Materials

in Visual Merchandising
Acrylic

This lightweight
thermoplastic is an
effective glass alternative
with thermal insulation
properties.

It is known for its
attractive glossy surface
that is available in clear
or nearly any color and in
transparent, translucent
and opaque options.

Properties of Acrylic

•  Excellent clarity
•  Lightweight
•  Good impact resistance
•  Outstanding thermal insulator
•  UV resistant
•  Easy to heat-form

Applications for Acrylic Parts

•  Aircraft windows
•  Signs
•  Sky lights
•  Sight gauges
•  Medical components
•  Point-of-purchase displays

Cost- 5 mm 200-300/-per sqft.

MDF Board
Medium-density
fiberboard (MDF) is an
engineered wood
product made by
breaking down
hardwood or softwood
residuals into wood
fibers.

MDF is generally more
dense than plywood. It
is made up of separated
fibers, but can be used
as a building materials,
similar in application to
plywood.

It is stronger, and more
dense, than particle
board.
Properties Of MDF

•  The internal structure is homogeneous, the density is moderate, the dimensional
stability is good.
•  The physical and mechanical properties of the static bending strength, the internal
bonding strength are better than the particleboard.
•  Smooth surface, can also be directly painted and printed decoration.
•  Medium density fiberboard large format, plate thickness can also be in 2.5~35mm
range changes, can be produced according to different purposes.
•  Mechanical processing performance is good, sawing, drilling, tension, milling, sanding
and other processing properties similar to wood, and some even better than wood.
•  Easy to carve and milling into various types of surface, shape of the furniture parts,
processing into the special edge of the edge can not be sealed directly paint and other
finishing treatment.
•  In MDF production process to add waterproof agent, fire agent, preservatives and
other chemical agents, the production of special-purpose MDF.

Cost 40 -60 Rs/sqft

Particle Board

Particle board is a relatively

new engineered wood product
made from wood waste such as
wood chips, sawdust and wood
shavings.

It is used in home and office
furniture is increasing rapidly
due to its easy availability and
low costs.

Before buying particle board,
one must be aware of particle
board properties like weight,
density, durability, strength,
etc.

Properties of Particle Board

Weight and Density:
As it is composed of wood chips, wood shavings and sawdust which are waste materials and
have very less weight, particle boards are also light in weight as compared to medium density
fiberboard or plywood. Due to its lightweight nature, they are easy to transport and handle.
Medium density fiberboards and high density fiberboards are denser than particle boards.

Strength:
Particle boards have low strength as they are made from weak materials like wood chips and
sawdust. They cannot withstand heavy loads and are used when load application is less.

Resistance to Moisture:
One of the most concerned properties of particle board is that it has low resistance to moisture.
In the presence of moisture, the boards experience swelling and development of cracks may
occur. Also, on exposure to moisture, particle board gets discolored.


Durability:
As it has low strength, particle boards are less durable as compared to plywood or solid wood. They last
3-5 years, but with proper care they have a durability of few more years. The durability can be
increased by covering the surface with laminates or wood veneer. Laminated particle board and
veneered particle board have useful life of 10-15 years.

Insulation:
Particle boards have good sound insulation properties; thus they are used in partition walls and ceilings
of recording studios and concert halls.

Fire Resistance:
Particle board can be made fire resistant by attaching a layer of melamine on the top surface.
Melamine particle boards are mostly used in manufacturing of industrial furniture.

Eco-Friendly:
Particle boards are eco-friendly materials as they are manufactured from recycled materials and waste
such as wood chips, wood shavings, sawdust, etc. Thus, it helps in environmental conservation to some
extent.


Cost- 40-50 Rs/sqft
Plywood


Plywood is wood
veneers bonded
together to produce a
flat sheet. An extremely
versatile product,
plywood is used for a
wide range of structural,
interior and exterior
applications - from
formwork through to
internal paneling.

Plywood offers the following benefits:

•  Increased stability
Plywood offers all the inherent advantages of the parent wood plus enhanced properties in
its laminated structure.

•  High impact resistance

Being a wood based material, plywood has the ability to accommodate the occasional short-
term overload; up to twice the design load. Plywood's laminated structure distributes loads
from impact over a larger area on the opposite face, which effectively reduces the tensile
stress.

•  Surface dimensional stability

The cross laminated construction of plywood ensures that plywood sheets remain relatively
stable under changes of temperature and moisture. This is especially important in flooring
and formwork construction where moisture exposure is very likely.

•  High strength to weight ratio

With high strength and stiffness to weight ratios, plywood is very cost effective to use in
structural applications such as flooring, wall partitions etc.


Cost-50-60/sqft
PVC (Poly Vinyl
Chloride)-

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC or Vinyl) is
an economical and versatile
thermoplastic polymer widely
used in building and construction
industry to produce door and
window profiles, pipes (drinking
and wastewater), wire and cable
insulation, medical devices, etc.

It is a white, brittle solid material
available in powder form or
granules. Due to its versatile
properties, such as lightweight,
durable, low cost and easy
processability, PVC is now
replacing traditional building
materials like wood, metal,
concrete, rubber, ceramics, etc. in
several applications.
Key Properties of PVC Polymer-

PVC is a very versatile and cost-effective material. Its main properties and benefits include:

Electrical Properties:
PVC is a good insulation material, thanks to its good dielectric strength.

Durability:
PVC is resistant to weathering, chemical rotting, corrosion, shock. It is therefore the preferred
choice for many long-life and outdoor products.

Flame Retardancy:
Because of its high chlorine content, PVC products are self- extinguishing. Its oxidation index
is ≥45. Antimony trioxide has been used extensively, usually in combination with phosphate
ester plasticizers, giving excellent fire performance and mechanical properties.

Cost/Performance Ratio:
PVC has good physical as well as mechanical properties and provides excellent cost-
performance advantages. It has long life span and need low maintenance.

Mechanical Properties:
PVC is abrasion-resistant, lightweight and tough.

Sun board-

Sun board, also known as foam sheet is a thin, light
weight and flat sheet of plastic.
It is mainly used for the manufacture of signs and
displays. It is rigid and can be printed upon.

Sun board sheets are made of low density
polystyrene. They have a smooth , even and coated
surface. Sun boards are available in a variety of
thicknesses ranging from 2 – 18 mm. They are also
available in a number of colors. But, the digital
printing industry typically uses sheets which are 3 – 5
mm thick for their printing applications. The color
used by default is white. Due to its low density, the
finished prints are extremely lightweight and can be
easily lifted.

Apart from gaining rigidity, prints are mounted on a
sheet of sun board also gain a very flat and even
finish. The low density of the sheets enables one to
cut the edges of the prints easily. The end result is a
smooth, stiff panel. This panel and be carried and
easily pasted on walls, doors, and glass partitions
using a strong 2 sided tape. One can also drill the
boards on a wall.
Properties of Sun board

Water Resistance: PVC foam boards have solid resistance to water due to its composition. When it
comes in contact with water, it does not swell or lose its composition. This makes is fit for all types
of weather.

Corrosion Resistance: When brought in contact with chemicals, PVC doesn’t react. This keeps its
state intact and saves it from any kind of deformation.

Fire Resistance: PVC foam boards can be used anywhere as they are fire resistant. There is no
effect of acid, heat or light on it.

High Strength & Durability: Due to the structure of its component molecules, PVC foam
boards are highly strong which ensures that they don’t undergo any deformation.

Easily shaped and painted: PVC can be given any shape to suit your requirements. It can be cut for
the furniture of your house or can be made into wall panels for exterior use. Also, it can be painted
with any type of paint which lasts for years and gives the look and feel as if it is new!

Pocket-friendly: They are a good substitute for wood or aluminum and they come in a variety of
price range. They don’t require any extra maintenance and stay in the same state for quite a long
time. No special equipment is required to cut or drill them and this makes them pocket-friendly to
use.

Cost- 60-80 Rs/ sqft
Card board

It is a material made from cellulose
fiber (such as wood pulp) like paper
but usually thicker

A cardboard box is basically made
up of a flute (made up of recycled
paper), sandwiched between two
liners. It is now very common for
these liners to also be made up of a
considerable proportion of recycled
content, sourced from old
cardboard or other sources of
second hand paper.

Properties of Cardboard

Durability-
Cardboard is known for its durability. The wood fibers that make up cardboard are strong and resilient.
Cardboard is puncture resistant and does not tear easily.

Insulating-
Corrugated cardboard has insulating properties due to the fluting design of its interior. The flutes also
trap air between the two layers of cardboard, extending the amount of time needed to transfer heat
energy from the exterior of the box to the interior.

Sustainability-
Since cardboard is made up of wood fibers, it is recyclable and sustainable. According to the Corrugated
Packaging Alliance, the average corrugated box is made with 43 percent recycled fiber. Cardboard is
also the most recycled material, and nearly all of the recycled cardboard is made into new cardboard
products. Cardboard is sustainable because the raw material comes from trees, a renewable resource.
Ninety-three percent of all corrugated boxes are made with raw material supplied by the Sustainable
Forestry Initiative, an organization that supports forest management.

Customizable-
Cardboard is easily customized to fit the needs of the end consumer. Cereal boxes are not corrugated,
while packing boxes are. Cardboard can also be cut and folded to make many different sized and
shaped boxes or displays. The paper material is easily printed with logos, warnings and other
information. It can be treated to be flame retardant or to control static electricity. Cardboard boxes are
often custom-made to fit shipping requirements or available shelf space.