6 Major Materials of Anime Figure – The Composition of our Collectibles
- November 23, 2020
- 2 Comments
When I was planning to write an article about materials of anime figure, I asked myself whether it is essential. In fact, the chemical composition of it is too technical to me. From another point of view, however, an Otaku should take in relevant knowledge to better handle our favorite collectibles. Hence, I wrote this article of 6 Major Materials of Anime Figure – The Composition of our Collectibles to share with you all.
What are the Major Material Types of Anime Figures?
The article consists of 6 paragraphs and each of it will slightly explore one type of material for your reference.
Polyvinyl Chloride – The Most Common Anime Figure Material
I have already mentioned in my article What is Anime Figure that the majority of anime figure market has changed. In the past, manufacturers produced small scale garage kit figures but now, they are mass producing completely painted finished models. One of the key factors should be started using Polyvinyl Chloride (abbreviated as PVC) as one of the major materials. In fact, you can find in the current market that about 90% of anime figures are made by PVC.
Why has this change? One of the reasons is cost-effective of PVC. When compare with garage kit, the mold for PVC cast is easier to be reused. Also, it is easily paintable without primer needed. Another reason should be related to its properties. PVC is soft and fairly malleable like a rubber in nature. It is not easy to be teared off or broken but more likely be bend or leaned when applying pressure. If increasing its density, PVC can also be a hard plastic that solve the problem of bending or leaning. Although it is low resistance to pressure and high temperatures, it is easily repairable. In terms of modification, the degrees of freedom are more than synthetic resin. That means it is more suitable for sculpting detail parts of a figure.
PVC contains an additive call plasticizer, which is used to maintain the softy nature. However, it is harmful to us if we ingested. Also, a lot of dioxin will be released that pollutes the environment seriously and persistently during production processes of PVC.
Anyway, this is almost why nearly 90% of anime figures in current market is produced by PVC!
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (abbreviated as ABS) – The Partner of PVC
Another material that can commonly be found in the market is Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (abbreviated as ABS). It is one of the major synthetic resins in the world. ABS is made from the combination of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene, which carries a wide range of advantages.
- Acrylonitrile – it makes ABS chemical resistance and heat stability
- Butadiene – it gives toughness and impact strength to ABS
- Styrene – it provides rigidity and processability to ABS
ABS is not easy to be painted that requires to be primed. Yet, it is good electrical insulator and has high degree of surface quality. Also, it can perform secondary processing like metallic spray, electroplating, hot pressing and bonding. It is a very good thermoplastic plastic.
With the above characteristics, ABS is suitable for using in automotive, home appliances, electronics, building & construction, transportation industries, etc. By the way, the shell of PlayStation is made by ABS. So, how about our favorite anime figures?
Recently, ABS should be the strongest plastic used for making anime figures. With its tough and rigid properties, it is usually used for the base or legs of an anime figure. It also composes the main body of an action figure. For other parts of an anime figure, PVC is commonly used. It is because it’s softy can handle more complex details or shapes.
This is why you always find the anime figure is partially made by PVC and ABS.
Vinyl – Is It Funko Pops!?
Let’s try to visualize Vinyl before go into details. It is Funko Pops! I know this metaphor cannot totally represent Vinyl. However, Funko Pops! is really a popular Vinyl figure.
So, what is Vinyl?
Technically, Vinyl itself could not be named as a plastic; it should be any compound that includes it instead. That means the plastics like PVC and ABS, which we have just discussed, are type of Vinyl.
You may therefore be aware immediately that Vinyl can carry different properties as long as it combines with other compounds. Regardless it is soft and malleable, tough and rigid, low resistance to heat, etc.
Even so, Vinyl stills have similarities with the most common plastics. Vinyl is inexpensive and is an environmental pollutant.
Resin – Is It a Material Making Anime Figure?
The word Resin is the common term we call it but practically, Resin is not a plastic. It is an organic compound from plants. What we are talking about the material using to make anime figures should be Synthetic Resin.
Synthetic Resin (Resin for short) carries some similar properties with PVC and ABS. Yet, it still has its distinct characteristics. Different from ABS, Resin is easily to be broken especially under pressure. You could imagine it likes a soap. Whereas the property of non-easily paintable is similar to ABS. It requires to be primed as well. After cooling of casting Resin, however, it becomes smoothness like PVC and can handle details as well. It also heavier than PVC and sturdy enough to hold up weight, which make Resin materially more realistic. Comparatively, it is more durable with its high resistance to temperatures and humidity.
Besides the above characteristics, the soft and easy to sand and cut nature of Resin gives amateurs more flexibilities and imaginations to assemble it. This is the reason why anime figure amateurs enjoy playing garage kit.
Polystone – Expensive Material of Anime Figure
Polystone is a compound of Resin and powdered stone additives, which gives out the stone or porcelain texture. It also has heavy and sturdy nature. Certainly, it is easily be broken. Same as Resin, it is durable as it is high resistance to temperatures and humidity. It is a cold-cast material (to be explored in the below paragraph) that can hold paint finish sharply and effectively. Anime figure made by Polystone is very detailed. It is suitable for the types of anime figure like scale figures, garage kits, etc. Perhaps it might be comparatively expensive, the high quality made it becomes one of the most popular material.
Cold Cast – It’s a Manufacturing Process
The name of Cold Cast comes from its manufacturing process. However, it is contrary with traditional casting that requires heat. As shared above, Polystone is a compound of Resin and powdered stone additives while Cold Cast is the mix of Resin and a metal powder. As a result, it has the same properties with Polystone and Resin but it gives out metallic-like surface. If Polystone is suitable for high quality figures, Cold Cast is the material covering the disadvantage of PVC. Since it has the similar good quality with Polystone and Resin.
The above sharing only roughly covered the 6 major materials of anime figure. Its material types should be broader and more complex. I am not familiar with Chemistry and not manufacturer but I do research the above to share with you all. It is because I believe one thing: –
Passion against something drives curiosity of exploration. While, when knowledge of something being enriched, love & treasure on it becomes sublimated to different level!
If you really like anime figures, the above materials should be one of the knowledges you have to touch with. Thanks.
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It really amazing work which you have done helps me a lot for my site and my work too appreciated it.
Thanks for pointing out that vinyl could not be plastic but it just includes it. I just feel curious about the materials used for figurines because I plan to buy some. It’s because I will gift them to my best friend who might appreciate them for her birthday.