IPK Acrylic-polyvinyl chloride (IPK, IPK Acrylic PVC, IPK Thermoformable Sheet, IPK Kydex) is a line of
thermoplastic
A thermoplastic, or thermosoft plastic, is any plastic polymer material that becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling.
Most thermoplastics have a high molecular weight. The polymer chains associate ...
acrylic
Acrylic may refer to:
Chemicals and materials
* Acrylic acid, the simplest acrylic compound
* Acrylate polymer, a group of polymers (plastics) noted for transparency and elasticity
* Acrylic resin, a group of related thermoplastic or thermosett ...
-
polyvinyl chloride composite material. It has a chemical structure similar to
Kydex with an Acrylic-polyvinyl chloride substrate and white cap for screen printing onto the material.
Kydex sheet was originally produced in 1965 by
Rohm and Haas, having been designed for use in aircraft interiors. In recent years, Kydex has gained a
hobbyist following for a wide variety of applications, including firearm
holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be att ...
s and
sheaths for
knives.
IPK Acrylic-polyvinyl chloride was developed by Interstate Plastics in 2012 and sold under the registered trademark IPK. Interstate Plastics claims the material offers an alternative to thermoformable plastic sheets while providing a printable surface for custom designs and patterns. Most vinyl sign print shops are able to print custom designs or patterns onto the material. IPK is currently the only thermoforming sheet on the market sold with a printable cap.
Characteristics
IPK is an acrylic-polyvinyl chloride composite engineered for thermoforming applications, combining properties of both acrylic and polyvinyl chloride plastics. Acrylic adds rigidity and formability, while polyvinyl chloride, more commonly known as
PVC, adds toughness and chemical resistance. Standard sheet thickness is .080 and IPK Acrylic-polyvinyl chloride can be thermoformed, post formed, brake formed and laminated.
Applications
Applications range from gun holsters, knife sheaths, and medical equipment housings to aircraft trays, tables, and fixtures. IPK is very easy to clean: tough stains, scuffs, and graffiti can be removed with no staining or surface damage to the material. IPK is commonly used for thermoforming custom sized knife sheaths, gun holsters, and cell phone/tablet covers.
Common Application
IPK is primarily used by hobbyists in thermoforming firearm
holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be att ...
s and
sheaths for
knives. The printable surface allows for custom printed patterns, allowing added customization for gun and knife enthusiasts.
*
Firearm holsters
*
Knife sheaths
* Equipment housings
* Instrument consoles
* Springs and tensioners
Leather Substitute
In many applications, especially in
holster
A handgun holster is a device used to hold or restrict the undesired movement of a handgun, most commonly in a location where it can be easily withdrawn for immediate use. Holsters are often attached to a belt or waistband, but they may be att ...
and
sheath
Sheath pronounced as , may refer to:
* Scabbard, a sheath for holding a sword, knife, or other large blade, as well as guns, such as rifles.
* The outer covering of a cable
* Condom, a kind of contraception
* Debye sheath, a layer of a plasma in ...
applications, IPK is used as replacement for
leather
Leather is a strong, flexible and durable material obtained from the tanning, or chemical treatment, of animal skins and hides to prevent decay. The most common leathers come from cattle, sheep, goats, equine animals, buffalo, pigs and hogs, ...
. The texture of IPK is more rigid than leather, and similar in touch. IPK thermoformable sheet in comparable to leather with the following properties:
* Waterproof
* Scratch resistant (Rockwell "R"
hardness
In materials science, hardness (antonym: softness) is a measure of the resistance to localized plastic deformation induced by either mechanical indentation or abrasion. In general, different materials differ in their hardness; for example hard ...
of 90+)
* Rigid and holds shape
* Does not stretch or shrink under normal conditions
* Low friction
Other Applications
IPK can be used as a substitute in place of
Kydex in the following applications:
* Truck cargo liners
* Lavatory pans
* Door liners
* Kick plates
* Seat backs
* Aircraft pull-down trays
* Truck fenders
* Trays and tote boxes
* Motor covers
* Safety helmets
* Aircraft fairings
* Air exhaust systems
*
Rapid prototyping
Rapid prototyping is a group of techniques used to quickly fabricate a scale model of a physical part or assembly using three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) data.
Construction of the part or assembly is usually done using 3D printin ...
of systems
* Custom
insulators for electronic equipment
* Clean rooms
* Telescope tubes
References
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Thermoplastics