<p>One strong contender is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyvek" rel="nofollow">tyvek</a>.</p>

<p>It can be cut like paper, but is much tougher, water resistant, and has a class A flammability rating, according to Wikipedia. The problem is keeping it folded.</p>

<p>The kirigami-made-of-tyvek links I'm finding are scientific papers that mention bonding the tyvek to a heat-shrink plastic (presumably on the valley fold side of each fold), and then baking.</p>

<p>See:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://scientific-kirigami.blogspot.com/p/movies.html" rel="nofollow">http://scientific-kirigami.blogspot.com/p/movies.html</a></li>
<li><a href="https://arxiv.org/pdf/1408.6480.pdf" rel="nofollow">Making the Cut: Lattice Kirigami Rules (PDF link)</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T17:49:37.790Z
Thanks, it sounds very promising :) Quick searches suggest that it's not available from Amazon.co.uk so I'm guessing it's an American brand. No worries either way, hopefully there's an alternative on this side of the pond also!
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T17:56:58.800Z
Hopefully there's a way around that...I wonder if it would stick with my Herma glue dispenser...
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T17:57:15.583Z
It's my understanding that tyvek and other similar products tend to be flexible rather than stiff, and that they don't transmit much light.
JTL
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T17:58:20.603Z
That's a very good point! I should have mentioned that in the question!
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T18:04:04.417Z
@johnp [amazon.co.uk listing for tyvek A4 sheets](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tyvek-55-gsm-Bumper-sheets/dp/B0087OWG80).
inkista
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T18:08:15.880Z
Thanks, just looking at a related polypropylene brand Yupo? Supposedly it "doesn't tear" though I'm not sure about flammability yet...
http://yupousa.com/what-is-yupo/
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T18:21:18.263Z
"YUPO is not suitable for use in copy machines, fax machines or laser printers due to the high temperatures generated by those types of equipment."....It also requires special inks for any potential printing...
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T17:44:10.117Z
2016-05-14T22:29:53.953Z
2016-05-14T22:29:53.953Z
inkista
<p>I would like to create some sculptures using <strong>papercraft &amp; kirigami techniques</strong>, however I am looking for an <strong>alternative (stronger) material to paper</strong> with some/all of the following properties:</p>

<ul>
<li>Easily cut</li>
<li>Flexible/foldable</li>
<li>Stronger/more durable than paper</li>
<li>Heat resistant (in the case of lampshade designs)</li>
</ul>

<p>All comments/suggestions are welcome!</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T16:29:08.510Z
It's possible that you could treat your materials with something as you work or once it is completed.
JTL
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T16:34:10.383Z
Hi @JTL If you're referring to fire retardant spray that is an option I guess! My hope is that I'll be able to sell my designs eventually, so I'm a little worried about any lighting causing fires! But I'm basically curious as to how I can apply papercraft skills to strong, saleable material
johnp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-14T16:43:47.437Z
I don't claim to be knowledgeable about this, that just seemed like a possible avenue worth exploring.  It might be used in combination with using something other than standard paper.  I would tend to agree with you that trusting the buyer to use LED bulbs might not be a great idea, though there are [people out there](https://www.etsy.com/shop/nellianna) selling lampshades that might catch fire if used with an incandescent bulb
JTL
<paper><papercutting><material-selection>
A stronger material than paper for Kirigami or papercraft-inspired designs?
johnp
# A stronger material than paper for Kirigami or papercraft-inspired designs?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-14)

I would like to create some sculptures using **papercraft & kirigami techniques**, however I am looking for an **alternative (stronger) material to paper** with some/all of the following properties:

* Easily cut
* Flexible/foldable
* Stronger/more durable than paper
* Heat resistant (in the case of lampshade designs)

All comments/suggestions are welcome!

**Tags:** paper, papercutting, material-selection

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's possible that you could treat your materials with something as you work or once it is completed.  
> **username_0**: Hi @username_1 If you're referring to fire retardant spray that is an option I guess! My hope is that I'll be able to sell my designs eventually, so I'm a little worried about any lighting causing fires! But I'm basically curious as to how I can apply papercraft skills to strong, saleable material  
> **username_1**: I don't claim to be knowledgeable about this, that just seemed like a possible avenue worth exploring.  It might be used in combination with using something other than standard paper.  I would tend to agree with you that trusting the buyer to use LED bulbs might not be a great idea, though there are [people out there](https://www.etsy.com/shop/nellianna) selling lampshades that might catch fire if used with an incandescent bulb  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-14. Score: 5

One strong contender is [tyvek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyvek).

It can be cut like paper, but is much tougher, water resistant, and has a class A flammability rating, according to Wikipedia. The problem is keeping it folded.

The kirigami-made-of-tyvek links I'm finding are scientific papers that mention bonding the tyvek to a heat-shrink plastic (presumably on the valley fold side of each fold), and then baking.

See:

* <http://scientific-kirigami.blogspot.com/p/movies.html>
* [Making the Cut: Lattice Kirigami Rules (PDF link)](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1408.6480.pdf)

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks, it sounds very promising :) Quick searches suggest that it's not available from Amazon.co.uk so I'm guessing it's an American brand. No worries either way, hopefully there's an alternative on this side of the pond also!  
> **username_0**: Hopefully there's a way around that...I wonder if it would stick with my Herma glue dispenser...  
> **username_1**: It's my understanding that tyvek and other similar products tend to be flexible rather than stiff, and that they don't transmit much light.  
> **username_0**: That's a very good point! I should have mentioned that in the question!  
> **username_2**: @username_0 [amazon.co.uk listing for tyvek A4 sheets](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tyvek-55-gsm-Bumper-sheets/dp/B0087OWG80).  
> **username_0**: Thanks, just looking at a related polypropylene brand Yupo? Supposedly it "doesn't tear" though I'm not sure about flammability yet... http://yupousa.com/what-is-yupo/  
> **username_0**: "YUPO is not suitable for use in copy machines, fax machines or laser printers due to the high temperatures generated by those types of equipment."....It also requires special inks for any potential printing...  

---

