Polycarbonate (PC) and Polystyrene (PS / HIPS) are the two most quoted options for acrylic displays and signage products in retail and display projects. Both are widely available, but they behave very differently once they are in service.
This guide is written for engineers, purchasers and project managers who need a practical answer, not a resin data sheet.
This category covers a family of products rather than a single item. In practice a buyer defines acrylic displays and signage products by three things: the base resin, the format or dimension, and the performance or certification level it has to meet. Typical options in this category include LED light guide grades; transparent, opal, coloured and mirror finishes; UV printing up to 1440 dpi. Materials most often specified are Polyethylene Terephthalate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, and the choice between them changes stiffness, temperature resistance, chemical behaviour and price.
In the retail and display sector the decision is usually driven by optical clarity and printability, with scratch resistance as a secondary requirement. Typical end uses include mannequins, signage, point of sale displays.
These figures are typical for commercial grades and should be confirmed against the supplier's certificate for your specific lot.
| Material | Density | Tensile strength | Service temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polystyrene | 1.04-1.06 g/cm³ | 30-50 MPa | -20°C to 70°C |
| Polymethyl Methacrylate | 1.18 g/cm³ | 50-75 MPa | -40°C to 80°C |
| Polyethylene Terephthalate | 1.35-1.40 g/cm³ | 50-70 MPa | -40°C to 70°C |
Polycarbonate is frequently the default selection here: PC replaces glass where impact safety matters, but it needs a hard coat for abrasion resistance.
Polycarbonate grades offer outstanding impact strength (250x glass), while Polystyrene brings rigid and glossy. For retail and display service the difference shows up in impact strength and in the long term behaviour under load.
Both materials can be validated quickly with a small sample run, which is the cheapest way to settle the argument for your own application.
Beyond the base resin, most suppliers offer UV stabilised, food contact, flame retardant, anti-static and recycled content versions of the same product. Ask which additive package is included, because it is often the difference between a part that lasts three years and one that lasts ten.
Processing method drives both cost and performance, so it should be fixed early in the design.
Secondary operations such as printing, welding, machining and assembly are often cheaper to do in the same factory, and they reduce the risk of mismatch between components.
These are the criteria that actually predict whether the part will perform in service.
Send this list to your supplier with the drawing and you will receive comparable quotations from every factory you contact.
Standard production tolerance follows the relevant ISO or DIN tolerance class for the process; tighter tolerances are possible after machining or grinding, but they add cost. Define the tolerance only on the functional dimensions.
Colour is controlled with a masterbatch reference approved by the customer, and every production lot is checked against the approved sample under standard lighting before shipment.
A new tool typically takes 25 to 45 days depending on cavity count and complexity, followed by T1 samples within one week. Existing tools can usually start production within 10 to 15 days of order confirmation.
Standard packing is export cartons on fumigation-free pallets, with custom labelling, barcode and retail packing available. We also handle consolidated containers and door to door delivery.
We can provide ISO 9001 quality system documentation, material certificates, RoHS and REACH statements, and where applicable food contact, flame retardancy or drinking water approvals. Tell us your target market and we will match the document set.
If you are planning a new retail and display project, send us your drawing, annual volume and target properties, and we will come back with a material proposal, a tooling plan and a budget quotation.
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