Shape Retaining Plastic

could it be UHMW?

I just dealt with a substance called Rilon, that had similar prorerties but was more like a rubberised nylon that bent only one way.

Really cool stuff! And a GA to you for the correct answer to the question.

Gracias mi amigo!

Great! Thank you. I can't believe I didn't find this when I was doing my search.

EXTRACT

This plastic looks just like acrylic but has a toughness approaching polycarbonate and can be permanently formed into shape without heating – thus avoiding the use of ovens, strip heaters etc. It is also a shape-memory polymer since it will return to its original flat form on application of moderate heat – e.g., immersion in very hot water. To form the sheet, you can simply bend it by hand or using sheet metal folding equipment. (Alternatively, the sheet can be thermo-formed using conventional heating methods).

CFP comes as a 3mm thick optically clear sheet indistinguishable from clear acrylic. For those familiar with handling acrylic, the material is counter-intuitive since the expectation is that it will fracture. Bending this material makes a great demonstration of a new type of polymer that can be used safely without heat. It also has tremendous potential for creating a wide variety of impact-resistant products.

The material is ELASTIC. Every material in solid form has an elastic limit of working. Within this limit of Stress, any force applied will strain the material in the direction of force, but when the force is removed, the material will get it's original shape. The flextural rigidity is another name of property. The ratio of Stress to Strain is measured as Young's Modulus or 'modulus of elasticity'. This property is observed in all solids in all shapes, at elemental level and alloyed materials.

Whether Polyethylene or PVC, it is Fibre Reinforced Plastic, giving the directional elastic properties. Say, the same material is used as basic supporting (like cloth) in a Chair. Then sitting and standing from chair will show the elasticity of FRP, in working stress direction of the Chair buttock support.

Even Indian companies make FRP of good quality. Majority of Plastics are fibre reinforced for directional/ all over strength. Many metals are used in industries for a design stress within elastic limit, to give minimal material usage, better spacious designs, desired force balance and every engineering aspect.

If more questions, on subject, welcome to my email address.

I do not believe that you grasp the particular material or property we are discussing.

Do you work for Microsoft's help documentation department by any chance?

Good one.

Could this be the thingy inside the bendable neck pillows seen on TV? But wait, call now and........

Hey, I am looking for the same thing. If you find it, please send me the information. If I find it, I will send the information to you.

Thanks,

Rick Hill