THERMOPLASTICS SELECTION GUIDE
return to: Thermoplastic Materials
*Many of these plastics can be made with fillers and additives that will enhance the physical properties.

MATERIALS
Polyamide-imade (PAI) TECATOR®, TORLON®,
Polyimide (PI) SINTIMID®, VESPEL®, IMIDEX®, KAPTON®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Very high cost per pound
Excellent physical properties above 400° F
Excellent electrical properties
Excellent dimensional stability
Low coefficient of friction

-HIGH PERFORMANCE-
MATERIALS
Polysulfone (PSU) UDEL®
Polyetherimide (PEI) ULTEM®
Polyethersulfone (PES) RADEL A®
Polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) RADEL R®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
High cost
High temperature
High strength and good stiffness
Hot water and steam resistance

-HIGH PERFORMANCE-
MATERIALS
Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)
Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PTCTFE)
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) RYTON®
Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) VICTREX®
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) TEFLON®
Ethylene-Tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) TEFZEL®
Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) KYNAR®, SOLF®
Ethylene-Chlorotrifluoreothylene (ECTFE) HALAR®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
High cost
High temperature
High strength
Good chemical resistance
Good electronical properties

-ENGINEERING -
MATERIALS
Polycarbonate (PC) HYZOD LEXAN
Polyphenylene Oxide (Mod PPO) NORYL
Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) ISOPLAST

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Moderate cost
Moderate temperature resistance
Moderate strength
Good-excellent impact resistance

-ENGINEERING-
MATERIALS
Polyamide (PA) NYLON®
Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) HYDEX 4101®
Polyoxymethylene (POM) Acetal - DELRIN®, CELCON®
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) ENSITEP®, ERTALYTE®
High Temp-Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethelene (UHMW-PE) TIVAR H.O.T®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Moderate cost
Moderate temperature resistance
Moderate strength

-COMMODITY-
MATERIALS
Polystyrene (PS)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Acrylic (PMMA) PLEXIGLAS®
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Stryene (ABS)
Polyethylene Terephtalalate Glycol (PETG) VIVAK®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Low cost
Low temperature resistance
Low strength

-COMMODITY-
MATERIALS
Polypropylene (PP)
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE)TIVAR®, LENNITE®

KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Low cost
Low temperature resistance
Low strength

 

-AMORPHOUS PLASTICS-
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
  • Soften over a broad range of temperature
  • Easy to thermoform
  • Tend to be translucent or transparent
  • Structural applications only (not suitable for bearing and wear)
  • Bond well using adhesives and solvents
  • Prone to stress cracking
  • Poor fatigue resistance
  • Poor chemical resistance

-SEMI-CRYSTALLINE PLASTICS-
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

  • Sharp melting point
  • Difficult to thermoform
  • Tend to be opaque
  • Good for bearing & wear as well as structural applications
  • Difficult to bond using adhesives and solvents
  • Good resistance to stress cracking
  • Good fatigue resistance
  • Good chemical resistance
  • Low coefficient of friction
home | capabilities | extrusion process | thermoplastic materials | contact us