<table width="718"> <tr> <td width="100%" bgcolor="WHITE"> <!--plastic material selection, injection moulding troubleshooting, help with plastics, injection moulding, help, advice, toolcraft plastics--> <img src="images/banners/banner_top_namecontactw.gif" alt="plastic material selection, injection moulding troubleshooting, help with plastics, injection moulding, help, advice, toolcraft plastics" /> <table width="100%"> <tr> <td> <img src="images/banners/bannerw.jpg" alt="plastic material selection, injection moulding troubleshooting, help with plastics, injection moulding, help, advice, toolcraft plastics" /></td> </tr> </table> <div id="navtb"> <table width="100%"> <tr> <td><a href="index.htm">Home</a></td> <td><a href="product_design_assistance_plastic.htm">Product Design</a></td> <td><a href="tools_low_cost_rapid_production_mould.htm">Injection Mould Tools</a></td> <td><a href="mouldings_precision_plastic_injection.htm">Injection Moulding</a></td> <td><a href="vacuum_formed_antistatic_standard_custom_made_trays.htm">Vacuum Forming</a></td> <td><a href="profile.htm">Overview</a></td> <td><a href="news.htm">News</a></td> <td><a href="contact_conductive_packaging_pad_printing_mould_flow_analysis.htm">Contact Us</a></td> <td><a href="help.htm">Help</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> <br /> <table width="100%"> <tr> <td>A guide to plastic material selection</td> </tr> <tr> <td><span class="table_verdsml"> To give you some help with plastics for your application, this plastic material selection <strong>guide</strong> lists most common material types available & an overview of each one's basic properties when in natural colour unfilled grade. Also listed is some advice on typical trade names, costs & uses for mouldings made from each material type<br /> <br /> </span></td> </tr> </table> <table width="100%"> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF66"> <td colspan="2" class="table_verdsml" bgcolor="#FFFF66"><strong>Material Types, Trade Names<br /> & Abbreviations</strong></td> <td class="table_verdsml"><strong>Density<br /> g/cm³</strong></td> <td class="table_verdsml"><strong>Description, Details & Typical<br /> Applications</strong></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Acetal<br /> Delrin/Hostaform/Lucel</td> <td class="table_verdsml">POM</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.42</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural - opaque white, very tough, low/med. cost<br /> Gears and bearing; taps and aerosol valves.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td bgcolor="#FFFF93" class="table_verdsml">Acrylic<br /> Diakon/Oroglas/Plexiglas</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PMMA</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.18</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent and brittle, low/medium cost. <br /> Lenses; car light housings and reflectors.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene<br /> Cycolac/Magnum/Novodur/Terluran</td> <td class="table_verdsml">ABS</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.06</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural opaque and tough, low/medium cost. <br /> Telephone handsets and vacuum cleaner housings.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Cellulose Acetate<br /> Dexel/Cellidor/Setilithe</td> <td class="table_verdsml">CA</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.20</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent, tough, from flexible to rigid, high cost. Spectacles frames and screwdriver handles.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyamide 6 (Nylon)<br /> Akulon/Ultramid/Grilon</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PA6</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.14</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Almost opaque/white, very tough, medium/high cost. Bushes, bearings, curtain runners & combs.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyamide 6.6 (Nylon)<br /> Kopa/Zytel/Radilon</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PA6.6</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.14</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Almost opaque/white, rigid & tough, medium/high cost. Levers, housings, handles etc.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyamide 11+12 (Nylon)<br /> Rilsan/Grilamid</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PA11+12</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.18</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Opaque to clear, rigid & tough, very high cost.<br /> Air filters, safety masks, spectacle frames etc.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyester - Thermoplastic<br /> Celanex/Crastin & Lupox/Rynite</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PBT<br /> PET</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.42<br /> 1.34</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Rigid & stable, medium/high cost.<br /> Electrical sockets, housings and parts.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Polycarbonate<br /> Calibre/Lexan/Makrolon</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PC</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.20</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent; very tough and resilient, high cost. <br /> Street lamp covers and safety helmets.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml"> Polyethylene - Low Density<br /> Alkathene/Escorene/Novex</td> <td class="table_verdsml">LDPE</td> <td class="table_verdsml">0.92</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural waxy appearance; tough & flexible, low cost. Kitchenware and many sealing lids & closures.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml"> Polyethylene - High Density<br /> Eraclene/Hostalen/Stamylan</td> <td class="table_verdsml">HDPE</td> <td class="table_verdsml">0.96</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural waxy appearance; tough & stiff, low cost. <br /> Chair seats and milk crates.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyether Sulphone<br /> Victrex/Udel</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PES</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.37</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Clear, tough, v.high chemical resistance+cost.<br /> Valve seat linings, metal replacement parts etc.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Polypropylene<br /> Novolen/Appryl/Escorene</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PP</td> <td class="table_verdsml">0.91</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural waxy appearance; tough & stiff, low cost. <br /> Beer crates and spade handles.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyphenylene Oxide<br /> Noryl/Thermocomp/Vamporan</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PPO</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.07</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Tough & stable, high cost.<br /> Electrical parts requiring tight tolerances.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Polyphenylene Sulphide<br /> Ryton/Fortron</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PPS</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.65</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Brown, v.good heat resist., v.high strength+cost<br /> Fuel system parts, guides, bearings etc. </td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml"> Polystyrene - General Purpose<br /> Lacqrene/Styron/Solarene</td> <td class="table_verdsml">GPPS</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.00</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent and brittle, low cost.<br /> Cosmetics packaging and ball-point barrel pens.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml"> Polystyrene - High Impact<br /> Polystyrol/Kostil/Polystar</td> <td class="table_verdsml">HIPS</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.05</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Natural translucent and tough, low cost.<br /> Food containers; cotton reels; toys - model kits.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride<br /> Polycol/Trosiplast</td> <td class="table_verdsml">UPVC</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.40</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent to opaque; tough, low cost.<br /> Outdoor applications - gutters, drainpipes & fittings.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride<br /> Welvic/Varlan</td> <td class="table_verdsml">PVC</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.30</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent to opaque; tough & flexible, low cost. <br /> Shoe soles and electrical insulation.</td> </tr> <tr bgcolor="#FFFF93"> <td class="table_verdsml">Styrene Acrylonitrile<br /> Luran/Arpylene/Starex</td> <td class="table_verdsml">SAN</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.07</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Transparent and brittle, low cost.<br /> Table and picnicware.</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="table_verdsml">Thermoplastic Elastomer/Rubber<br /> Hytrel/Santoprene/Sarlink</td> <td class="table_verdsml">TPE/R</td> <td class="table_verdsml">1.10</td> <td class="table_verdsml">Tough & flexible, high cost.<br /> Electrically insulated parts, seals, bushes & washers.</td> </tr> </table> <div class="table_verdsml"> <div align="center">For more help with plastics view our <a href="help_ultrasonic_welding_of_plastics.htm">ultrasonic welding of plastics</a> or <a href="help.htm">injection moulding troubleshooting</a> guides.<br /> <br /> <a href="mailto:help@toolcraft.co.uk"><img src="images/banners/banner_bot_servicesw.gif" alt="plastic material selection, injection moulding troubleshooting, help with plastics, injection moulding, help, advice, toolcraft plastics" /></a></div> </div> </td></tr></table>