Hi Rag
I am sure some readers here should be able to help you on this. Even thought I am a keen collector of both polymer and hybrid notes (paper too – oh well, what the heck, I collect all kinds of banknotes), I am not an expert in this field. However to simplify the answer, this is how I would describe them: -
Polymer/plastic notes
Any banknotes made from plastic. One of those that you can’t put it under a hot iron as it will shrink (been there and done that, on an UNC polymernote too LOL!). Plastic note was first printed by ABNC back in 1980 for Haiti (50 Gourdes P235Aa). Material used was called tyvek, a kind of plastic nowadays that they used it on re usable envelope (internal purposes), protective clothing etc. I am sure they used tyvek on many other things too. Please Google/Bing for more details. Since then, ABNC also issued tyvek plastic notes for Costa Rica (one note) and Isle of Man also released one too (both around 1983). In addition to that 50G, it also released another 50G (P235Ab), and also the 1G, 2G, 100G, 250G and 500G. These Haiti tyvek notes are now hard to get. The tyvek note technology was a total failure due to the ink used get smuggled in a humid environment condition. ABNC also printed some other tyvek notes for few of their clients in the Latin America region for marketing purposes (same design of those paper notes in circulation at that time), but none of those countries took up the offer.
Then in 1988, Australia issued one $10 polymer note to celebrate 200 years of European settlement in Australia. In 1996, Australia fully converted all cotton based paper notes to polymer. NZ followed in 1999, and then Romania, Vietnam, PNG (yes/no) and Brunei, with Brunei $10,000 (CND$7,730) as the largest polymer note face value note ever issued. Today, most polymer notes printed are for those highly circulated notes, usually those lower denominations. Vanuatu is the latest entrance to the Polymer note world.
Hybrid Note
Now, what can I say? This is what I have posted on my site some time ago.
“A Hybrid banknote is basically referred to banknotes printed with part cotton based paper and part polymer. The non paper part comprises of a polymer strip of vertical/horizontal translucent band which usually cover a see-through register and the transparent window either in oval, rectangle or square shape. The band comprises of approx. up to 15% of the total banknote size. Like all security features, the strip was adopted to discourage potential counterfeiter. Initially only two printing firms produced notes with such technology, namely Papierfabrik Louisenthal, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) Germany, and De La Rue (DLR) of United Kingdom. DLR's motto is to make life easier for their customers and more difficult for the counterfeiter. The security features printed by G&D and DLR are called "Varifeye" and "Optiks" respectively.
In 2008, Papierfabrik Louisenthal came up with a new generation of new Hybrid banknote printing technique. Instead of the originally polymer strip and a transparent window like those earlier issues, the new Hybrid note comprises of a thin layer of protective film laminated on the paper note. This kind of banknote is intended for use in countries with particularly challenging circulation conditions. Such technology will provide durability on the note without sacrificing the security features and printability. This technology is already in use for the Swaziland 2008 commemorative issues (Celebrating the King's 40th Birthday and Swaziland Independence). The main advantage of such technology is that all the banknote's security features can still be clearly identified even after long circulation, both by the general public and by automatic banknote processing systems.
Until recently, the term Hybrid has been described mainly as paper substrates that combine synthetic with cellulose fibers or paper substrates with an aperture or window which is sealed with a film overlay. With Louisenthal's technology, the inner core of the substrate is a traditional cotton fibre-base construction which is protected with a thin film, laminated to both sides, each around 6 microns thick. The combine weight and thickness of this hybrid note is the same as those conventional paper substrates ie 95 gsm.
It has also reported that Durasafe is developing a slightly difference Hybrid note comprises of a fusion of paper and polymers, with the paper sandwiching the polymer core and is being developed for the new Swiss series of banknotes to be introduced some time in 2010.
Whilst polymer banknotes technology is still proven to be the better option, perhaps Hybrid banknotes are more economical to manufacture but not as cheap as those traditionally cotton based banknotes. The recent release of a Papua New Guinea 100 Kina may have something to do with this. Papua New Guinea fully converted all banknotes to polymer in 2008 and yet they decided to release two commemorative notes on 23 April 2009, one in paper (20 Kina) and the other Hybrid (100 Kina). It looks like Hybrid banknote is getting popular in the expense of polymer.”
Rag, remember that I an not an expert, and like many members here, just a keen banknotes collector.
Canadian Paper Money
