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ABS Plastic
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or ABS Plastic, is a common thermoplastic used to make light, rigid, molded products such as pipes, golf club heads (used for its good shock absorbance), automotive body parts, enclosures, protective head gear, and toys including LEGO bricks. The nitrile groups from neighboring chains, being polar, attract each other and bind the chains together, making ABS stronger than pure polystyrene. The styrene gives the plastic a shiny, impervious surface. The butadiene, a rubbery substance, provides resilience even at low temperatures. ABS can be used between -25 C and 60 C.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Acetal Plastic
Acetal In engineering terms,"acetal" can also refer to polyoxymethylene, an engineering plastic containing acetal groups. Advantages of use of acetal based plastics include;- They are chemically resistant
- They have very low water absorption
- They are resistant to hydrolysis by base
Acrylic Plastic
Polymethyl methacrylate (also known as "acrylic glass" and "Plexiglas"), the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate Anti Static Acrylic[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Anti-Static Lexan
Lexan is similar to polymethyl methacrylate (Plexiglas/Lucite/Perspex) - commonly described as Acrylic - in appearance, but is far more durable, often to the point of being described as "bulletproof" (depending on the thickness of the sample and the type of weapon used). Lexan is typically used in the aerospace industry for items such as aircraft canopies, windscreens and other windows, but can often be found in household items, such as bottles, compact discs, and DVDs. It is also one of the most common products used to make Bullet-resistant glass.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Cotton Phenolic
Phenolic is a hard, dense material made by applying heat and pressure to layers of paper or glass cloth impregnated with synthetic resin. These layers of laminations are usually of cellulose paper, cotton fabrics, synthetic yarn fabrics, glass fabrics or unwoven fabrics. When heat and pressure are applied to the layers, a chemical reaction (polymerization) transforms the layers into a high-pressure thermosetting industrial laminated plastic.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
CPVC
CPVC is a popular engineering material due to its relatively low cost, high glass transition temperature, high heat distortion temperature, chemical inertness, and flame and smoke properties. CPVC is used in a variety of industrial applications where a high functional temperature and resistance to corrosive chemicals are desirable. Besides pipe and fittings, it is used in pumps, valves, strainers, filters, tower packing, and duct, as well as sheet for fabrication into storage tanks, fume scrubbers, large diameter duct, and tank lining.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
DelrinÆ
Delrin is the brand name for an acetal resin engineering plastic invented and sold by DuPont. Often marketed and used as a metal substitute, Delrin is a lightweight, low-friction, and wear-resistant plastic capable of operating in temperatures in excess of 90 celsius (approx 200 Fahrenheit).The Food and Drug Administration has approved Delrin for use in the food industry.
It is also used extensively in paintball markers, where it is used to make bolts, pump handles and many other parts. Its low cost, adequate strength, light weight and self lubricating properties make it ideal for markers. Its competition in this area, Nylatron, while slightly lighter is more prone to swelling. A swelled part can make the mechanism impossible to operate and sometimes even damages the marker. Nylon-based products such as Nylatron have better wear-resistance than Delrin, but do not have good moisture-resistance, and therefore not suitable to high-humidity or underwater applications
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Delrin AFÆ
Acetal (POM)- A crystalline thermoplastic polymer which is strong, rigid, has excellent dimensional stability, low coefficient of friction, has good abrasion and impact resistance, and low moisture absorption. Delrin AF- 14% fiber-filled acetal. Offers better lubricity and improved wear characteristics than unfilled acetal.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Fluoroloy H
Fluoropolymers (PTFE)- More commonly known as PTFE. This material exhibits a unique combination of heat resistance and low friction together with outstanding chemical and good electrical properties. Continuous use temperatures range -400F to +500F, no moisture absorption, high arc resistance, and is self lubricating with a low coefficient of friction. Many grades available.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
KynarÆ
PolyVinylidine DiFluoride, or PVDF is a highly non-reactive and pure thermoplastic fluoropolymer. It is also known as KYNARÆ.PVDF is very expensive; its use generally reserved for applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases and heat. It is available as piping products, sheet, plate and an insulator for premium wire. It can be injection molded and welded and is commonly used in the chemical, semiconductor, medical and defense industries.
When poled, PVDF is a ferroelectric polymer, exhibiting efficient piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties. These characteristics make it useful in sensor and battery applications.
PVDF has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of about -35oC and is typically 50-60% crystalline.
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Lexan
LEXANÆ is the registered trademark for polycarbonate plastic manufactured (from Bisphenol A)[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Linen Phenolic
Micarta Linen L- A fine-weave cotton base with a phenolic resin. It is lighter weight than canvas material which sacrifices some mechanical properties, but it has the retention of electrical properties and lower moisture absorption. Mil-I-24768/15-FBI[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
NorylÆ
Noryl- General Electric Company's trade name for PPO. Noryl, due to is inherent chemical composition, exhibits unusually low moisture absorption. Therefore, good electrical insulating properties are realized over a wide range of humidity and temperature. Chemical attack from water, most salt solutions, acids and bases is also minimal with Noryl.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Nylon
Nylon represents a family of synthetic polymers, a thermoplastic material. It is made of repeating units linked by peptide bonds (another name for amide bonds) and is frequently referred to as polyamide (PA). Nylon was the first commercially successful polymer and the first synthetic fiber to be made entirely from ingredients: coal, water and air. These are formed into monomers of intermediate molecular weight, which are then reacted to form long polymer chains. Nylon fibers are now used in fabrics and ropes, and solid nylon is used for mechanical parts and as an engineering material. Engineering grade Nylon is processed by extrusion, casting & injection molding. Type 6/6 Nylon 101 is the most common commercial grade of Nylon, and Nylon 6 is the most common commercial grade of cast Nylon.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
PEEKÆ
Polyetheretherketones (PEEK), also referred to as polyketones, are obtained from aromatic dihalides and bisphenolate salts by nucleophilic substitution.PEEK is partially crystalline, and has a glass transition temperature of 143 C and a melting temperature of 334 C. The material is resistant to both organic and aqueous environments, and is used in bearings, piston parts, pumps, compressor plate valves, and cable insulation applications.
PEEK is a thermoplastic with extraordinary mechanical properties. The Young's Modulus is 3.6 GPa and its tensile strength 170 MPa.
PEEK is also considered an advanced biomaterial used in medical implants.
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Phenolic
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G11
A glass cloth base with epoxy resin. It has retention of high mechanical strength at temperatures up to 150 C and retention of 50% of initial flexural strength at 150 C , along with radiation and chemical resistance. Mil-I-24768/3-GEB
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- G10
A glass cloth base with epoxy resin. Its properties include high dielectric strength, radiation, chemical and thermal shock resistance, high tensile and flexural strength, low moisture absorption and cryogenic serviceability. Mil-I-24768/2/27-GEE,GEE-F
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- G9
A glass cloth base with a melamine resin which exhibits high mechanical strength, high arc and heat resistance, excellent electrical properties under dry and humid conditions and is self-extinguishing. Mil-I-24768/1-GME
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- G7
A woven glass cloth base with a silicone resin enables it to have very good dielectric loss factor and insulation resistance under humid conditions as well as excellent heat and arc resistance. It also has good mechanical properties. Mil-I-24768/17-GSG
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- G5
A glass cloth base with a melamine resin which exhibits high mechanical strength and hardness, high arc and heat resistance, excellent electrical properties under dry conditions and is self-extinguishing. Mil-I-24768/8-GMG
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Polycarbonate
Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastics. They are easily worked, molded, and thermoformed; as such, these plastics are very widely used in modern manufacturing.This polymer is highly transparent to visible light and has better light transmission characteristics than many kinds of glass. CR-39 is a specific polycarbonate material with good optical and mechanical properties, frequently used for eyeglass lenses
Polycarbonate is becoming more common in housewares as well as laboratories and in industry. It is often used to create protective features, for example in banks as well as vandal-proof windows and lighting lenses for many buildings. Other products made from polycarbonate include sunglass/eyeglass lenses, compact discs, DVDs, and automotive headlamp lenses. It is the major component of one variety of Nalgene bottles. It is also used for animal enclosures and cages used in research.
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Polyethylene
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic commodity heavily used in consumer products.Polyethylene is classified into several different categories based mostly on its density and branching.
- UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight PE)
- HDPE (high density PE)
- HDXLPE (high density cross-linked PE)
- PEX (cross-linked PE)
- MDPE (medium density PE)
- LDPE (low density PE)
- LLDPE (linear low density PE)
- VLDPE (very low density PE)
Polypropylene
Polypropylene or polypropene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer, used in a wide variety of applications, including food packaging, textiles, laboratory equipment, automotive components, and polymer banknotes. An addition polymer made from the monomer propylene, it is unusually resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids. Polypropylene can be used as a replacement for engineering plastics, such as ABS. Polypropylene has very good resistance to fatigue, so that most plastic living hinges, such as those on flip-top bottles, are made from this material. Polypropylene has a melting point of 320 Fahrenheit (160 Celsius). Food containers made from it will not melt in the dishwasher, and do not melt during industrial hot filling processes.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum. At room temperature, polystyrene is normally a solid thermoplastic, but can be melted at higher temperature for molding or extrusion, then resolidified. Styrene is an aromatic monomer, and polystyrene is an aromatic polymer. Pure solid polystyrene is a colorless, hard plastic with limited flexibility. It can be cast into molds with fine detail. Polystyrene can be transparent or can be made to take on various colors. It is economical and is used for producing plastic model assembly kits, plastic cutlery, CD "jewel" cases, and many other objects where a fairly rigid, economical plastic of any of various colors is desired[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Polysulfone
Polysulfone, or PSU, is a polymer thermoplastic material. It is tough, rigid, high-strength, and transparent, retaining its properties between -100 C and +150 C. It has very high dimensional stability; the size change when exposed to boiling water or +150 C air or steam generally falls below 0.1%. Its glass transition temperature is 185 C. Polysulfone is highly resistant to mineral acids, alkali, and electrolytes, in pH ranging from 2 to 13. It is resistant to oxidizing agents, therefore it can be cleaned by bleaches. It is also resistant to surfactants and hydrocarbon oils.Due to its excellent electrical properties, polysulfone is used as a dielectric in capacitors.
Mechanically, polysulfone has fairly high compaction resistance, allowing its use under high pressures.
Polysulfone allows easy manufacturing of membranes, with reproducible properties and controllable size of pores. Such membranes can be used in applications like hemodialysis, waste water recovery, food and beverage processing, and gas separation.
Polysulfone can be reinforced with glass fibers. The resulting composite material has twice the tensile strength and three time increase of its modulus.
Polysulfone can be used in FDA-recognized devices. It is used in medical devices, food processing, feeding systems, and automotive and electronic industry.
Polysulfone has the highest service temperature of all melt-processable thermoplastics. Its resistance to high temperatures gives it a role of a flame retardant, without compromising its strength that usually results from addition of flame retardants. Its high hydrolysis stability allows its use in medical applications requiring autoclave and steam sterilization.
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PVC
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely-used plastic. In terms of revenue generated, it is one of the most valuable products of the chemical industry. There are many uses for PVC including vinyl siding, magnetic stripe cards, window profiles, gramophone records, which is the source of the name for vinyl records, pipe, plumbing and conduit fixtures, bean bags; and, in its soft form, for clothing, upholstery, flooring, roofing membranes, electrical cables, and lightweight hobby artillery. The material is often used for pipelines in the water and sewer industries because of its inexpensive nature and flexibility[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
Rulon
One of Saint-Gobain trade names for their family of reinforced proprietary PTFE compounds (see also Fluoroloy). This family of materials offers the combination of high compressive strengths, low coefficient of friction, and excellent abrasion and corrosion resistance.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
TeflonÆ
Teflon is the brand name of the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)PTFE has the lowest coefficient of friction of any known solid material. PTFE is very non-reactive, and so is often used in containers and pipework for reactive chemicals. Its melting point is 327 C
Other polymers with similar composition are known with the Teflon name: fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP) and perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA). They retain the useful properties of PTFE of low friction and non-reactivity, but are more easily formable. FEP is softer than PTFE and melts at 260 C; it's highly transparent and resistant to sunlight.
PTFE is sometimes said to be a spin-off from the U.S. space program with more down-to-earth applications;
PTFE has excellent dielectric properties. This is especially true at high radio frequencies, making it eminently suitable for use as an insulator in cables and connector assemblies and as a material for printed circuit boards used at microwave frequencies. Combined with its high melting temperature, this makes it the material of choice as a high performance substitute for the weaker and more meltable polyethylene that is commonly used in low-cost applications. Its extremely high bulk resistivity makes it an ideal material for fabricating long life electrets, useful devices that are the electrostatic analogues of magnets.
Due to its low friction, it is used for applications where sliding action of parts is needed: bearings, bushings, gears, slide plates, etc. In these applications it performs significantly better than nylon and acetal.
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TorlonÆ
Polyamide-imide (PAI)- Polyamide-imide materials exhibit high impact strength, good chemical resistance, superior electrical insulation, excellent radiation and high temperature resistance. 475 F continuous.Torlon is a family of polyamide-imide developed by Amoco chemicals and produced by Polymer Corporation
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UHMW
UHMW PE (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene)- Ultra-High Molecular Weight's benefits include abrasion resistance, low coefficient of friction, impact resistance, inherent lubricity, chemical resistance, energy absorption, fatigue and electrical resistance, but a high coefficient of thermal expansion.[ Back to Plastic Materials List ]
UltemÆ
Ultem is a family of polyimide thermoplastic resins, of type amorphous polyetherimide.Ultem resins are used in medical and chemical instrumentation, due to their heat resistance, solvent resistance and flame resistance. UltemÆ 1000 (standard, unfilled polyetherimide) offers excellent chemical resistance, high dielectric strength, natural flame resistance, and extremely low smoke generation. Ultem'sÆ has exceptionally high mechanical properties and performs in continuous use to 340F (170C) Rated UL 94V-0 with low smoke KPSI. Ultem is available in glass-reinforced grades 30% (Ultem 2300), 20% (Ultem 2200), 10% (Ultem 2100).
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VespelÆ
VespelÆ is a durable high performance polyimide-based polymer (or plastic) manufactured by DuPont.The high durability and strength of Vespel has helped advance the fields of aerospace, semiconductor and transportation technology. Vespel combines heat resistance, natural lubricity, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, creep resistance, and other properties to become a useful plastic for use in hostile conditions.
Unlike most plastics, it does not outgas or melt at any temperature, which makes it useful for lightweight heat shields and crucible support. It also performs well in vacuum applications and even in extremely low cryogenic temperatures.
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