1. THERMOPLASTIC – this type of plastic can be heated up and shaped over and over again
THERMOSETTING PLASTIC – this type of plastic can only be heated up and shaped once.
CORRIFLUTE - like corrugated card but plastic. Strong, lightweight, good for packaging, A3 folders
FOAMBOARD – a layer of foam in between two thin layers of card. Strong, lightweight, used for modelling, art work etc.
RIGID FOAM – used for modelling, Styrofoam. This is a light-weight dense foam. It is easy to shape with saws, files and abrasive paper and is ideal as a model making material. Can be joined using PVA glue and painted using water based paints. Some paints and glues will dissolve the material.
ACETATE – thin transparent plastic, used on overhead projectors
POLYSTYRENE – high impact polystyrene used for vacuum forming. Available in different thicknesses and colours. Variety of uses, packaging etc.
SELF ADHESIVE VINYL – thin sticky back plastic used for stickers/labels

2. THE STRIP HEATER
STAGE 1 – the required fold line is marked onto the plastic
STAGE 2 - The plastic is placed across the rests, above the heating element The strip heater is turned on and the plastic is turned over every 30 seconds - one minute. This stops the heat rising from the element damaging the surface of the plastic.
STAGE 3 - When the plastic becomes flexible it is placed in a ‘jig’. The jig is made to the correct angle, 90 degrees in this case. A square section block is then pressed against the plastic to hold it in position as it cools.

3. THE VACUUM FORMER - used to form/shape thin plastic, usually plastics such as; polythene and perspex
1. First, a former is made from a material such as a soft wood. The edges or sides are shaped at an angle so that when the plastic is formed over it, the former can be removed easily.

4. The plastic sheet is removed from the vacuum former
The plastic sheet is removed from the vacuum former. The sheet has the shape of the former pressed into its surface.
The excess plastic is trimmed so that only the plastic bowl remains - the completed item.