Polymers

Polymers are the second great family of graphic materials. Where paper and card give a printable, foldable surface, polymers give transparency, waterproofing, flexibility and durability that fibre cannot. A clear drinks bottle, a laminating pouch, a self-adhesive vinyl shop sign, a polypropylene presentation folder and a 3D-printed model are all graphic products made from polymers. For the designer, the skill is knowing which named polymer gives the right balance of clarity, toughness, cost and recyclability.

This note covers the graphic-products polymer objectives: how polymers are classified into thermoplastics, thermosets and biopolymers; the stock forms (sheet, film, board, granule, resin) that the graphic designer actually buys; the properties that decide a choice; the named polymers from PET to PLA and from PVC to epoxy resin and what each is used for; and the environmental questions that now shape every polymer decision. The named materials are the heart of the syllabus, so each one is given a clear identity, property and use.