Hello Good Mount People!
I am on a search for any information on a recommended interior case construction material, Forex, a PVC product, as I understand, used in the UK and elsewhere in Europe, for case decks/walls, furniture, etc. I think it is similar to our US material, Sintra or Komatex and was wondering if anyone has any experience working with it, specifically any ODDY tests that might have been performed, I’ve looked online and can’t seem to find anything?
Thanks!
Jonathan Pressler
On the VergeDesign
For more information on Forex and similar PVC boards, check out the comparison table on CAMEO. CAMEO also has a separate page with information specific to Forex, Sintra, Komacel, and Komatex.
Please also see the 2020 article by Samide and Smith, “Assessing the Suitability of Unplasticized Poly(Vinyl Chloride) for Museum Showcase Construction,” in JAIC, which explains the reasons some PVC board may pass Oddy testing and others may not.
You have it right. There is a lack of consistency between different brands of rigid PVC boards. Sintra has passed Oddy tests going back a couple of decades at some museums.
One product that was recently tested and did very well is Komacel (I believe they did testing beyond just the usual Oddy tests also) it is made by the same company as Komatex so it can be confusing. Komatex pretty consistently fails tests for use in case interiors.