Plastics Technical Information
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Basics of...Plastics
Plastic (organic polymer) is defined as a material whose basic constituent is manufactured synthetically or semi-synthetically from monomer, largely organic molecules (such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen or nitrogen). However, plastics can also contain inorganic constituents such chlorine, fluorine or sulphur.
One of the outstanding characteristics of plastics is that their technical properties (such as hardness, elasticity, breaking strength, temperature resistance, thermal dimensional stability, chemical resistance etc.) can be varied within wide limits by the selection of raw materials, the manufacturing process and modification using additives
| Heat Deflection | Melting | Tensile | Impact | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material | Temperature (°F) | Point (°F) | Strength | Strength | Machinability | Applications |
| ABS | 220 | 220 | Good | Excellent | Good | Prototyping, Enclosures, Bins, |
| Acetal Copolymer | 220 | 335 | Good | Good | Good | Scraper Blades, Bearings. Bushings, Gears |
| Acetal Homopolymer | 250 | 347 | Excellent | Good | Good | Scraper Blades, Bearings. Bushings, Gears |
| Acrylic | 195 | N/A | Excellent | Poor | Good | Glazing, Windows, POP Display, Signs |
| CPVC | 198 | N/A | Good | Good | Excellent | Tanks, Valve Bodies, Hoods, Ducts |
| ETFE (Tefzel) | N/A | 491 | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Cryogenic Applications, Valves, Gaskets, Bearings |
| High-Impact Polystyrene | 183 | N/A | Poor | Good | Poor | Thermoforming, Display, Signs, Prototyping |
| Nylon Extruded 6/6 | 200 | 500 | Excellent | Good | Poor | Wear Pads, Gears, Sheaves, Bearings |
| PEEK | 320 | 644 | Excellent | Good | Good | Valve Seats, Pump Wear Rings, Seals |
| PET | 240 | 491 | Excellent | Poor | Good | Pistons, Distribution Valves, Manifolds |
| PETG | 157 | N/A | Good | Good | Good | Thermoforming, POP Displays, Signs |
| Polyamide-imide (Torlon 4301 ) | 534 | N/A | Excellent | Good | Good | Sliding Compressor Vanes, Sockets, Bearing Cages |
| Polycarbonate | 270 | N/A | Good | Excellent | Poor | Security Glazing, Guards, Signs |
| Polyetherimide (Ultem or PEI) | N/A | 400 | Excellent | Poor | Excellent | Insulators, Medical Devices, Analytical Interments |
| Polyethylene High Density (HDPE) | 176 | 260 | Poor | Poor | Excellent | Tanks, Orthotic & Prosthetic Devices |
| Polyethylene Low Density (LDPE) | N/A | 244 | Poor | Excellent | Excellent | Die Pads, Hinges, Orthotic & Prosthetic Devices |
| Ultra-High Molecular Weight (UHMW) | 116 | 275 | Poor | Excellent | Excellent | Food Handling, Scraper Blades, Slippery |
| Polypropylene | 212 | 305 | Good | Good | Excellent | Chemical Tanks & Parts, Hoods, Die Cutting |
| PTFE | 132 | 635 | Poor | Good | Excellent | Seals, Spacers, Washers, Slippery Applications |
| PVC Type II | 160 | N/A | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Ducts, Valves, Heat Deflection, Corrosion Resistant |
| PVC Type l | 165 | 181 | Good | Poor | Excellent | Ducts, Housings, Chemical Resistant |
| PVDF (Kynar) | 291 | 336 | Good | Good | Poor | Valves, Pumps, Nozzles, High Purity |
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