Plastics today are found in almost every kind of application, from heavy industrial materials to delicate showpiece items. The incredible versatility of plastic is what makes it a suitable material for a wide variety of uses, plus the fact that plastic’s chemical components can be adjusted exactly to a specific requirement makes it a key raw material in furniture making.
Furniture can be of two types: indoor furniture and outdoor furniture, with the latter using slightly different raw materials due to continuous exposure to outdoor elements such as heat, dust, snow and rain. Plastic outdoor furniture is more common than others because of the versatility of plastic as a raw material as stated above, and because they are relatively cheaper to construct and maintain as compared to most other materials.
Different types of plastic are used for the making outdoor furniture, depending on the cost of input and the usage pattern of the furniture. Here are some common plastic variants used for making plastic outdoor furniture:
1. Polycarbonate Plastic
What started out as an expensive and niche plastic that was restricted mostly to commercial out slowly became more mainstream as cheaper methods to produce polycarbonate has made it far more accessible to the general public to be used in non-commercial settings. It is still slightly expensive but the durability it offers over most plastic variants alone makes it worth recommending for any kind of outdoor plastic furniture. However, it is mostly used for small scale furniture such as patio chairs and tables, false terraces, glass window replacement and outdoor panels.
2. Acrylic Plastic
Acrylic is a highly durable plastic variant that is well suited for the rough outdoor environment and can tolerate heat levels up to 180 F. It is generally used for making outdoor glass tables and glass windows due to its glass-like appearance. It is a better substitute for glass due to its higher durability and lesser weight. It is cheaper than polycarbonate but is susceptible to color fade in exposed to continuous direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
3. HDPE Plastic
HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene, and is a tough plastic variant perfect for outdoor plastic furniture. It is slightly softer than polycarbonate or acrylic but is hard enough to resist daily wear and tear during usage. Its negligible brittleness means HDPE panels can be assembled together into furniture with regular standard screws or glue. Any outdoor playground equipment that has plastic in it probably is made of HDPE plastic.
4. HDPE Marine Board
It is a variant of HDPE plastic that is modified for use underwater. It offers more underwater resistance and durability over standard HDPE plastic. This is well suited for making furniture for the swimming pool or for making pool linings and pipes connected to the pool underground. It can be also used to make pool decks or swimming pool stands that will resist the occasional water splashes around the pool area.
