Polymer substrate

Polymer and plastics known as polymer substrate is used for banknotes and other everyday uses and products. The banknote is more durable than paper, won't become soaked in liquids and is harder to counterfeit though not impossible. Countries whose whole banknote production is in polymer are: Australia 1996, Romania2001, Vietnam2006 and New Zealand1999. The other countries have partial polymer and paper issue include Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Mexico, Zambia, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Chile, and Nepal. The material is also used in commemorative notes in some other countries. The process of polymer substrate creation was developed by the Australia CSIRO. Countries like Bulgaria have issued a combination of paper and polymer as the 200 Lev banknote.

Polymer substrate is the plastic substance used to make banknotes for Australia (commemorative polymer note issued in 1988, polymer $5 note first issued in 1992, $10 in 1993, $20 in 1994, $50 in 1995 and $100 in 1996) and New Zealand (polymer $20 note first issued in May 1999, $100 in September, $10 in November, $5 in December, and $50 in August 2000.)