KYDEX® Thermoplastics can deliver an architectural and consistent look and feel while improving durability and functionality.
They are impact, chemical- and stain- resistant, ideal for high traffic areas such as wall panels, acoustic panels, kiosk housings, building materials, check-out stands, counter tops, and point of sale.
Why SEKISUI KYDEX?
We are more than a raw material supplier, we are a solution provider. As your collaborative partner we put innovation at the forefront by guiding you through your project from beginning to end. The experts in our Innovation Centers, designLab® and appLab™, are available to help you identify the best solutions for your applications.
CUSTOMIZE YOUR JOURNEY
Sustainability Initiatives
SEKISUI KYDEX focuses on making the planet better for future generations by ensuring the lifecycle of KYDEX® Thermoplastics is a sustainable one.
In House Recycling:
UltraPoly
SEKISUI Zero
Emissions Program Certification
Waste converted
to energy powers
our campuses
ISO 14001:
2015
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Initiative
BUILDING PRODUCTS
KYDEX® Thermoplastics offer unlimited possibilities to customize color to match your brand and palette. We work with each customer to develop custom imaging and designs that become part of the material, integrating subtle brand and design cues that enhance the overall look and feel of the space. Color consistency throughout the material reduces the appearance of marks and scratches.
Thermoplastic sheets can conform to horizontal and vertical surfaces including sharp corners, compound curves, and undercuts, and offer an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional materials. Our quick response manufacturing model allows us to manufacture bespoke materials with short lead times in small quantities.
When to Consider Thermoplastics
- Production runs ranging from 10 to 1,500 units
- Short component part lead time
- Larger parts that would require costly injection molding tooling
- Need improved durability and weatherability
- Improve design aesthetic qualities
CONVERTING TO THERMOPLASTICS
KYDEX® Thermoplastics have distinct design,
cost, and environmental advantages over
fiberglass and HPL.
Light weight, KYDEX® Thermoplastics including Infused Imaging™ are 100% recyclable making them an environmentally sound solution that supports end-of-life recyclability and life-cycle design. The manufacturing processes do not outgas VOCs or produce hazardous waste.
KYDEX® Thermoplastics offer more complex geometries and improved aesthetics than the alternatives.
In addition, as part numbers increase, costs are reduced when using KYDEX® Thermoplastics because they are less labor intensive and do not require painting.
| KYDEX® Thermoplastics | High Pressure Laminate | Fiberglass | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DURABILITY | Excellent — No color layer to wear through. Doesn’t chip or crack. | Thin cosmetic layer that wears through with abrasion. Prone to cracking and chipping. | Surface chips/cracks |
| CHEMICAL RESISTANCE | Excellent — Resists harsh disinfectants including Quats (Quaternary Ammonium Compounds) | Varies, only premium grades are chemical resistant | Good. Cosmetic layer resists many chemical cleaners |
| CUSTOMIZATION & DESIGN | Integral custom colors available with low MOQ. Metallic options. Textures and custom Infused Imaging™ options | Limited options | Limited options |
| SUSTAINABILITY / ENVIRONMENTAL | Excellent — 100% recyclable. No plasticizers. Green Guard certified. Silica Free. | Non-recyclable. Hazardous to process. Contains Silica | Non-recyclable. Hazardous to process. Silica Free |
| EASE OF FABRICATION | Excellent — Can be heat bent, cold fabricated, laminated, membrane pressed and adhered to a multitude of substrates | Brittle and damages easily during installation. Limited fabrication options | Flat lamination only |
| ASTM E84 CLASS 1A | Standard | Optional | Optional |
PRODUCTION PROCESSES
Flat Laminating
- KYDEX® 3D Laminate can be adhered to wood, metal, gypsum, profiled aluminum sheets, and rigid foam using commercially available adhesives, and hot or cold pressing methods.
- The result is a protective surface that does not chip, crack, break, or snap.
Miter Folding
- Wood substrates laminated with KYDEX® 3D Laminate can be miter folded to produce seamless outside corners of cabinets, drop-front shelving or table legs by routing a Vgroove(miter) across the backside of the wood without touching the laminate.
- Both mitered wood edges are then sprayed with adhesive and hinged on the laminate to close the groove, forming a seamless outside corner.
Membrane Pressing
- Uses vacuum and pressure to apply heated KYDEX® 3D Laminate onto a wood or composite substrate.
- The substrate can be routed to any three-dimensional shape including compound curves, undercut edges, profiles, sharp details and rounded corners.
- Substrates are sprayed with adhesive and rolled into a heating chamber with KYDEX® 3D Laminate suspended above.
- The sheet is heated while vacuum and pressure press the laminate onto the substrate and into recesses, encapsulating all but the bottom surface (which can be pre-laminated with matching melamine or flat laminated with KYDEX® 3D Laminate).
Fabricating and Machining
- KYDEX® sheet is easy to saw, die cut, shear, route, drill, sand, file, mill, and machine using conventional tools.
- It can be post-formed and brakeformed (with or without wire heating), or heat welded to create seamless, sanitary corners.
- Joining is accomplished using screws, rivets, other fasteners or commercially available adhesives without the cracking, chipping or snapping associated with many thermoplastic and thermoset sheet products.
KYDEX® sheet is also available in heavier gauges that are self-supporting and can be utilized without a substrate for fabrication, forming and machining brackets, partitions, housings and other accessories that match your fixture components.
If your current sources do not offer membrane pressing, our appLab™ team can provide you with guidance and or additional resources.
CLEANABILITY & CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
Aggressive cleaning agents and disinfectants are critical in eliminating surface bacteria and fungi to reduce the spread of disease.
Testing results confirmed that KYDEX® Thermoplastics:
- are not adversely affected by hospital-grade CDC recognized disinfectants (quaternary ammonium compounds, sodium hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acids)
- perform without loss of surface finish, colour fastness, or degradation of mechanical and physical properties
Using the right materials and understanding their compatibility with disinfectants is vital to ensuring a long, functional life.
| Product Name | Active Technology | EPA REG # |
|---|---|---|
| Super Sani-Cloth® Germicidal Disposable Wipes | n-Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides; n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides; Isopropyl Alcohol | 9480-4 |
| Sani-Cloth® AF3 Germicidal Disposable Wipes | n-Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides; n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides | 9480-9 |
| Sani-Cloth® Bleach Germicidal Disposable Wipes | Sodium hypochlorite | 9480-8 |
| Sani-Cloth® Prime Germicidal Disposable Wipes | Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride; Ethyl Alcohol; Isopropyl Alcohol | 9480-12 |
| Sani-HyPerCide™ Germicidal Spray | Hydrogen peroxide | 9480-14 |
| Sani-24® Germicidal Spray | Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; Dioctyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; Ethanol | 42182-9 |
| Sani-Prime® Germicidal Spray | Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride; Ethyl Alcohol; Isopropyl Alcohol | 9480-10 |
| CaviCide™ AF | Diethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether; Alkyl dimethyl ethylbenzyl ammonium chlorides; Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides | 46781-12 |
| CaviWipes™ Bleach | Sodium hypochlorite; Other Ingredients | 46781-14 |
| Caviwipes1™ | Isopropanol; Ethanol; Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether; Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate; Sodium Hydroxide; Surfactant | 46781-13 |
| Caviwipes™ | Isopropanol; Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether; Diisobutylphenoxyethoxyethyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; Sodium Hydroxide; Surfactants | 46781-13 |
| Clorox® Disinfecting Spray | Sodium nitrite; n-Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride; Octyl decyl dimethyl ammonium chloride | 67619-21 |
| Dispatch® Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant Towels with Bleach | Sodium hypochlorite | 56392-8 |
| LpH® se | Phosphoric acid; 2-Phenylphenol; 4-tert-pentylphenol; Isopropyl alcohol; Sulfonic acids; Sodium xylene sulfonate; Benzenesulfonic acid | 1043-91 |
| Lysol® Brand Disinfectant Concentrate | Didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride; Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides; Sodium hydroxide | 675-54 |
| Professional Lysol® Brand Disinfectant Spray | Ethyl alcohol; Butane; Propane | 777-127 |
| Sporicidin Disinfectant Solution | Phenol; Sodium phenate | 8383-3 |
| Sporicidin Disinfectant Towelette | Phenol; Sodium phenate | 8383-7 |
| Vesphene® IIse | Sulfonic acids; 2-Phenylphenol; 4-tert-pentylphenol; Potassium hydroxide; Phosphoric acid; Sodium hydroxide; Sodium xylene sulfonate | 1043-87 |
These products are found on EPA’s website as List N entitled Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19). On April 2, 2020, the CDC updated their recommendations to refer to List N on the EPA website for EPA-registered disinfectants that have qualified under EPA’s emerging viral pathogens program for use against SARS-CoV-2. Link to EPA website, List N: https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-coronavirus-covid-19
INNOVATION CENTERS
CUSTOMIZATION CREATED THROUGH INNOVATION
The SEKISUI KYDEX Innovation Centers, designLab® and appLabTM, are where engineering and design meet. They are collaborative spaces for clients and customers to bring the supply chain together for rapid prototyping and to inspire colour, material, and finish designers. Every interaction is curated to help customer reach their goals. Focused not only on products and processes, they are also designed for paths of discovery and exploration. Visitors explore ‘what if?’ questions and leave with tangible, actionable ideas.
designLab® is where art and science combine in a collaboration space for industry thought leaders to develop a deeper understanding of colour and design. Explore the latest in 3D virtualization with X-Rite’s TAC™ Ecosystem. Use vivid colours, textiles, imagery, technology, and real-world examples to create your own prototype.
- designLab® Exploration
- Custom Colour Creation
- Infused Imaging™ Design
- X-Rite TAC™ Ecosystem
Inside appLab™, OEM industrial engineers and designers have plenty of room to explore – and ideas have plenty of room to grow. The appLab team uses dedicated fabrication tools, test equipment, and technology to develop, refine, and produce custom solutions that are production ready.
- Part Prototypes
- Mold Design
- Certifications and Regulatory Requirements
- Thermoplastics Training
- Physical Properties
- Testing Thermoforming
Infused Imaging™ puts colour and imagery into thermoplastic material.
Not on it.
Infused Imaging™ is a proprietary process that embeds imagery into thermoplastic material.
Durability is enhanced because it does not chip, fade, or delaminate the way capped and traditionally printed images can.
| Process | No Delamination |
No Start-Up/ Inventory Costs |
Low Minimum Requirements |
Single Step |
No Material Waste |
No Toxic Chemicals |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Competitor Process |
CAPPED [in-line] | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ■ |
| CAPPED [press lamination] | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ■ | |
| HYDROGRAPHICS | ■ | ■ | ■ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | |
| SILK SCREEN / DIGITAL PRINTING | ■ | ■ | ■ | ✕ | ■ | ✕ | |
| Infused Imaging™ |
INFUSED IMAGING™ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ | ■ |
ORDER OPTIONS
MOQs
Minimum Order Quantity
Based on 1220mm x 2440mm (48”x 96”) sheet, minimum order quantities based on gauge are:
| mm | in | qty |
|---|---|---|
| 0.71 | 0.028″ | 90 |
| 1.02 | 0.040″ | 60 |
| 1.52 | 0.060″ | 48 |
| 2.03 | 0.080″ | 36 |
| 2.36 | 0.093″ | 30 |
| 3.18 | 0.125″ | 24 |
Based on 1448mm x 3048mm (57” x 120”) sheet, minimum order quantities based on gauge are:
| mm | in | qty |
|---|---|---|
| 0.71 | 0.028″ | 65 |
- Gauges available vary by product
- Texture availability dependent on product
- Custom colors available in all products
- Custom blank sizes available in all products
Gauges
HPL
Standard HPL sheets available in sizes up to 60×120’.
Rolls up to 300’ in length available by request.
KYDEX® Thermoplastics Textures
Strategic use of textures for different applications throughout the rail car interior can elevate passenger mood and experience. KYDEX® Thermoplastics are available in multiple variations of texture to promote innovative tactile design.
KYDEX® 2200 and 2210 are only available in P3 and PC textures.
SUSTAINABILITY
SEKISUI KYDEX focuses on making the planet better for future generations by ensuring the lifecycle of KYDEX Thermoplastics is a sustainable one. Here, being “green” is no recent trend. In fact, being environmentally responsible is an essential part of our business philosophy. We strive to produce and sell all of our products while keeping with our commitment to and regard for safety, health, and environmental protection worldwide.
Recycling Process
Materials from the extrusion, thermoforming, and end-use applications are recycled.
KYDEX® Thermoplastics support sustainable building interior design by offering 100% recyclable materials that contain no plasticizers, are Greenguard certified, silica free, and do not outgas VOCs during manufacturing. Their integral color means no surface layer to wear through — extending service life and reducing replacement waste.
Whether it’s the material or the process, medical device manufacturers are considering their device’s impact on the earth. The design and engineering teams are taking into consideration what will be the impact of this device after its lifecycle is complete? The challenge is in understanding if sustainability is only about the ability to recycle materials or if it includes the imact of the manufacturing process of the materials from the beginning. This is where material education will be key over the next few years to get more sustainable solutions in use on medical devices.
For SEKISUI KYDEX, sustainability is built into KYDEX® Thermoplastics from cradle to cradle. First, KYDEX® Thermoplastics are made from domestically sourced PVC / Acrylic technology whose base chemistry is salt and natural gas. As it’s a rigid sheet, no plasticizers are used in the manufacturing process which often gives PVC a negative connotation.