Museum Materials | Signage, Displays, and Plates

Lightweight, weatherable, and durable materials for exhibit displays, signage, artifact storage, exhibit panels, and museum applications. (NAICS 712110)

Plastics play important roles in museums. Transparent plastics such as acrylic and polycarbonate feature excellent optical clarity and are often used in museum exhibits to create display cases, mounts, and supports for objects that allow viewers to see artifacts without direct contact. More opaque plastics like HDPE, PVC, and polypropylene see use in storage containers, signage, and exhibit panels.

Properties

Strong
Durable
Lightweight
Chemical resistance
Resistance to UV and weathering
Dimensionally stable

Applications

Museum displays
Signage
Protective barriers
Replicas and models
Specialized containers

Industries

Museum exhibition and design
Artifact conservation
Collection storage and management
Artifact handling
Replication and model making

Museum Materials Overview

What plastics are used in museums?

Plastics are used throughout museums to protect displays, provide information to guests, store artifacts and exhibits, and more. Their versatility, light weight, and durability make them well-suited for use in different aspects of museum exhibits, storage, and transport. Plastics used in museums include:

Acrylic, or PMMA is a transparent with excellent optical clarity. It is frequently used for display cases, exhibit mounts, and protective barriers due to its excellent UV resistance and low yellowing properties.

Polycarbonate (PC) is an optically clear and impact resistant plastic considered virtually unbreakable. In museums, it may be seen protecting displays and artifacts without obstructing guests' view.

HDPE is a versatile plastic used in museums for storage and packaging purposes and features excellent chemical resistance, weatherability, and durability.

Polypropylene (PP) sees use in storage enclosures, sleeves, and protective covers. It offers good resistance to chemicals and moisture and is known for its strength and stability.

PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, has excellent ink adhesion and chemical resistance. This makes it a good fit for museum storage containers and display panels or signage.

Materials for retail display and fixture applications fall under NAICS code #712110.

Museum Materials Resources & PDFs

WARNING: The products on this page can expose you to chemicals including Ethyl acrylate, CAS 140-88-5, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

WARNING: The products on this page can expose you to chemicals including Bisphenol A, CAS 80-05-7, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

WARNING: The products on this page can expose you to chemicals including Polyvinyl Chloride, CAS 9002-86-2, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.p65warnings.ca.gov.

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