC materials can be used for this purpose. There are several considerations when choosing an adhesive: 1. The material to be bonded with PALIGHT 2. Strength required—structural vs. non-structural 3. Temperature range expected 4. Expansion/contraction 5. Ease of application methods, curing times 6.
Fabrication Guide Painting The painting of PALIGHT is easily accomplished with paints known to have compatibility with rigid PVC. Selection of a paint system for each use should be guided by the following: 1. Cost effectiveness 2. Ease of application. 3. Safety and Environmental — odor, solvent systems, toxicity, etc. 4. Convenience and speed — one part vs. two part, one coat vs. multiple coats. 5. Solvent and/or chemical resistance. 6. Outdoor weatherability & reflectance value.
PALIGHT® Graphic Applications PALIGHT performs superbly in a wide range of graphic applications including those involving paints, screen printing, digital flatbed printing and vinyl films. PALIGHT can be used to create weather-resistant signs, displays or Point of Purchase (POP) materials. The smooth PALIGHT surface is ideal for all types of graphics, and it requires little surface preparation or surface treatment.
Fabrication Guide Protective Film Masking The protective polyethylene film mask helps prevent surface abrasion and stains. However, removing the protective film may cause an increase of static electric charge, which can affect ink coverage. Therefore, after peeling the film away from the sheet, the static electricity that has built up in the sheet should be discharged using an ionized gun or a suitable device provided by the printer manufacture.
PALIGHT® The four recommended lamination techniques for PALIGHT are: Cold laminating with a press using adhesive-backed paper Cold laminating using a vacuum press Hand laminating using transfer adhesive Hand laminating using spray adhesive Cold Laminating with a Press using Adhesive-backed Paper This process is most frequently used by commercial photo labs. Either of two types of liner films, a single release liner film or a double release liner film, can be used for this process.
Fabrication Guide Cold Laminating with a Vacuum Press This method is suggested for small and medium-sized photo shops for mounting prints utilizing a spray adhesive. 1. Spray the adhesive on the back of the piece to be mounted, keeping the spray six to eight inches from the surface. If using a double coat of adhesive, the second coat should be applied in a direction perpendicular to the first coat.
PALIGHT® The table on the following pages uses the following key: R Resistant LR Limited Resistance (gradual attack over time may occur) N Not Resistant (rapid attack or attack over short time period will occur) IMPORTANT NOTE: To download the most up-to-date version of the following Chemical Resistance list, please visit the following URL: http://www.palram.com/Media/Doc/Chemical_Resistance_PVC.
Fabrication Guide The table on the following pages uses the following key: R Resistant LR Limited Resistance (gradual attack over time may occur) N Not Resistant (rapid attack or attack over short time period will occur) IMPORTANT NOTE: To download the most up-to-date version of the following Chemical Resistance list, please visit the following URL: http://www.palram.com/Media/Doc/Chemical_Resistance_PVC.
PALIGHT® The table on the following pages uses the following key: R Resistant LR Limited Resistance (gradual attack over time may occur) N Not Resistant (rapid attack or attack over short time period will occur) IMPORTANT NOTE: To download the most up-to-date version of the following Chemical Resistance list, please visit the following URL: http://www.palram.com/Media/Doc/Chemical_Resistance_PVC.
Fabrication Guide Recommended Uses and Restrictions Please consult the relevant product and/or application information for this product within this guide, or in other related sales literature. Further Information Additional information on this product may be obtained by calling your PALRAM Sales or Customer Service Contact. PALIGHT Physical Property Table: Property* 0.12 in. (3mm) Sheet 0.39 in. (10mm) Sheet Conditions* ASTM Method Units* Value* Value* 23°C D-570 % 0.5 0.8 g/cm3 0.65-0.
Inasmuch as PALRAM Industries has no control over the use to which others may put the material, it does not guarantee that the same results as those described herein will be obtained. Each user of the material should make his own tests to determine the material's suitability for his own particular use.
