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BRETT MARTIN LTD
Plastics for Fabrication Brochure

Plastics for Fabrication Brochure

Product catalog summary

Introduction
Brett Martin offers a wide range of extruded thermoplastic engineering materials for applications in the sign, display, fabrication, and building industries. Their products include polycarbonate, acrylic, PET-g, and aPET flat sheets, known for their optical clarity, formability, impact strength, and fire performance.

Material Options
The fabrication range includes:

Marlon FS: Clear polycarbonate sheet with high impact and fire resistance.
Marpet-g FS: Lightweight, durable substrate with excellent optical clarity and thermoformability.
Marpet-a FS aPET: High optical grade polyester sheet with transparency and chemical resistance.
Marcryl FS: Acrylic sheet with high gloss finish and scratch resistance.

Polycarbonate Sheets
Ideal for construction, fabrication, and print industries, offering durability and design flexibility. Key features include high impact resistance, UV protection options, various tints for solar control, and embossed textures.

Applications
Typical applications include vertical glazing, protective screens, signage, rooflights, and thermoforming.

Strong Adhesion Film (SAF)
Provides enhanced surface protection during fabrication processes like drilling and thermoforming, offering high adhesion and suitability for warm bending and digital printing.

Abrasion Resistant Sheets
Marlon FS Hard features an abrasion-resistant coating, suitable for safety glazing and anti-vandal applications, with chemical resistance and a limited warranty.

Opaque Sheets
Marpax sheets offer high impact resistance and thermoformability, available in various colors and finishes.

Fabrication Guidelines
Polycarbonate sheets are easy to cut and machine. Specific techniques are required for drilling, and bonding can be done with adhesives like epoxy and silicone. Thermoforming requires pre-drying to remove moisture.

Recommendations
Specific angles and speeds are recommended for cutting and machining with different equipment. Service temperature ranges from -20ºC to +100ºC.

Thermoforming Guidelines

Pre-drying may be skipped with fast heating methods like infra-red.
Material must be securely clamped during forming to prevent shrinking.
Heating should be evenly applied at 175-200°C.
Parts should cool in the mold to below 125°C before removal.

Line Bending Recommendations

Pre-drying is generally not required.
Recommended temperature is between 155°C and 165°C.
Material area to be heated should be five times the sheet thickness.
Sheets up to 4mm can be bent when heated from one side; over 4mm requires heating from both sides.
Avoid bending sharp internal corners; use a former radius at least equal to the sheet thickness.

Machining Parameters

Clearance Angle: 5 - 8º
Tip Angle: 90 - 130º
Helix Angle: Approximately 30º
Rake Angle: 3 - 5º
Cutting Speed: 0.1 - 0.5mm/rpm
Drill Tip Speed: 10 - 60m/min

Acrylic Sheet Properties

Available in clear, opal, and silica green edge.
High gloss finish with excellent optical clarity and weatherability.
Suitable for displays, glazing, and signage.
Density of 1.19 g/cm³ and Vicat softening temperature of 102ºC.

Fabrication Guidelines for Acrylic

Thermoforming temperatures range from 140 - 170ºC.
Flame polishing can create a shiny edge finish.
Drilling requires special ground bits and compatible cutting oils.
Bonding can be done using acrylic cements or cyanoacrylate adhesives.

PETg Sheet Properties

Clear thermoplastic co-polyester with excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
Suitable for digital and screen printing.
Density of 1.27 g/cm³ and Vicat softening temperature of 82ºC.

Fabrication Guidelines for PETg

Thermoforming does not require pre-drying and occurs between 120 - 160ºC.
Bonding can be achieved using suitable adhesives like polyurethanes.
Edge finishing can be done with polishing paste and wheels.

aPET Sheet Properties

High optical grade amorphous polyester with excellent transparency and impact strength.
Suitable for point of purchase displays and machine guards.
Density of 1.33 g/cm³ and Vicat softening temperature of 75ºC.

Overview
Marpet-a FS aPET sheets are highlighted for their properties, applications, and fabrication guidelines. Known for strength and resistance to breakage, they are suitable for safety equipment like machine guards and visors.

Specifications
Available in clear colors with widths of 1220mm and 2050mm, and thicknesses of 2, 3, and 4mm. Special options available upon request, subject to minimum order quantities.

Chemical Resistance
Resistant to most acids, alcohols, salts, plastifying agents, and hydrocarbons, but aromatic compounds may cause reactions.

Weathering
Not UV protected, but have limited resistance to weathering for exterior applications with limited sunlight exposure.

Fabrication Guidelines

Cutting/Sawing: Sheets up to 3mm can be cut by guillotine; thicker sheets require saws with carbide-tipped blades.
Drilling: Use drill bits designed for plastics and ensure proper clamping to avoid cracking.
Die Stamping: Suitable for sheets up to 2mm with a sharpened steel blade.
Bending: Cold bending is possible for sheets under 3mm, while hot bending requires heating to 100°C.
Cleaning: Use warm water with neutral soap and a soft cloth.
Thermoforming: Recommended temperatures are between 100°C and 160°C, with rapid cooling to maintain transparency.
Bonding: Use cyanoacrylates, polyurethanes, or epoxies; avoid adhesives with solvents.
Edge Finishing: Achieved with polishing paste and Reiter wheel; flame polishing is also possible.
Printing: Compatible with screen and digital printers using suitable inks; protect ink with clear lacquer.

Applications
Marpet-a FS sheets are ideal for signage, displays, protective screens, thermoforming, and more. They are part of Brett Martin's extensive range of plastic sheets, including foam PVC, polycarbonate, and acrylic.

Contact Information
For further details, contact Brett Martin Plastic Sheets at their Northern Ireland office or visit their website.

Catalog excerpts

Brett Martin offers an extensive range of extruded thermoplastic engineering materials which are suitable for a wide array of applications in the sign and display, fabrication and building industries. Plastic Sheets

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION INTRODUCTION BRETT MARTIN IS THE ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL TRANSPARENT FLAT SHEET PRODUCTS INCLUDING POLYCARBONATE, ACRYLIC, PET-g AND aPET FLAT SHEETS. THE CHOICE OF MATERIAL FOR MANY FABRICATORS DUE TO EXCELLENT OPTICAL CLARITY, BROAD WORKING TEMPERATURE RANGE, OUTSTANDING FORMABILITY, EASE OF CUTTING AND MACHINING, FLEXIBILITY, IMPACT STRENGTH AND EXCELLENT FIRE PERFORMANCE OF THE PRODUCTS. THE FOLLOWING MATERIAL OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FABRICATION RANGE: FLAT POLYCARBONATE SHEET FLAT ACRYLIC SHEET FLAT PETg SHEET Marlon FS is a clear extruded flat polycarbonate glazing...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET Polycarbonate Brett Martin’s range of extruded flat polycarbonate sheets offer ideal solutions for a wide range of applications in construction, fabrication and print & display industries. Durability and design freedom are two of the key features which designers seek when selecting modern materials. Marlon flat polycarbonate sheet offers both, plus many more benefits over traditional glazing and fabrication alternatives. Marlon FS is available in a range of tints including bronze, green, blue opal and grey providing solar control, and with an embossed...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET FLAT POLYCARBONATE SHEET Marlon FS is a premium quality extruded flat polycarbonate sheet which provides 200 times more impact resistance than glass at only half the weight. The sheet is characterised by high optical clarity, light transmission, impact resistance, durability, design flexibility, thermal insulation and fire resistance. Marlon flat polycarbonate sheet offers a superior glazing solution to that of other materials. It’s available in clear to maximise light transmission and a range of tints including bronze, green, blue, opal and grey which...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET Strong Adhesion Film A Strong Adhesion Film (SAF) is available for the Marlon FS and Marlon FSX polycarbonate product ranges, specifically aimed at high-end engineering and fabrication projects that require extra protection during repeated processing, including drilling, 3D milling, warm & cold bending, thermoforming and cutting. The polycarbonate sheets that are used for these heavy fabrication projects, often go through different or aggressive mechanical processes before the end product is made. SAF ensures that our polycarbonate sheet withstands...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET ABRASION RESISTANT FLAT POLYCARBONATE SHEET Marlon FS Hard is an extruded polycarbonate flat sheet combined with an abrasion and chemical resistant coating. The highly resilient and abrasion resistant surface coating resists marks and scratches, vandalism, graffiti and physical attack and also withstands contact from a wide range of cleaning agents, organic solvents and corrosive elements. Marlon FS Hard offers a superior toughness to protect those areas where high performance and reliability are essential whilst providing high natural light transmission....

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET OPAQUE FLAT POLYCARBONATE SHEET Marpax is an extruded polycarbonate flat sheet manufactured by Brett Martin. The sheet is characterised by high impact resistance durability and excellent thermoformability. The standard texture is pinseal on one side and gloss on the other. For a minimum order quantity Marpax can be made gloss on both sides. The product is available with a P.E. film on the gloss surface. A range of standard widths and thickness are available. BENEFITS • • • • • • Outstanding impact resistance Durable and extreme versatile Easy to form...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION POLYCARBONATE SHEET Polycarbonate Fabrication Guidelines SERVICE TEMPERATURE VACUUM FORMING MARLON FS POLYCARBONATE Marlon FS, Marlon FSX Longlife, Marlon FS Hard and Marpax can be installed in a diversity of applications, with varying temperatures. The materials mechanical performance is known to remain stable in prolonged service in temperatures ranging from -20ºC to +100ºC. Components that are relatively simple and shallow in form are thermoformable from sheet heated to an elastic state. Most industrial press and vacuum formers for thermoplastics are suitable. Best...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION ACRYLIC SHEET Acrylic Marcryl high gloss acrylic extruded sheet offers a combination of excellent optical clarity and weatherability. It is a versatile material that offers ease of fabrication and excellent scratch resistance making it suitable for a wide variety of applications including point of sale, poster covers, menu boards, displays, glazing, interior design projects, store fixtures, fabrication and signage. In addition to clear, Marcryl FS acrylic sheet is also available in opal, providing good light diffusion that can be used for dramatic lighting effects, and...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION ACRYLIC SHEET FLAT ACRYLIC SHEET Marcryl FS is a top quality extruded acrylic sheet with a high gloss finish that offers a combination of excellent optical clarity and weatherability. Marcryl FS is manufactured in a clean production environment ensuring optimum quality. The versatility, ease of fabrication and scratch resistance of Marcryl FS rend it suitable for a wide variety of applications in interior design, point of sale and display, fabrications and building industries. Marcryl FS can be flame polished creating a bright, shiny edge finish. Colours and tints: Widths:...

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PLASTICS FOR FABRICATION ACRYLIC SHEET Acrylic Fabrication Guidelines SERVICE TEMPERATURE Marcryl FS can be installed in a diversity of applications, with varying temperatures. The material’s mechanical performance is known to remain stable in prolonged service in temperatures ranging from -20 to +80°C. Marcryl FS can be highly stretched at relatively low temperatures. The forming process can occur more slowly, as it is of a rubbery nature and the surface quality of the semi-finished material is largely retained. Prior to pre-drying or thermoforming it is recommended that the protective film...

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