Everything you wanted (and some you didn't ) to know about Kydex.

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This information comes from a company called Regal Plastics.

Kydex thermoplastic sheets for vacuum and pressure forming are products of the Kleerdex Company.
Based on proprietary acrylic/PVC formulations, all Kydex thermoplastic sheet grades deliver an unmatched combination of performance and cost advantages. All grades of Kydex sheet offer the following characteristics:
Physical Properties
*MODULUS OF ELASTICITY
Kydex thermoplastic is among the most rigid of thermoforming materials, resulting in parts that deform less when loaded, which is particularly important in deep formed parts with thinwall sections.

*Abrasion Resistance
Kydex sheet performs very well in abrasion resistant tests. Parts made from it invariably last a long time and maintain their high quality surface finish.

*Dementional Stability
Very low water absorption and relatively low coeffeciant of thermal expansion give parts formed from kydex high deminsional stability.

*Chemical Resistance
From sulfuric acid to hydrocarbons, Kydex acrylic/PVC alloy is more resistant to a wider range of concentrated chemicals than any other thermoplastic.

FABRICATION
*Wide Forming Range at Low Forming Temperatures
Kydex sheet can be thermoformed at temperatures between 320*F and 390*F. Tooling can range from wood quick turnarounds and prototyping to epoxy or aluminum for longer runs.

*Superior Extensibility
Forms to deeper draws than competitive materials when heated to the proper thermoforming temperature for it's thickness.

*excellent Hot Tear Strength
Unlike many thermofomable sheets, Kydex has unusual resistance to hot-tearing.

*Uniform Wall Thickness
Special forming techniques and selctive heating are seldom necessary to achive uniform wall thicknesses. Because of it's high hot-tear strength, thermoforming with Kydex sheet generally results in more uniform wall thickness than competive materials. This frequently allows for down gauging the sheet thickness while retaining minnimum wall thicknesses in the formed part.

*Machineability
Kydex sheet is extremely easy to work with. It can be formed on standard equipment. It can be die-cut on standard die-cutting machines. All secondary opperations are possible including: machineing, sawing, shearing, drilling, punching, brake forming, sanding,and polishing. In addition, Kydex sheet can be joined to itself or other materials by cementing or mechanical fastening.

KYDEX 100
Acrylic/PVC fire retardant sheet which is used for vaccum and pressure forming of high performance components. Of the three standard formulations of Kydex, Kydex 100 offers the the highest performance and the highest level of impact resistance.

KYDEX T
A proprietary acrylic/PVC fire retardant sheet for general thermoforming. Kydex T is is a cost competitive alternative to fire retardant ABS/PVC (FR-ABS) formulations while providing higher impact strength, rigidity, tensile strength, abrasion resistance, and extensibility. Unlike FR-ABS, Kydex T normally requires no drying, and offers significantly greater resistance to a broad range of corrosive chemicals and cleaning solutions.

KYDEX L
Laminating grade, fire rated sheet, used for store fixtures, exibits, door sufacingand partitions. Unlike most high pressure laminates, color is integral throughout the sheet. Class 1/A rated at (.040" and thinner), this sheet is ULSTD 94 V-0 listed by Underwriters Laboratories.

Typical Applications for Kydex 100 and T
Equipment housings (cash registers, photocopy machines, grilles, instument panels, x-ray machines, computers, key boards, etc.
Ortopedicproducts (braces of all types)
Consumer products (holsters, medical alert systems, housings for lawn/garden/recreational equipment, etc.)

KYDEX 6565
A proprietary acrylic/PVC fire retardant sheet for vacuum and pressure forming of aircraft interior components. Kydex 6565 meets all fire retardancy requirements set forth in Federal Aviation Regulation25.853 parragraphs(a), (b), and (c) (old [a-1]). It also exibits a broad range of outstanding physical, mechanical, and thermal properties, and is easy to form, making it the ideal material from which to form a broad variety of two- and three-deminsional aircraft components.

Typical Applications
Air ducts
Armrests
Bulkhead laminates
Escape slide packboards
Galley parts
Instrument panels
Lavatory floorpans
Lifevest shrouds
Lightning housings
Moulding strips
Passenger service units
Sidewall panels
Toilet shrrouds
Tray tables
Window reveals

Product Availability
Custom colors, sizes, thicknesses, and rolls are available.
33 Standard Colors are available.

Colors
Amethest 42111
Angora 72174
Beige 72005
Blue:
Buoyant 42112
Cadet 42000
Canyon 42107
Pastel 42031
peacock 42108
Bordeaux 12036
Cabernet 12038
Calcutta Black 52000
Chocolate 72010
Cocoa 72047
Daybreak 72177
Dusty Rose 72176
Gray:
Dark 52002
Pewter 52001
Green:
Mystic 32060
Ivory 62015
Misty Muave 72178
Monterey 62033
Orange 22031
Parchment 72000
Pinstripe 52070
Polar White 62000
Red 12000
Rooster Red 12037
Rouge 72175
Sandy Beach 72179
Snowflake 62029
Thunder 42109
Treasure Chest 32059
Twilight 42110

Textures
P-1 Haircell
P-E Smooth
P-3 Velour Matte
P-C Level Haircell
P-8 Suede
P-F Levant
P-7 Stipple
P-G Contour
P-A Smooth (LTD Grades)

Thickness
.028" (0.7mm)
.040"(1.0mm)
.060"(1.5mm)
.080"(2.0mm)
.093"(2.4mm)
.125"(3.2mm)
.156"(4.0mm)
.187"(4.8mm)
.250"(6.4mm)
.312"(7.9mm)

Sheet Sizes

Standard Widths
36", 48", 60"

Standard Lengths
24" to 120"

Rolls
24" x 120' (36.58m x .61m)
36" x 120' (36.58m x .91m)
48" x 120' (36.58m x 1.22m)
Custom roll sizes also available (in .028" and .040" only)

I never realized how many colors and textures there are!
This is great! I plan on getting in contact with these guys and get some black and orange for some hunting knives and who knows what else!

 

[SkaerE]

generally if you want something other than black or white its a special production run. (ie, you must buy it by the cases, 10-20 sheets depending on thickness)

but hey, if you've got the dough to order 20 4x8 sheets of orange kydex go fer it

 

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Hmmmm.... Maybe 33 STANDARD colors mean something different to you and me.

There is a distribution center near me so I'll find out.
Who knows you may be right though.

Where did you get your info?

 

[SkaerE]

standard colors, as in "we can make these colors without changing anything that we have set up" as opposed to custom colors where they may have to mix two together etc. just because its standard doesnt mean it is always kept in stock.

depends on the distributor though. im sure some of them stock other colors but most stock black and white and maybe a few other simple colors. (since they are sold most often) i doubt you will find blaze orange anywhere. course some folks may suprise you.

got the info from kleerdex (company that invented kydex)

i would think they would know what they are talking about. but like i said, ultimately it depends on what specific distributors stock...

 

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Cool, thanks SkaerE,looks like ya allready beat me to the research.
Appreciate the info, now I won't be too dissapointed going there to find out they possibly don't carry what I need. But I'll still remain optimistic.

 

[L6steel]

I tried emailing those people several times to find out the price for a 24" by 120' roll of black .060 thick haircell but they never once answered me.

 

[Terry_Dodson]

I just got my sheet of Kydex and Kydex black rivets. Now my question is how do i set the rivets? I thought there would be 2 different size pieces but they all look the same. I got these rivets:
http://www.knifeandgun.com/catalog/kydex_rivets_1534292.htm

if someone can post how to set them (pictures are good for me ) i would appreciate it. I thought they would work like eyelettes, but i guess not. Thanks.