What's the scoop from our northern neighbors?

Well, haven't run across any of the new plastic stuff yet.... However, reportedly, we're using similar stuff to what Australia (IIRC) has been converting to.

Right now, I think it's just 100's and 50's that have been made from the new plastic material. I've heard anecdotes of trouble should it be, say, run thru the dryer.... No idea if that's true.

One would expect paper/plastic currency to be able to survive normal daily hazards... Like the laundry...

There was much hullabaloo here 15 or so years ago when the Toonie was released, with folks claiming that the centre fell out of their coins, but nought came of it in the long run. I doubt this issue, if it exists, will have much lasting effect. If there's an issue, it'll be sorted.

J

Don't put them in a tin can near the baseboard heater. LOL

Seems like smaller denominations would make more sense than 100s.

A number of nations use plastic-based bank notes, New Zealand and Australia among them.

Actually a very good idea.

I had heard that NZ's notes were subject to shrinkage if they were sent through a dryer or something like that, but that they would remain readable and could be exchanged for an undamaged note at any bank.

They are much more difficult to counterfeit, and our 50s and 100s are the most commonly counterfeit bills, so the priority was to introduce the new material at the higher denominations. The rest of the bills are coming in the next year or so. I have seen the new bills, and they do feel very durable. It would take some work to damage them.
We also have new, lighter loonies and toonies. They are wreaking havoc with existing vending machines and parking meters.

As for problems with heat, as Jason said the material has been used very successfully in Australia for more than a decade. If Australian summers can't damage them, our weak Canadian summers won't be able to.

call me ignorant but I looked at the one link...aren't the bills foldable like most "paper currency"? And if so, then how does a flexible bill melt or get out of shape?

From what I've seen, it's a sheet material similar to archival plastic drafting media.... Like a thick, non-metalized mylar.

I've heard a couple of things about them.... That extreme heat (say, electric radiator) can cause partial melting (any thermoplastic can melt) and many sheet plastics will shrink as they approach melting temp. Covering on model aircraft is an example of this, made from polyester.

I've also heard/read that prolonged exposure to elevated heat can make them brittle/crack prone.

I'd guess that it takes significant abuse to get these things to happen....

J

I wasn't even thinking of the counterfeiting, duh. I was thinking of the durability and replacement. I think 100s in US currency are subject to a lot of counterfeiting also, maybe we should consider it also.

Sounds like a good plan, the extremes that cause damage should not be a concern. Have to remember there are people on the planet who can screw up a solid steel ball. You can't set design parameters around them.

The problem with the anti counterfeiting efforts is that old bills are still viable. They never become worthless, so why not just counterfeit old bills.

Surprising that they are not phasing out the old bills and making them worthless after a period of time. Up till that time the old bills may be turned in for new.

Good way to make it difficult on drug dealers who have massive amounts of cash on hand .

And for counterfeiters, their plates are no longer useful.