Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used synthetic plastic polymer. This is the material most commonly used to make ID cards. There are numerous card configurations for PVC Cards. Listed below are some of the more common configurations that we offer.
The standard grade PVC card is made of 100% PVC material. It comes in a variety of colors and thicknesses. This is the most commonly used material for photo ID cards.
Our environmentally-friendly UltraCard Eco™ are non-technology cards made with BIOPVC™ to allow for faster biodegradation. While typical PVC cards take 20-25 years to decompose in landfill conditions, UltraCard Eco™ cards are gone in 5-7 years!! UltraCard Eco™ still provides maximum card life with excellent glossy print quality and high flex/temp durability. Ideal for abrasive, high-wear applications, UltraCard Eco™ cards are safer for the environment.
Adhesive cards are used for imaging on the front; peeling off the liner on the back; and adhering to another card - typically a clamshell proximity card. Available in two sizes: CR79 (slightly smaller than a credit card) & CR80 (exact size of a credit card). The CR79 is designed for clamshell cards because it will fit within the borders of the proximity card, while the CR80 is designed for ISO cards because it will lay directly on top of the ISO card. And while we offer the two different sizes, IDE also offers different release liners (paper and mylar) with varying thicknesses. Ask your IDE representative for a recommendation based on your printer and media.
Why use an adhesive card? Adhesive-Backed PVC Cards allow a badge to be reused by replacing only the adhesive card. They can be printed on like any other PVC card, limited only by printer thickness requirements. Refer to your printer specs for thickness recommendations before purchasing. Again, ask your IDE representative for a recommendation based on your printer type and they will be happy to assist. Or, click on our convenient links below if you're confident they are what you need.
Datacard 597640-001 Zebra 104523-010 HID 1324 Fargo 81759 CR80 Standard CR79 Standard CR80 20mil Standard
The poly-composite card is the non-technology card of choice for applications that require a higher quality card. The card is comprised of 60% PVC and 40% Polyester resulting in a much stronger card than a straight 100% PVC card. Ideal for lamination applications.
Rewritable cards feature a PVC finish on one side and a rewritable surface on the other side. The PVC side of these cards may be printed with a full-color or monochrome ribbon. The rewritable surface features black thermal rewriting and they may be erased and re-printed up to 500 times.
ID Card Thicknesses
PVC Cards come in a variety of thicknesses. The thinnest is typically 10mil while the thickest is typically 60mil. By far, the most common is 30mil - the standard thickness of a credit card as well.
ID Card Sizes
PVC Cards come in a variety of sizes, just as they come in various thicknesses. The most common size is a CR80, which is Credit Card Size (2-1/8" x 3-3/8"). Other sizes include CR79 (slightly under a credit card size); and CR100 size cards, which are Military Size Cards (2-5/8" x 3-7/8").
