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Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Good impact resistance with toughness and rigidity
Metal coatings have excellent adhesion to ABS
Excellent processability and appearance
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Good impact resistance with toughness and rigidity
Metal coatings have excellent adhesion to ABS
Very good indoor UV light colour stability
Excellent processability and appearance
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
6000120,000.8-2 ft-lb/in
180Excellent
22,000 psi 170,000 psi notched izod 300 F
Advantages
High tensile strength with rigidity and toughness
Good impact and solvent resistance
Glossy molded surface
Low static and dynamic coefficients of friction
(slippery)
Many grades have FDA and NSF approvals on food
and water contact
Replace die--cast metal components
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Excellent optical clarity
Excellent weatherability and resistance to sunlight
Rigid with good impact resistance
Good light transmission
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
1,300,00012,0004,600,000
32,000 psi
psi
Advantages
Strong resistance to chemical attack
Excellent thermal and dimensional stability
Absorb little moisture
Flame retardant
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max Chemical
Temp. Resistance
8,00017,000
psi
180- Good to
250 F Excellent
170,0001,200,000
psi
Advantages
Temperature capability 600-700 for short term
Excellent chemical resistance
High resistance to abrasion
Tough and withstands repeated impact
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
300,0006,0001,200,000
13,000 psi
psi
1 ft-lb/in
250Fair to Good
notched izod 420 F
Advantages
Good flow
Tough
Hydrollysis Resistant
High impact
Easily Processed
Disadvantages
PC (Polycarbonate)
Polycarbonate is an amorphous material with excellent
impact strength, clarity, and optical properties. It is very
widely used and a wide variety of compounds are
available. Polycarbonate has excellent mechanical
properties, and can be molded to tight tolerances. It is
attacked by solvents and petrochemicals, and its
weatherability is only adequate.
Impact
Strength
900023,000
psi
340,0001,400,000
psi
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
High impact resistance
Clarity
Good flammability performance
Dimensional stability
Chemical resistance (PC blends)
Disadvantages
PEI (Polyetherimid)
PEI is an amorphous, high temperature material with
relatively low cost compared to other high temperature
materials. It has excellent elongation and Impact Strength,
and can be molded to tight tolerances. Its chemical
resistance is not as good as crystalline materials but is
excellent for an amorphous material. PEI behaves similar
to polycarbonate, but can perform at higher temperatures.
Applications: Commercial aircraft interiors, healthcare
products, cooking utensils, fiber optics, electrical and
electronic applications.
Tensile
Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
480,00014,0001,300,000
28,000 psi
psi
2 ft-lb/in
375Fair to Good
notched izod 420 F
Advantages
High heat resistance
Exceptional strength and impact modulus
High dielectric strength
Broad chemical resistance
Biocompatible
Excellent machinability and finishing characteristic
Outstanding processability on conventional molding
equipment
Flame resistance with low smoke evolution
Disadvantages
Translucent and opaque-clear is not available
High cost
Notch sensitive
High processing temps required
Brand Names: Ultem.
PE (Polyethylene)
Polyethylene is a widely used, inexpensive, thermoplastic.
It has good inherent lubricity, and is easy to process.
Polyethylene has good to excellent chemical resistance. It
is also soft and cannot be used in temperatures much
above 150. As a family, they are light in weight and
possess toughness, chemical resistance, impermeability
as well as excellent electrical insulating properties.
Applications: Consumer products, houseware items,
electronic wire/cable insulators and medical products
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
40,0001900105,000
4500 psi
psi
130- Good to
150 F Excellent
Advantages
Low Cost
Impact resistance from -40 to 194 F
Moisture resistance
Food grades available
Disadvantages
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
130- Good to
150 F Excellent
Advantages
Low cost
Impact resistance from -40 to 194 F
Moisture resistance
Food grades available
Disadvantages
Poor weather resistance
High thermal expansion
Higher cost
Subject to stress cracking
Difficult to bond
Flammable
Poor temperature capability
Brand Names: Borealis, Certene, Dow, ExxonMobil,
Marlex
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
Polyethylene is a widely used, inexpensive, thermoplastic.
It has good inherent lubricity, and is easy to process.
Polyethylene has good to excellent chemical resistance. It
is also soft and cannot be used in temperatures much
above 150. As a family, they are light in weight and
possess toughness, chemical resistance, impermeability
as well as excellent electrical insulating properties. High
density polyethylene is the hardest and stiffest version of
this material. It does not have the impact strength of low
density, but is more resilient.
Applications: Consumer products, houseware items,
electronic wire/cable insulators and medical products
Tensile
Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
3,200145,000.4-4 ft-lb/in
130- Good to
4,500 psi 225,000 psi notched izod 150 F Excellent
Advantages
Low cost
Impact resistance from -40 to 194 F
Moisture resistance
Food grades available
Disadvantages
Poor weather resistance
High thermal expansion
Subject to stress cracking
Difficult to bond
Flammable
Poor temperature capability
Brand Names: Alathon, Borealis, Certene, Dow,
ExxonMobil, HiFill, Marlex
PET Polyester (Polyethylene Terepthalate)
PET polyesters are semi-crystalline. They are versatile
materials with a good range of properties. They have
excellent electrical properties and are abrasion resistant.
PET has not been as extensively compounded as PBT
because it is more difficult to process. PET has a higher
modulus than PBT. Like PBT, PET is very anisotropic in
shrink, therefore it is difficult to mold to extremely close
tolerances.
Applications: Reusable bottles, Pacifiers, Sippy cups,
Bottle sterilizer lids, Medical devices, Housewares.
Tensile Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
7,00023,000
.45-8 ft-lb/in
250-
350,0003,000,000
Fair to Good
psi
psi
Advantages
Disadvantages
Highly susceptible to degradation when heated
above 150C in the presence of moisture
Cannot be exposed to elevated temperatures
Must be thoroughly dried prior to processing
High processing temps required
Brand Names: HiFill, LNP Stat-Kon Valox, Petra.
PP (Polypropylene)
Polypropylene is a widely used, semi-crystalline material.
It has been extensively compounded to provide a wide
range of properties at a wide range of costs. In general,
polypropylene is a low temperature material with excellent
chemical resistance. It has no known solvent at 73 F.
Polypropylene is difficult to mold to extremely close
tolerances.
Applications: Packaging, industrial components for fluid
processing, household goods, automotive and electrical
hardware.
Tensile Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
4,50018,500
psi
210,000
-1,500,000
psi
Advantages
Disadvantages
Degraded by UV
PPA (Polyphthalamide)
PPA is a relatively new, semi-crystalline material, with an
excellent cost to performance ratio. PPA bridges the
performance gap between nylons/polyesters, and higher
priced, high temperature materials such as PEI and PEEK.
PPA has excellent impact strength and is not notch
sensitive. PPA does absorb moisture, and its properties
change as a result. This change is not nearly as great as 66 nylon. Despite its relatively recent introduction, good
design data is available for PPA.
Applications: Automotive applications, Housing for high
temperature electrical connectors, Multiple other uses as a
replacement to metals.
Tensile
Flexural
Impact
Max
Chemical
Strength Modulus
Strength
9,00033,000
psi
270,000
-2,700,000
psi
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Heat resistance
Chemical resistance
Can resist infrared soldering environments
Relatively low moisture absorption
Strength or physical properties
Disadvantages
Not inherently flame retardant
Requires good drying equipment
High processing temperatures
Brand Names: Amodel, Verton, Grivory, Zytel.
Tensile
Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
550,000
14,000-2,900,000
28,000 psi
psi
Advantages
Capable of extended usage at 450 F
Good radiation resistance
Good solvent and chemical resistance
Excellent dimensional stability
Flame retardant
Low water absorption
Disadvantages
Difficult to process (high melt temps)
High cost
Fillers required to obtain good impact strength
Attacked by chlorinated hydrocarbons
Brand Names: Fortron, Lubricomp, Ryton, Supec.
PS (Polystyrene Crystal)
Crystal polystyrene is the cheapest thermoplastic
available. It has properties to match its price. It is
transparent and has good optical properties. It has very
low Impact Strength.
Applications: Household Goods, Containers, Furniture,
Housings and Packaging.
Tensile Flexural
Strength Modulus
50007500 psi
380,000
-480,000
psi
Advantages
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Optical Clarity
High gloss
Low cost
Good rigidity
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
160,000
7,500-370,000
10,000 psi
psi
3-7 ft-lb/in
100Poor
notched izod 150 F
Advantages
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Optical clarity
High gloss
FDA grades available
Low cost
Good dimensional stability
Good rigidity
Disadvantages
Flammable, but flame retardant grades available
Poor solvent resistance
Homopolymers are brittle
Subject to stress and environmental cracking
Brand Names: Certene, Hival, Polystyrol, Styron
PSU (Polysulfone)
Polysulfone is a high temperature amorphous material
with relatively low cost. It is transparent and can be used
at temperatures of up to 300 F. Polysulfone has been
compounded, with glass and mineral filled grades
available.
Applications: Appliance parts, electronic parts,
automotive parts, medical components, business
Equipment, aerospace and insulators.
Tensile Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
9,50018,000
psi
390,0001,500,000
psi
Advantages
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Transparent
Chemical Resistance
Disadvantages
Poor weatherability
PU (Polyurethane)
Polyurethane is a resilient, extremely tough abrasion and
tear resistant elastomeric material that is available in
ether and ester based formulations. These diverse
formulations cover an extremely wide range of stiffness,
hardness, and densities. These materials offer good
chemical resistance, and are transparent in unfilled
grades.
Applications: Gaskets, Seals, Bushings, Connectors,
Electrical parts
Tensile Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
6,50033,000
psi
230,0002,000,000
psi
Advantages
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Abrasion resistant
Disadvantages
PVC (Polyvinylchloride)
PVC is one of the oldest and most commonly used
thermoplastic materials. The material is a colorless
polymer of vinyl chloride. PVC can have numerous
properties and the characteristics can be altered by the
use of additives such as stabilizers, lubricants, softeners,
pigments, fillers or static agents. PVC offers similar
properties to ABS at a slightly reduced cost. However, the
appearance of PVC cannot come close to ABS. In its plastic
phase, PVC is corrosive to molds and molding machines. In
its solid phase, PVC is non corrosive.
Applications: Medical/Healthcare Products, Automotive
Applications, Household Items and Electronic Extruded
Wire Covering.
Tensile
Flexural
Strength Modulus
Impact
Strength
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Disadvantages
Attacked by several solvent types
Limited thermal capability
Over heating may cause harmful vapors
Stained by sulfur compounds
Higher density than many plastics
Brand Names: Alpha, Apex, Evicom, Geon, LG.
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
Impact
Strength
170,0003,5001,200,000
7,200 psi
psi
Advantages
Fatigue resistant
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Good processability
Disadvantages
Impact
Strength
500,00010,0001,200,000
18,000 psi
psi
Advantages
Heat Resistant
High Clarity
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Dimensionally Stable
Disadvantages
Flammable-smoke generation
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
Advantages
Easily processed
Fatigue resistance
Disadvantages
High cost
Impact
Strength
Advantages
Chemical Resistant
Max
Chemical
Temp. Resistance
160Fair to Good
250 F
Easily Processed
Disadvantages