The Advantage Of Using Sintra Material To Fabricate Indoor And Outdoor Signage

By Author: Sigal Barnea
Total Articles: 5
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Sintra is basically a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) - Expended closed cell foam core material, simply a sheet of vinyl. It is lightweight yet rigid, versatile and durable board.
We will try to explain the pros and cons of Sintra for indoor and outdoor uses when fabricating signs, logos and letters.
So, how does Sintra material enhance decor for indoor and outdoor spaces?

Material Characteristics:
Sintra boards (sometimes called Sentra plastic sheets) come in many colors with a low gloss smooth matte finish on both sides, ranging from 1/4" to 1" in thickness.
For anything thicker than 1", layers can be glued together using a PVC glue that cures fairly fast This material is typically used for 2D shapes and has a very smooth surface finish, so it does not require any post finish, such as patching or sanding.
It is denser than Styrofoam and as such, it is easily machined on a CNC router and does not require any special tools for let's say making holes in it, as opposed to acrylics.
Here are some of its characteristics:
• Highly durable - Can withstand extreme weather conditions, resistant ...
... to moisture, UV rays and to impact
• Lightweight - Therefore easy to handle, install and store
• Versatile - Can be cut, shaped, formed to fabricate custom products and designs
• Somewhat Affordable

Outdoor and Indoor Use:
Sintra, very much like Styrofoam (Styrene) is great for both indoor and outdoor use, for signage, displays, letters, logos, exhibits and any graphic application.
It can withstand extreme high and low temperatures and will not be corroded or damaged by the sun like for example a Styrofoam material. It is resistant to dents, cuts & scrapes, allowing to leave it outside under the sun for a prolong period of time while still maintaining a new polished appearance.
It is also resistant to moisture and chemicals and therefore it is durable and a long-lasting material.

Can it Be Combined with Other Materials?
While we can print directly on the Sintra, the best way would be to use is as a substrate. Sintra can easily be wrapped with vinyl. The adhesive vinyl print design can easily be applied and glued to the Sintra, adding an artistic finish to it for products that are hard to be manually painted.
Sintra is everywhere. From real estate signs to tradeshows decor, photo booth props, indoor and outdoor signs for shops and companies, architectural models, automotive parts, medical devices, packaging and many more.
You probably seen Sintra many times in your daily life. Walking in a mall, you can spot it on stores as well as when strolling down your neighborhood.

What are the Characteristic Differences between Sintra and Styrofoam?
• Durability - Sintra is more durable than Styrofoam (more resistant to water, humidity, chemicals and the sun) and therefore a better choice for outdoor use when needs to be left in the sun for a long period of time. It also carries resistance to scratches and dents. The Styrofoam might be cracked, get yellowish stains and the paint might fade, while the Sintra will most likely maintain its fresh new-looking appearance.
• Flexibility - Sintra is more flexible than Styrofoam in a sense that it can bend without breaking. It can easily be formed into almost any shape imaginable. Styrofoam is rigid and cannot be bent.
• Printability - Both Sintra and Styrofoam are easy to print, though Styrofoam can be CNC machines or hot wire while Sintra can be machined, or cut with a knife or a saw. Sintra though has a smoother finish while the Styrofoam is a beaded and porous so its finish is not smooth.
• Cost - Sintra is more expensive than Styrofoam, so the Styrofoam will most likely be the material of choice when budget is a concern So, the material choice would depend on your budget and on the application of the product: indoor or outdoor use / smooth finish needed vs. finish is negligent / one time use vs. needed to last for a long time.

So, the material choice would depend on your budget and on the application of the product: indoor or outdoor use / smooth finish needed
vs. finish is negligent / one time use vs. needed to last for a long time.

About WeCutFoam:
WeCutFoam, established in Silicon Valley, CA since 2006, provides prototyping, cutting and machining services using foam, wood, plastics, acrylics and light metals. The company fabricates custom props, indoor and outdoor signs, TED and TEDx conferences signs, dimensional stage letters & logo, events and weddings décor, theater and movie sets, trade show booth and displays, museum exhibits, architectural shapes, parades floats, mock up and molds and much more. Projects can be oversized 3D shapes such as race cars, planes, boats and any full-scale shapes, including hard coating. To learn more visit www.wecutfoam.com send an inquiry to sales@wecutfoam.com or call 408-454-6163

Electrical engineer with over 30 years experience with software, hardware and motion control. Owner of Foamlinx LLC, designing and manufacturing CNC foam cutting machinery as well as WeCutFoam, providing custom foam cutting, machining and prototyping services.