PVC Foam Board
also Sintra/Celtec/Forex
PVC Foam Board is a closed-cell rigid PVC foam sheet made by free-foam or Celuka extrusion, supplied from 0.35 to 0.70 g/cm3 core density with a 0.5 g/cm3 default, plus flame-retardant (FR-B1), UV-stabilised, co-extruded and CaCO3-filled conditions.
Reference datasheet — PVC Foam Board is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the FF-0.50 condition
PVC Foam Board grades and fills
PVC Foam Board is supplied in 7 conditions, soft to hard. FF-0.50 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low-density free-foam board, 0.30–0.40 g/cm³ | Pick for lowest cost and weight in short-life indoor signage, exhibition panels and mounting board. | 6 | 40 Shore D | ||
FF-0.50Default Free-foam board, 0.50 g/cm³ | Default all-purpose signage/display board: best balance of weight, screw holding and price. | 10 | 12 | 50 Shore D | |
Flame-retardant building grade | Specify for interior wall/ceiling cladding, transport and electrical enclosures where a fire classification is mandatory. | 10 | 12 | 10 | 58 Shore D |
Mineral (CaCO₃) filled construction/formwork board | Lowest-cost heavily filled board for construction panels, formwork and non-critical partitions; stiffer but more brittle. | 11 | 6 | 62 Shore D | |
Celuka-process board with integral dense skin | Pick when a hard, smooth, print/paint-ready surface and better screw/edge strength are needed at similar overall weight. | 12 | 14 | 10 | 62 Shore D |
High-density free-foam board, 0.55–0.65 g/cm³ | Choose when screw retention, edge machining quality and panel stiffness matter (cabinet doors, jigs, models). | 13 | 55 Shore D | ||
Extra-high-density board, 0.65–0.80 g/cm³ | Use for structural furniture panels, CNC-milled parts and threaded/screwed assemblies needing maximum stiffness. | 17 | 60 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PVC Foam Board is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
COEX | Co-extruded board with solid rigid-PVC cap layer | Surface finish |
UV | Weather/UV-stabilised exterior board | Grade option |
What is PVC Foam Board?
PVC Foam Board is a closed-cell rigid PVC foam sheet made by free-foam or Celuka extrusion, supplied from 0.35 to 0.70 g/cm3 core density with a 0.5 g/cm3 default, plus flame-retardant (FR-B1), UV-stabilised, co-extruded and CaCO3-filled conditions. Engineers use it for light, weather-resistant, easily routed panels; sheet is the only product form, cut, drilled and screwed to size. Strength is low (about 10 MPa tensile, 12 % elongation, Shore D 50) and service temperature is capped near 60 °C, so it carries no structural load. Use solid rigid PVC or aluminium composite panel where stiffness or heat resistance is required. PVC Foam Board has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F). PVC Foam Board has a tensile strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi), weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 0.75 GPa (0.109 Msi).
What is PVC Foam Board used for?
- signage boards
- display panels
- cabinet/furniture panels
- bathroom/marine cladding
- lightweight structural panels
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.7 kg CO₂/kg, better than 87% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), better than 84% of polymer grades
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 65/100, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 60°C (140 °F), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.06 W/m·K (0.0347 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades
PVC Foam Board properties
Typical room-temperature values for PVC Foam Board-FF-0.50; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical4
PVC Foam Board has a density of 0.5 g/cm³ (0.0181 lb/in³), lighter than 84% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F).
Mechanical11
PVC Foam Board has a tensile strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi), weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 12% and the elastic modulus is 0.75 GPa (0.109 Msi).
Thermal10
PVC Foam Board is rated for continuous service to 60°C (140 °F). It conducts heat at 0.06 W/m·K (0.0347 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 84% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical4
PVC Foam Board is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 14 kV/mm (355.6 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is good.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PVC Foam Board takes about 70 MJ of energy and emits 2.7 kg of CO₂ — less than 93% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 15%.
Manufacturability5
PVC Foam Board's machinability is excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades); weldability good (55/100); formability very good (70/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PVC Foam Board is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PVC Foam Board
Is PVC Foam Board easy to machine?
Cuts, drills and CNC-routes like hardwood with carbide tools and high rake; use vacuum hold-down, moderate speeds and chip evacuation to avoid heat smearing of the cell walls.
Can PVC Foam Board be welded?
Hot-air/hot-plate welding and PVC solvent cement or PU/cyanoacrylate adhesives work on the skin, but weld and bond strength is limited by the low-density foam core; screws should be coarse-thread or bushed.
Can PVC Foam Board be formed, bent or molded?
Line-bend or thermoform at about 120–150 °C (sheet temperature); avoid deep draws since cells collapse and thickness/density change locally — extruded only, not injection-moulded.
PVC Foam Board chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| poly(vinyl chloride) resin (SG-5/SG-8, Ksuspension PVC homopolymer base | 55 – 75 | 65 |
| calcium carbonate (filler)higher in construction/economy board | 5 – 30 | 15 |
| Ca–Zn or organotin heat stabiliser | 2 – 6 | 4 |
| acrylic processing aid / impact modifiercontrols cell structure and toughness | 3 – 9 | 6 |
| titanium dioxide (TiO2)whitening + UV screening | 1 – 5 | 3 |
| azodicarbonamide + NaHCO3 blowing agent | 0.3 – 1.2 | 0.7 |
| internal/external lubricants and stearat | 0.5 – 2 | 1.2 |
What surface finishes work on PVC Foam Board?
Accepts screen, UV and solvent digital printing, vinyl films, and acrylic/PU paints directly after cleaning; cut edges are porous and should be sealed or edge-banded, and no true polish is achievable.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PVC Foam Board in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Sintra/Celtec/Forex
How much does PVC Foam Board cost?
PVC Foam Board is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PVC Foam Board — frequently asked
What is PVC Foam Board used for?
PVC Foam Board is typically used for signage boards, display panels, cabinet/furniture panels, bathroom/marine cladding and lightweight structural panels. In short: lightest routable PVC sheet; best-machining rigid foam; weather-resistant sign panel.
What is the tensile strength of PVC Foam Board?
PVC Foam Board has a typical tensile strength of 10 MPa (1.45 ksi) — weaker than 79% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is PVC Foam Board easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (90/100, better than 95% of polymer grades). Cuts, drills and CNC-routes like hardwood with carbide tools and high rake; use vacuum hold-down, moderate speeds and chip evacuation to avoid heat smearing of the cell walls.
Can PVC Foam Board be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Hot-air/hot-plate welding and PVC solvent cement or PU/cyanoacrylate adhesives work on the skin, but weld and bond strength is limited by the low-density foam core; screws should be coarse-thread or bushed.
What surface finishes work on PVC Foam Board?
Accepts screen, UV and solvent digital printing, vinyl films, and acrylic/PU paints directly after cleaning; cut edges are porous and should be sealed or edge-banded, and no true polish is achievable.
Can PVC Foam Board be formed, bent or molded?
Line-bend or thermoform at about 120–150 °C (sheet temperature); avoid deep draws since cells collapse and thickness/density change locally — extruded only, not injection-moulded.
What is the maximum service temperature of PVC Foam Board?
PVC Foam Board is rated for continuous use to about 60°C (140 °F), and briefly to 70°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PVC Foam Board FF-0.50 and PVC Foam Board CELUKA?
FF-0.50 is the default condition — default all-purpose signage/display board: best balance of weight, screw holding and price. CELUKA: pick when a hard, smooth, print/paint-ready surface and better screw/edge strength are needed at similar overall weight.
How much does PVC Foam Board cost?
PVC Foam Board is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- Forex Classic expanded PVC sheet technical data — 3A Composites (2022)
- Celtec / Sintra expanded PVC sheet product data — 3A Composites / Vycom (2021)
- ASTM D1621 / D790 / D638 test methods for rigid cellular plastics — ASTM (2020)
- PVC Handbook — Hanser (2005)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.