Graphics

Materials and Components

• Types of paper and board:

• cartridge paper
• layout paper

bleed proof paper

• • tracing paper
  • card
  • corrugated board
  • mount board
  • duplex
  • solid white board
  • grey board
• Many paper based boards are laminated to other materials for specific purposes, eg:
  • plastic coating for waterproofing
  • aluminium foil coating for insulation or as a bacterial barrier
  • greaseproof paper for baking cups
  • wax coating for waterproofing (takeaway coffee cups)
• Thermoplastics
  • HIPS - high impact polystyrene is used in toys, jewel CD cases, yogurt pots, as it can be vacuum formed
  • PP - polypropylene is flexible, used for crisp packets, resistance to work fatigue, hygenic
  • PET - polyethylene terephtalate is tough, and used for fizzy drinks bottles
  • PVC - polyvinyl chloride is tough and resists scratches, used for blister packs
  • Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) - used for protective packaging, block modelling
  • Acetate - clear but not tough, eg film for cameras
  • Acrylic - stiff and brittle, high gloss and wide colour range, POS stands
  • Bioplastic - biodegradable, used for food packaging
• Shaping and Forming Plastics
  • Vacuum forming is a process in which simple hollow shapes are created by sucking air from underneath a heated thermoplastic sheet (HIPS) draped over a mould (remember draft angles and rounded edges for the mould!)
  • Injection moulding is a process in which hot liquid plastic is injected by force into a mould
  • Blow moulding is a process for making hollow plastic forms by blowing compressed air into a heated thermoplastic
  • Line bending is a process used to bend straight lines in a heated thermoplastic
  • Jigs and formers are used to accurately locate, bend, or aid in the construction of a product, saving time by making it possible to create identical items
• Block modelling materials
  • Expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) is good for making 3D models but a high quality finish is hard to achieve (use a file or abrasive paper)
  • Balsa wood takes longer to shape compared to Styrofoam, but is stronger and can be used as a mould for vacuum forming (use a file or abrasive paper)
  • Plasticine or clay is easy to make 3D models and can easily be reused but does not have a good finish
  • Foam board can be laser cut is good for drawing onto or adding a printed image, but is not recyclable
• Spiral wound tubes are used in 3D printing
• Smart / modern materials - smart materials react to their surroundings, modern materials have been invented within the last 50 years
  • Polymorph is a special type of plastic which is hard at room temperature but softens at 60 degrees Celsius.
  • Corn starch polymers are biodegradable and made from crops such as potatoes, corn and maize, and can replace oil based thermoplastics
  • Paperfoam is made from a combination of starch based polymers and paper fibres, and is scratch-resistant and fully biodegradable - used for packaging
  • PMC - precious metal clays - 99.9% metal, 0.1% clay, can be shaped at room temperature
  • Lyocell - biodegradable material made from wood pulp, used for tea bags
  • Thermochromic materials…