Types of Plastic and Their Characteristics
Plastic (organic polymer)
A material primarily made from synthetic or semi-synthetic monomers—mainly organic molecules like carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. It may also include inorganic elements such as chlorine, fluorine, or sulfur.
Plastics offer highly versatile technical properties—such as hardness, elasticity, strength, and chemical or thermal resistance—adjustable through raw material selection, manufacturing methods, and additives.
Material | Heat Deflection Temperature (°F) | Melting Point (°F) | Tensile Strength | Impact 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 |
Pictured Above: CPVC plastic sheet
Pictured Below: ABS plastic sheet
