Plastic Frames

Question 1

• Generally extracted from cotton or wood pulp and widely used the material can tend to become brittle with age
• the base material can be formed into sheets from which frame parts maybe cut or maybe prepared as granules for injection moulding
• Made in many colours and styles
• light in weight fairly easy to work
• using minimal heat until pliable to mount lenses

Answer 1

Cellulose acetate

Question 2

• Similar characteristics to cellulose acetate but usually use for injection moulding
• initially colourless then over coated with colour the material will fade quickly unless coated with high-quality UV protection using too much heat on this frame material can cause it to bubble more fragile material and cellulose acetate
• Hypoallergenic
• very light in weight
• cold snap lenses in place or low heat with air heater

Answer 2

Propionate

Question 3

• Generally use for sports frames because it is very flexible but also very difficult to adjust the material becomes brittle unless soaked in water overnight once a month
• very durable if you’re properly hydrated
• only a opaque colours available
• difficult to adjust
• use hot water to mount lenses

Answer 3

Nylon

Question 4

• About 1/3 lighter than cellulose acetate and hypoallergenic the material been when heated and return to its original shape and reheated. When adjusting the heated parts must be held in place until cool using to lower heat will cost material to break when adjusting
• very light in weight
• wide range of colours will not discoloured or lose their sheen overtime
• more difficult to adjust due to the materials memory
• use high heat amount preferably hot air

Answer 4

Optyl

Question 5

• Usually used for lenses but it can be moulded into frames generally used for safety and sports frames very difficult to adjust because the material holds its original shape
• proper fitting for size is imperative
• lightweight
• mechanically very tough difficult to adjust
• cold snap lenses into frame NO HEAT

Answer 5

Poly carbonate

Question 6

• Nylon base material that can be made very thin
• about 1/4 of the weight of cellulose acetate
• hypoallergenic and resistant chemicals
• cold snap lenses in the frame NO HEAT

Answer 6

Polyamide

Question 7

-Made from strands of carbon fibre combined with nylon
can be made very thin which makes it light and very durable
-thin and light Opaque colours only
-because it cannot be adjusted it MUST fit properly from the start
-cold snap lenses in the frame NO HEAT

Answer 7

Carbon fibre