ABS Injection Molding plastics provide a balanced combination of mechanical toughness, wide temperature range, good dimensional stability, chemical resistance, electrical insulating properties, and ease of fabrication. ABS plastic is available in a wide range of grades including medium and high-impact, heat-resistant, plateable fire-retardant, and both low and high gloss varieties.
Applications: Computer housings, small appliances, automotive interior trim and medical components
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
5000-7500 psi | 270,000-380,000 psi | 3.0-7.5 ft-lb/in notched izod | 140°-200° F | Poor to Fair |
ABS + PC (ABS + Polycarbonate Alloy)
PC + ABS Injection Molding plastics offer improved strengths over ABS at a lower cost than Polycarbonate. Exceptional low temperature Impact Strength. The Injection Molding Plastic material can be modified by the addition of glass fiber, mineral fillers and flame retardant.
Applications: Automotive exterior and interior components, medical hardware, electrical housings, computers, monitors, business equipment housings and enclosures
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6400-9150 psi | 300,000-400,000 psi | 8-12 ft-lb/in notched izod | 140°-210° F | Poor to Fair |
Acetal (POM) (Polyoxymethylene)
Acetal Injection Molding Plastic are semi-crystalline. They offer excellent inherent lubricity, fatigue resistance, and chemical resistance. Acetals suffer from outgassing problems at elevated temperatures, and are brittle at low temperatures. Glass filled, and added lubrication grades are available, flame retardant grades are not.
Applications: Mechanical Automotive, Business Machine and Household Appliance, Components i.e. Slides, Gears, Cams, Bushings, Door Handles and Seat Belt Parts.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6000-22,000 psi | 120,000-170,000 psi | .8-2 ft-lb/in notched izod | 180°-300° F | Excellent |
Acrylic (PMMA) (Polymethyl methacrylate)
Acrylic PMMA is a tough, highly transparent Injection Molding Plastic material with excellent resistance to ultraviolet radiation and weathering. It can be colored, molded, cut, drilled, and formed. Acrylic is an economical alternative to polycarbonate (PC) when extreme strength is not necessary. It is often preferred because of its moderate properties, easy handling and processing, and low cost, but behaves in a brittle manner when loaded, especially under an impact force.
Applications: Automotive Transparent Items such as Head/Tail Lenses and Trim, Household Light Fixtures and Decorative Items, Safety Equipment and Shields.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
2800-10,9000 psi | 221,000-534,000 psi | .22-1.1 ft-lb/in notched izod | 183°-217° F | Excellent |
LCP (Liquid Crystal Polymer)
LCPs are cool, relatively new Injection Molding Plastic materials with interesting properties. They have tensile strength and modulus close to aluminum. Because of the highly oriented, rod like nature, of the polymer molecules, LCPs present some interesting design challenges. This is because the molecules will only form in straight lines. Additionally, the high orientation only occurs within about .040 of the surface of the part. Molecular orientation below this skin is random. As a result all of the strength of the material is in the skin. Good design data is not available for these materials, so prototyping is a must. prototypes must be molded, because of the molecular orientation mentioned above.
Applications: Electrical and Mechanical parts, Food containers, and any other applications requiring chemical inertness and high strength.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
12,000-32,000 psi | 1,300,000-4,600,000 psi | 1.1-11 ft-lb/in notched izod | 430°-500° F | Good to Excellent |
Nylon 6-PA (Polyamide)
Nylons are semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastics with a good range of properties. Nylons are widely used because they have a good cost to performance ratio. Lower numbered nylons, 6 ,6-6, 4-6, absorb moisture and change their properties as a result. Nylons have been compounded with reinforcements, fillers and additives to produce a very wide variety of properties. Nylon 6 has the lowest modulus of all nylon grades.
Applications: Automotive components, Bearings, Electronic Connectors, Gears, Consumer Products and Industrial products.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6,000-24,000 psi | 390,000-1,100,000 psi | 2-8 ft-lb/in notched izod | 200°-350° F | Good to Excellent |
Nylon 6/6-PA (Polyamide)
Nylons are semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastics with a good range of properties. Nylons are widely used because they have a good cost to performance ratio. Lower numbered nylons, 6 ,6-6, 4-6, absorb moisture and change their properties as a result. Nylons have been compounded with reinforcements, fillers and additives to produce a very wide variety of properties. Nylon 6-6 offers better properties than nylon 6 without being as costly as nylon 4-6. It has the best abrasion resistance of all nylons. Verton, long glass fiber filled materials, by LNP, are excellent metal replacement materials.
Applications: Automotive components, electronic connectors, gears, consumer products and industrial products.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
8,000-24,000 psi | 430,000-1,100,000 psi | 2-8 ft-lb/in notched izod | 220°-350° F | Good to Excellent |
Nylon 11-PA (Polyamide)
Nylons are semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastics with a good range of properties. Nylons are widely used because they have a good cost to performance ratio. Lower numbered nylons, 6 ,6-6, 4-6, absorb moisture and change their properties as a result. Nylons have been compounded with reinforcements, fillers and additives to produce a very wide variety of properties. Nylon 11 offers better Impact Strength and dimensional stability than lower numbered nylons. It is also more flexible.
Applications: Automotive components, Electronic connectors, Gears, Consumer products and Industrial products.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
8,000-17,000 psi | 170,000-1,200,000 psi | 2-No break ft-lb/in notched izod | 180°-250° F | Good to Excellent |
PBT Polyester (Polybutylene Terepthalate)
PBT polyesters are semi-crystalline. They are versatile Injection Molding Plastic materials with a good range of properties. They have excellent electrical properties and are abrasion resistant. PBT has been extensively compounded giving a very wide range of properties. PBT performs much like Nylon but can handle higher temperatures and does not absorb moisture. PBT has excellent impact strength but is very notch sensitive. PBT is very anisotropic in shrinkage, so it is difficult to mold to extremely tight tolerances.
Applications: Industrial equipment applications, business equipment, automotive housings-under the hood, power tool casings.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6,000-13,000 psi | 300,000-1,200,000 psi | 1 ft-lb/in notched izod | 250°-420° F | Fair to Good |
PC (Polycarbonate)
Polycarbonate is an amorphous Injection Molding Plastic 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.
Applications: Automotive Headlights, Business Machines, Consumer Products, Telecommunications, Medical Products and Mechanical Goods.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
9000-23,000 psi | 340,000-1,400,000 psi | 2-18 ft-lb/in notched izod | 150°-300° F | Poor to Fair |
PEI (Polyetherimid)
PEI is an amorphous, high temperature Injection Molding Plastic 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
14,000-28,000 psi | 480,000-1,300,000 psi | 2 ft-lb/in notched izod | 375°-420° F | Fair to Good |
PE (Polyethylene)
Polyethylene is a widely used, inexpensive, Injection Molding 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
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
1900-4500 psi | 40,000-105,000 psi | 2-No break ft-lb/in notched izod | 130°-150° F | Good to Excellent |
LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
Polyethylene is a widely used, inexpensive, Injection Molding 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. Low density polyethylene is the softest and most flexible version of this material. It has high elongation giving it excellent impact strength. This is offset by its permanent deformation upon impact.
Applications: Consumer products, houseware items, electronic wire/cable insulators and medical products.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
1,200-4,000 psi | 35,000-48,000 psi | No break ft-lb/in notched izod | 130°-150° F | Good to Excellent |
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
Polyethylene is a widely used, inexpensive, Injection Molding 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
3,200-4,500 psi | 145,000-225,000 psi | .4-4 ft-lb/in notched izod | 130°-150° F | Good to Excellent |
PET Polyester (Polyethylene Terepthalate)
PET polyesters are semi-crystalline. They are versatile Injection Molding Plastic 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
7,000-23,000 psi | 350,000-3,000,000 psi | .45-8 ft-lb/in notched izod | 250°-420° F | Fair to Good |
PP (Polypropylene)
Polypropylene is a widely used, semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastic 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 Injection Molding Plastic 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4,500-18,500 psi | 210,000 -1,500,000 psi | 1.4-5.5 ft-lb/in notched izod | 150°-300° F | Excellent |
PPA (Polyphthalamide)
PPA is a relatively new, semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastic 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 6-6 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
9,000-33,000 psi | 270,000 -2,700,000 psi | .6-22 ft-lb/in notched izod | 300°-450° F | Good to Excellent |
PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)
PPS is a high temperature semi-crystalline Injection Molding Plastic material. It has good mechanical properties and excellent chemical resistance at elevated temperatures. PPS has been compounded extensively and many different types of properties are available. PTFE filled PPS is one of the best bearing materials available. Unfilled grades of PPS have poor properties, so components are usually made from glass filled or glass/mineral filled grades. PPS is very sensitive to molding conditions and must be processed properly to achieve its maximum potential.
Applications: Hydraulic components, bearings, cams, valves and electronic parts
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
14,000-28,000 psi | 550,000 -2,900,000 psi | .5-6 ft-lb/in notched izod | 450°-500° F | Good to Excellent |
PS (Polystyrene Crystal)
Crystal polystyrene is the cheapest Injection Molding 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
5000-7500 psi | 380,000 -480,000 psi | .35-.45 ft-lb/in notched izod | 100°-150° F | Poor |
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)
High Impact Polystyrene is what its name implies. A few cents more than crystal styrene, to pay for the rubber modifier. HIPS is opaque and very widely used. It has a lower modulus, better elongation, and is a lot less brittle than crystal styrene.
Applications: Household Goods, Containers, Furniture, Housings and Packaging.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
7,500-10,000 psi | 160,000 -370,000 psi | 3-7 ft-lb/in notched izod | 100°-150° F | Poor |
PSU (Polysulfone)
Polysulfone is a high temperature amorphous Injection Molding Plastic 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
9,500-18,000 psi | 390,000-1,500,000 psi | .65-7 ft-lb/in notched izod | 300°-350° F | Fair to Good |
PU (Polyurethane)
Polyurethane is a resilient, extremely tough abrasion and tear resistant elastomeric Injection Molding Plastic material that is available in ether and ester based formulations. These diverse formulations cover an extremely wide range of stiffness, hardness, and densities. These Injection Molding Plastic materials offer good chemical resistance, and are transparent in unfilled grades.
Applications: Gaskets, Seals, Bushings, Connectors, Electrical parts
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6,500-33,000 psi | 230,000-2,000,000 psi | 1.5-10 ft-lb/in notched izod | 150°-230° F | Good |
PVC (Polyvinylchloride)
PVC is one of the oldest and most commonly used Injection Molding 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 Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
10,000-12,000 psi | 350,000-600,000 psi | .8-1.4 ft-lb/in notched izod | 120°-170° F | Fair to Good |
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
PVDF is a melt processable fluropolymer Injection Molding Plastic. It is similar in properties to other fluropolymers, but has better strength and lower creep than the other members of this family. PVDF has good wear resistance , and excellent chemical resistance. But does not perform well at elevated temperatures.
Applications: Aircraft applications, Computer components, Protective coverings, Seals, Electrical parts, Diaphrams.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
3,500-7,200 psi | 170,000-1,200,000 psi | 2.5-8 ft-lb/in notched izod | 170°-300° F | Good to Excellent |
SAN (Styrene Acrylonitrile)
SAN is ABS without the Butadiene. It does not have the Impact Strength of ABS, but can be crystal clear. Injection Molding Plastic, Styrene Acrylonitrile has better general chemical resistance than polystyrene and is cheaper than acrylic. It has a good combination of rigidity, strength, toughness and transparency.
Applications: Battery cases, Dials, Knobs, Switches, Lenses, Trays, Containers, Covers, Autoclavable devices, Dental & Medical light diffusers
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
10,000-18,000 psi | 500,000-1,200,000 psi | .3-3.0 ft-lb/in notched izod | 140°-200° F | Poor to Fair |
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer)
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are a combination of polymers (usually a plastic and a rubber) which consist of both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties resulting in a product that is extremely easy to use in manufacturing a variety of products. TPE Injection Molding Plastic require little or no compounding and no need to add reinforcing agents, stabilizers or cure systems.
Applications: Automotive Fluid Delivery Systems, Household appliances, Sporting goods, Electrical and Medical components.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
1,000-7,000 psi | 5,000-800,000 psi | 2.5-No Break ft-lb/in notched izod | 200°-300° F | Fair to Good |
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomer)
Injection Molding Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers exhibit excellent abrasion and wear resistance and high tensile and tear strengths. TPUs are tough, durable, easy to clean and well-suited to applications that demand the elasticity of rubber combined with high stability. In addition, the inherent translucency of these products makes it easy to color and that is an added benefit in many applications.
Applications: Automotive and Aerospace Applications, Medical and Optical purposes, Electrical Wire and Cable Coverings.
Tensile Strength | Flexural Modulus | Impact Strength | Max Temp. | Chemical Resistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
6960-12,000 psi | 260,000-340,000 psi | .80-10.1 ft-lb/in notched izod | 160°-250° F | Fair to Good |
Edited by Leafly Mould Provides Injection Mold, Plastic Mold, Injection Molding, Die Casting Mold, Stamping Mold
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