Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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FRP Credit Card

Carbon fiber credit cards for durability and looks
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Credit cards and their associated debit/i.d./membership cards of the same form factor are a standard feature of modern life. Sadly, I've found that many of my most used cards lack durability. My work I.d. only has half of my face on it, the rest falling victim to endless swiping through doors. My debit card recently split in half lengthwise and I've broken many over the years.

Standard cards are simple PVC, and "composite" <link> cards do exist, however, this is just a PVC/polyester mix. I also recently encountered some posh card from Chase that was actually heavy. I was surprisingly impressed. So let's go a little further.

So, we can make a credit card out of exotic fiber reinforced polymers. There is plenty of variety available, starting with the polymer, epoxy or polyester are the most common. Polyester makes the most sense as it's more amenable to large-scale construction and doesn't contain bisphenols that can cause reactions in isolated cases*. For the fiber, there is a choice of carbon, glass and kevlar. All of these can be mixed and matched in various fetching weaves <link> not unlike fabrics like tweed**.

The resulting card would be much tougher than conventional plastics, rendering a premium product for premium customers who have premium door locks to jimmy***. Other benefits of carbon for example, is that it's conductive and might be used to fashion RFID antennas or even shield one side of the card for security purposes.

There, a credit card that won't snap when you stand on it, because it's in the back pocket of your jeans that you're taking off after a long day's refreshment.

*there will be isolated cases, difficult to win isolated law suits, so stick with the more boring polyester. ** there is, of course, no reason why tweed couldn't be used instead of all this silly aerospace nonsense. A pleasing Harris tweed, or rattan weave card might be right on brand for Rentisham's, for example. *** or much larger areas of premium automotive glass to scrape high-grade alpine ice off.

bs0u0155, Jul 22 2019

Composite credit cards https://www.idcardg...pvc/composite-cards
[bs0u0155, Jul 22 2019]

Carbon/Kevlar weaves http://www.uscomposites.com/hybrids.html
[bs0u0155, Jul 22 2019]

[link]






       //rattan weave card might be right on brand for Rentisham's// I think that, if Rentisham's were ever to enter into the vulgar maelstrom of electronic payment cards, they would have to made from the Rentisham's battle tartan. It dates back to when it was invented (or possibly even further), and consists of three broad and two narrow stripes in black, on a black background. The cross- hatchings run at 87 degrees to one another, an angle chosen to confuse and annoy enemy archers. Come to think of it, it might work well in carbon fibre. Never let it be said that Rentisham's is slow to adopt useful new inventions - only last month, our Head Gacker evaluated gutta percha as a material for the main handle of gacking spades, and found it to be a very acceptable alternative to Bakelite. Of course, he's only 58, but we like to let the young bloods have their head when it comes to innovation.
MaxwellBuchanan, Jul 22 2019
  

       //vulgar maelstrom of electronic payment cards//   

       This was never the intention. I was thinking more along the lines of something to flash at a recalcitrant maître d. Or perhaps, as a means of excluding riff raff from the Rentisham's waiting suites. These should be reserved for more discerning customers who prefer the advantages of a professional flenting service, whatever they are.
bs0u0155, Jul 22 2019
  
      
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