Rigid Vinyl (PVC)
Rigid PVC Films & Sheets
Rigid PVC is the workhorse substrate of commercial printing and signage. K&R stocks print-grade PVC across the full gauge range from thin film to heavy sheet, in matte, gloss, and specialty finishes — qualified for toner, indigo, inkjet, screen, offset, and litho printing.
At a glance
- Specific gravity
- 1.32 – 1.44
- Vicat softening
- 87 – 89 °C
- Tensile strength
- ≥ 6,000 psi
- Stock gauges
- .010, .015, .020, .030
Applications
- POP signage: shelf talkers, wobblers, table tents, posters, counter cards
- ID cards, membership cards, greeting and advertisement cards
- Backlit and frontlit signs, placards
- Binders, folders, presentation covers
- Thermoformed packaging trays and clamshells
- Industrial labels and overlays
- Box-lid grade for non-whitening scores and folds
Features & benefits
- Easy-printing, high-quality substrate accepted across automotive, appliance, computer, electronic, medical, and display industries.
- Excellent non-corona dyne level and roughness profile on matte surface for consistent screen, foil-stamp, and sonic-weld quality.
- Corona treatment available to raise gloss-side dyne levels for ease of printing without secondary lamination.
- Compatible with coated and uncoated overlay materials.
- Outstanding flexural durability and character-height retention.
- Custom PMS color matching, custom sizes, and custom gauges available.
Print & process compatibility
| Method | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toner / Laser | ✓ | |
| HP Indigo | ✓ treated | Treated for ink adhesion |
| UV Inkjet | ✓ | |
| Solvent Inkjet | ✓ | |
| Screen | ✓ | |
| Offset | ✓ treated | |
| Litho | ✓ treated |
Available surfaces, finishes & gauges
| Surface / finish | Description | Stock gauges |
|---|---|---|
| Matte / Matte | Slightly textured surface available in 14 stock colors. Most popular finish — compatible with screen-print, foil stamping, and sonic welding. | .010, .015, .020, .030 |
| Gloss / Gloss | Stocked in white, black, and clear; corona-treated for ink adhesion. Custom colors available with PMS matching. | .010, .015, .020, .030 |
| Velvet / Matte | Affordable alternative to velvet/matte polycarbonate — matte vinyl printability with velvet scratch resistance. | Stock and special order |
| Press Polished | Thermal press-polished for near-perfect glossy finish. Custom colors, gauges, and sizes available. | Custom (no minimums) |
| Box Lid Grade | For perfect, non-whitening scores and folds on a printable surface. Pairs well with velvet/matte for a low-cost polycarbonate alternative. | .007 – .020 (custom) |
| Copolymer | Used in laminating and bonding to like substrates. Custom matching or specs required. | Custom |
Typical properties
Typical of average lots. Job-specific qualification recommended for production runs — request a sample.
| Property | Typical value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Physical | ||
| Specific gravity | 1.32 – 1.36 (translucent); 1.36 – 1.44 (opaque) | ASTM D 792 |
| Vicat softening temperature | 87 – 89 °C | ASTM D 1525 |
| Heat distortion temp. (264 psi) | 1.47 – 1.57 | ASTM D 648 |
| Cold-break temperature | -4°F / -22°F / -31°F | ASTM D 1790 |
| Surface roughness (Ra, µ in) | 35 – 85 | — |
| Dyne level | Side A: 36 · Side B: 34 | ASTM D 2578 |
| Gloss value | CR 4/5: 14↓ / 14↓ | ASTM D 523 |
| Mechanical | ||
| Tensile strength | Min 6,000 psi | ASTM D 638 |
| Elongation | Min 100 % | ASTM D 638 |
| Quality / tolerances | ||
| Thickness tolerance | ± 5 % | — |
| Width tolerance | ± 1/16 in. | — |
| Square-cut tolerance | ± 1/32 in. | — |
| Black specs (≥1/32") | 2 max per 10 sq ft | — |
| Gels (≥1/32") | 5 max per sq ft | — |
Fabrication & converting
K&R converts PVC in-house: die-cut, score, fold, drill, route, and thermoform. Tight tolerances and CofC-backed batches for downstream automation.