Plastic Polymers
The table below lists a few of the thousands of plastic and composite materials available. Since the plastics market changes so quickly, not all available resins and blends are listed. Please contact us to match materials to your engineering needs. Many of these plastics are modified and compounded for specific applications. This has allowed them to replace cast aluminum, steel and glass as useful manufacturing components. Some of the more popular additives are:
- Glass fibers for strength
- Graphite and PTFE for lubricity
- Blends for combination properties
| POLYMER | Melt Proces- sable |
Polyester | Polyolefin | Poly- urethane |
SBS / SEBS | Thermo- plastic |
Characteristics |
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Supplier |
Du Pont® | Du Pont® | Monsanto® | B.F. Goodrich® | Shell® | Various |
Common and Trade Names |
Alcryn | Hytrel | Santoprene | Estane | Kraton | PVC |
Specific Gravity (Polymer) |
1.2 | 1.2 | 1.15 | 1.19 – 1.20 | .93 – 1.05 | 1.20 – 1.40 |
Hardness Range |
55A – 80A | 40D – 70D | 55A – 50D | 77A – 70D | 28A – 49D | 40A – 55D |
Tensile Strength (PSI) |
1,200 – 2,000 |
2100 – 7600 | 1000 – 2200 | 4500 – 9000 | 800 – 3500 | 800 – 3500 |
Heat Deflection Temperature |
250 1/4°F | 284 1/4°F | 260 1/4°F | 150 – 290 1/4°F | 200–300 1/4°F | 220 1/4°F |
Low Temperature Resistance |
-40 1/4°F | -20 1/4°F | -30 1/4°F | -4 – 61 1/4°F | -30 1/4°F | -50 1/4°F |
F.D.A. Approved |
C | G | Yes | C | C | |
Abrasion Resistance |
C | E | F | G | F | F |
Adhesion to Metals |
E | C | F | G | F | C |
Color Adaptability |
E | G | F | G | E | E |
Color Resistance to Fading |
G | G | C | G | G | E |
Compression Set |
F | E | G | E | F | F |
Fire Resistance |
C | C | C | C | C | E |
Flex Cracking Resistance |
G | E | G | E | G | F |
Electrical Insulation Properties |
E | E | G | G | G | E |
Odor Characteristics |
F | G | F | G | G | F |
Taste Characteristics |
F | G | G | G | E | F |
Ozone Resistance |
E | G | C | F | G | E |
Impermeability to Gases |
F | G | C | C | F | G |
Radiation (Gamma) |
NR | C | C | C | C | C |
Resistance Izod Notch |
No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break |
AGA & Aging |
G | G | G | G | E | G |
Tear Resistance |
F | E | F | F | E | F |
Weather Aging (Florida) |
E | G | C | C | E | E |
Acids, Dilute |
G | G | E | G | F | F |
Alkalies |
G | E | G | G | F | F |
Alcohol, Glycols |
E | E | E | G | G | G |
Animal Oils & Fats |
C | G | C | F | C | G |
Brake Fluid Non (Petrol Base) |
G | E | E | G | C | C |
Gasoline-Hi Test |
G | E | NR | NR | NR | C |
Lubricating Oils High Aniline |
G | E | G | G | C | C |
Low Aniline |
G | G | G | G | C | C |
Lubricants, Sulphur Bearing |
G | C | C | C | C | C |
Naptha, Kerosene |
NR | F | NR | NR | NR | F |
Benzene, Toluene |
NR | F | NR | NR | NR | F |
Carbon Tet, Trichlorethylene |
NR | NR | NR | NR | G | G |
Lacquers, Thinners |
NR | F | NR | NR | C | C |
Soaps, Bleaches |
F | G | G | G | NR | G |
Detergents to 180°F |
F | F | G | G | NR | G |
Steam |
F | NR | G | G | NR | G |
Vegetable Oils |
NR | G | C | C | C | G |
Water to 180°F |
F | F | G | G | NR | G |
CODE: |
E — Excellent G — Good F — Fair NR — Not Recommended C — Consult Us |
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Thermoplastic Elastomers
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) are materials that combine the speed and efficiency of plastic processing with the mechanical properties of rubber. TPE's have grown into many markets including automotive, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, medical and toys. The following table lists properties used for material selection. Due to changing technology, there are many specialty grades of these materials available for unique applications. Please contact us to determine the best material for your application.
Advantages of Thermoplastic Elastomers
- No compounding
- Easier to process
- Reduced cycle times – from minutes to seconds
- Recycling of scrap, runners, and sprues
- Lower energy consumption
- Tighter product tolerances
- Improved product quality
- Lower material density
| POLYMER | Melt Proces- sable |
Polyester | Polyolefin | Poly- urethane |
SBS / SEBS | Thermo- plastic |
Characteristics |
||||||
Supplier |
Du Pont® | Du Pont® | Monsanto® | B. F. Goodrich® | Shell® | Various |
Common and Trade Names |
Alcryn | Hytrel | Santoprene | Estane | Kraton | PVC |
Specific Gravity (Polymer) |
1.2 | 1.2 | 1.15 | 1.19 – 1.20 | .93 – 1.05 | 1.20 – 1.40 |
Hardness Range |
55A – 80A | 40D – 70D | 55A – 50D | 77A – 70D | 28A – 49D | 40A – 55D |
Tensile Strength (PSI) |
1200 – 2000 | 2100 – 7600 | 1000 – 2200 | 4500 – 9000 | 800 – 3500 | 800 – 3500 |
Heat Deflection Temperature |
250°F | 284°F | 260°F | 150 – 290°F | 200 – 300°F | 220°F |
Low Temperature Resistance |
-40°F | -20°F | -30°F | -4 – 61°F | -30°F | -50°F |
F.D.A. Approved |
C | C | G | Yes | C | C |
Abrasion Resistance |
C | E | F | G | F | F |
Adhesion to Metals |
E | C | F | G | F | C |
Color Adaptability |
E | G | F | G | E | E |
Color Resistance to Fading |
G | G | C | G | G | E |
Compression Set |
F | E | G | E | F | F |
Fire Resistance |
C | C | C | C | C | E |
Flex Cracking Resistance |
G | E | G | E | G | F |
Electrical Insulation Properties |
E | E | G | G | G | E |
Odor Characteristics |
F | G | F | G | G | F |
Taste Characteristics |
F | G | G | G | E | F |
Ozone Resistance |
E | G | C | F | G | E |
Impermeability to Gases |
F | G | C | C | F | G |
Radiation (Gamma) |
NR | C | C | C | C | C |
Resistance Izod Notch |
No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break | No Break |
AGA & Aging |
G | G | G | G | E | G |
Tear Resistance |
F | E | F | F | E | F |
Weather Aging (Florida) |
E | G | C | C | E | E |
Acids, Dilute |
G | G | E | G | F | F |
Alkalies |
G | E | G | G | F | F |
Alcohol, Glycols |
E | E | E | G | G | G |
Animal Oils & Fats |
C | G | C | F | C | G |
Brake Fluid Non (Petrol Base) |
G | E | E | G | C | C |
Gasoline-Hi Test |
G | E | NR | NR | NR | C |
Lubricating Oils High Aniline |
G | E | G | G | C | C |
Low Aniline |
G | G | G | G | C | C |
Lubricants, Sulphur Bearing |
G | C | C | C | C | C |
Naptha, Kerosene |
NR | F | NR | NR | NR | F |
Benzene, Toluene |
NR | F | NR | NR | NR | F |
Carbon Tet, Trichlorethylene |
NR | NR | NR | NR | G | G |
Lacquers, Thinners |
NR | F | NR | NR | C | C |
Soaps, Bleaches |
F | G | G | G | NR | G |
Detergents to 180°F |
F | F | G | G | NR | G |
Steam |
F | NR | G | G | NR | G |
Vegetable Oils |
NR | G | C | C | C | G |
Water to 180°F |
F | F | G | G | NR | G |
CODE: |
E — Excellent G — Good F — Fair NR — Not Recommended C — Consult Us |
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