When considering plastic injection molding materials for your product there are many properties to consider. We have provided general characteristics for many of the commodity, engineering, and performance grade plastic materials to help guide you to the best material for your application. We are providing a 4 step guide to help with material selection.
1. Application – Begin with a thorough understanding of the product application.
• Where it will be used?
• How long it needs to last?
• What environmental and mechanical conditions will the product be exposed?
• What cosmetic or other performance characteristics do you desire for your product?
• What economic or cost constraints do you have for your product?
2. Material Properties – To be able to effectively evaluate and select materials it is important to have a general understanding of plastic material mechanical performance, chemical resistance, environmental requirements and the technical standards used to measure performance. UL IDES provides an excellent resource to understand these properties. UL IDES Material Properties.
3. Select a material family – Once you have a good understanding of the application and material properties you can begin narrowing your search to a family of plastic resins. You can use the following charts to help narrow your search to a few materials or review summary descriptions of the most commonly specified materials in our Thermoplastic Material Guide below.
4. Specify Material – Use the UL IDES Materials resource to pull up manufacturers’ material data sheets to review specific materials and match their performance to best suit your application. Additional performance can be achieved by compounding materials with alloys, fillers, and additives. The Engineers at Shenyue Technology help guide our customers through the complex material selection process to find cost-effective solutions with the right performance characteristics.
We have selected some of the most common commodity, engineering and performance grade materials and are providing the following briefs and application sheets to help in selecting the best material for your application. If we can be of assistance with your project email us at sales@shenyueplastics.com or use our Contact Form.
Thermoplastic Material Selection Guide
Commodity:
Polypropylene Injection Molding (PP):
PP is a low cost, lightweight polymer that has excellent chemical resistance. Polypropylene is tough, has good resistance to fatigue, and can be reinforced with glass fiber or minerals to enhance mechanical properties.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE):
A versatile, workhorse thermoplastic polymer ideal for consumer and industrial products, toys, storage containers, sporting goods, appliances, and milk crates.
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE):
LDPE is a softer version of HDPE and popular in manufacturing consumer and industrial products.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC):
PVC is lightweight compared to metal pipe that it has replaced in many applications, but is heavier than most other grades of plastic. PVC is widely used in water, sewer, windows, siding, and other building products.
Polystyrene:
Commonly used for office products, food processing and storage, consumer products, and construction.
High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS):
HIPS is a versatile, economical, impact-resistant plastic.
Engineering:
ABS Plastics Injection Molding:
ABS is a common engineering thermoplastic that has good impact strength and toughness along with mechanical and electrical properties that make it ideal for a variety of plastic injection molding applications.
Acrylic Injection Molding (PMMA):
Known commonly by the Plexiglas® and Lucite® trademarks, acrylic – or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) – is a glass substitute that offers many exceptional properties in plastic injection molding.
Nylon (PA):
Few plastics combine the versatility, value, and mechanical performance of nylon. The most common forms of Nylon are the PA 6 and PA 66 versions. Nylon has excellent strength, stiffness, heat resistance, wear-resistance and lubricity, chemical resistance to hydrocarbon.
Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE):
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) combines the flexibility and elasticity of rubber with the processing advantages of plastics. It offers good impact resistance, soft touch, and excellent design flexibility, making it suitable for overmolding applications and products requiring enhanced grip or sealing performance.
TPE is widely used in consumer products, automotive components, seals, and soft touch applications.
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU):
Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is a durable elastomer with excellent abrasion resistance, flexibility, and mechanical strength.
It is well suited for applications that require both elasticity and toughness, such as protective components, flexible parts, and wear resistant products.
Polycarbonate (PC):
Polycarbonate is a rugged, engineering-grade thermoplastic that offers exceptional impact resistance and strength in many demanding applications, like bulletproof glass.
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT):
A polyester resin, PBT offers good electrical, mechanical and thermal properties with excellent chemical resistance to a variety of chemicals including aliphatic hydrocarbons, oil, grease, dilute acids and bases, and detergents.
Performance:
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS):
PPS has the broadest resistance to chemicals of any engineered thermoplastic. PPS is exceptionally resistant to flame, acids, ketones, alkalis and hydrocarbons, making it an ideal thermoplastic for challenging corrosive, high-heat, and chemically strenuous environments.
