Composite materials

Other materials:

Composite plastic cards most often consist of PET at the core with PVC outer layers. PET delivers flexibility and durability, while PVC brings cost-effectiveness and ease of personalisation using standard dye-sub direct card printers.

As a general rule, PVC-only cards last up to four years, composite PET/PVC last up to four and PET around 10 years. Flex life varies as well, with 35,000 flexes for PVC to over 55,000 for polyester, with composite cards somewhere in between.

Databac's DuraCard contains different proportions of PET and PVC according to the required price/performance.

Other compositions

Other combinations also work well. Teslin substrate can enhance the durability of all-polycarbonate or PVC cards when used as composite-card print layer(s), retaining laser engraving or embossing capability.

Though considered pure polyester, cards such as TOUGH card combine layers of PET and polyethylene, a thermoplastic highly resistant to electricity and heat. These bonded layers make TOUGH card one of the strongest, most flexible polyester card on the market to date, suitable for standard direct card printers.

PVC can also bond to PC to enable dye-sublimation card printing, as well as to PLA (polylactide acid) for a printable card that is more eco-friendly.

Find out more about TOUGH card.
Find out more about DuraCard.