What Are The Best Clear Plastics for Your PPE Solutions?
Polycarbonate, Acrylic, PETG, Polyester, Rigid PVC, and PC/PMMA are some of the best clear plastic solutions for PPE. Let’s learn all the details about these materials.
Since the global pandemic, people have become more concerned about using safety elements like sanitizers and personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE can safeguard against most biological, physical, chemical, and environmental risks.
Most PPE items are made using plastic, and among them, clear plastic is often preferred by most people, as it’s sometimes necessary to have clear gear to see or let people see through the equipment. Let’s get to know the best clear PPE solutions available on the market.
Some Common PPE Solutions Made of Clear Plastic
Face Mask Shields
A face mask shield is a type of face visor made with clear plastic that covers the entire face of the person wearing it. This face shield acts like a protective barrier and safeguards your face from any airborne particles, germs, droplets, coughs, sneezes, and splashes.
Usually, these mask shields are used mostly in laboratories and hospitals, but many common people also wear them for more safety.
Face Mask Comfort Clips
For proper protection, one must wear the face mask correctly by ensuring their mouth and nose are covered. Sometimes the mask doesn’t fit well or feels uncomfortable. To solve the problem, comfort clips help by adjusting the mask to fit perfectly. Usually, these face mask comfort clips are made of clear plastic for aesthetic reasons.
Face Mask Dispensers
A face mask dispenser is an appliance that stores disposable face masks hygienically and dispenses them conveniently when needed. The dispenser is made of clear plastic so that we can see how many masks are left or if it needs to be restocked soon. You can find face mask dispensers in public facilities.
Sneeze Guards
A sneeze guard, or cough shield, is a kind of protective barrier that is placed between individuals. This guard helps prevent respiratory droplets and airborne particles from spreading germs in various surroundings. Clear plastic is used to make these sneeze guards, and you can usually see them in places where people interact closely, like laboratories, hospitals, stores, etc.
The Best Clear Plastic Materials for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
There are several types of clear plastic materials available on the market to use for personal protective equipment, or PPE. However, they all have their own set of advantages and limitations that you need to know before using them. Here are some of the best clear plastics:
Acrylic Sheets
Acrylic, or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a highly transparent plastic that can withstand scratches. That’s why acrylic sheets often make protective barriers like sneeze guards, windshields, and face shields. However, these sheets are less durable than other plastics, so they’re not suited for high-impact applications.
Polycarbonate Sheets
Polycarbonate, or PC, is one of the best transparent plastics, and it is not only highly impact-resistant but also offers high visual clarity. This material is lightweight, can be easily molded, and is tamperproof.
However, polycarbonate can’t withstand scratches very well, so it sometimes requires a scratch-resistant coating and anti-fog coating. Since it doesn’t shatter easily, polycarbonate is often used to make eyeglasses, safety goggles, bullet-proof glass, and face shields.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG is resistant to impact and chemicals, lightweight, and provides excellent transparent vision. It’s mainly used in face visors and shields for the medical industry because it meets FDA requirements. Although it’s strong enough to provide the required protection, it’s less durable than polycarbonate.
Polyester
Polyester is a durable and rigid plastic that can withstand chemicals and tear and offers excellent dimensional stability. This material is mainly used to make disposable face shields, laminating, packaging, safety equipment, greenhouse, etc.
Rigid PVC
Rigid PVC is a transparent material with good flame resistance. It is usually used as a front panel, a machine’s viewing window.
New Material
PC/PMMA is a new material with optical transparency. It offers similar impact resistance to polycarbonate and scratch resistance to PMMA. In addition, it can be coated with better scratch resistance and anti-fogging function. The common thickness is from 0.25mm to 3mm. If you need PC/PMMA material, contact UVTECO to discuss your project now.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Clear Plastic Materials for PPE
Not all plastic materials are suitable for every protective situation. You need to ensure the material you choose provides you with the highest level of safety possible. There are several factors you need to consider when choosing clear plastic for your PPE, such as:
Conclusion
We recommend you do thorough research or consult experts before choosing a clear plastic for your PPE applications, as the criteria can change depending on the environment and application procedure. You can also do field tests to determine which material suits a particular job. Also, make sure you’re always updated on safety standards and regulations.
Need a supplier of clear plastic
If you are a manufacturer, startup company, or amateur in PPE products and need a trustworthy supplier of clear plastic, UVTECO is a good partner for you.
UVTECO is an expert in clear plastic. We have many projects related to clear plastic. Therefore, we can provide valuable experience and material for your PPE products. Contact us now.
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