plastic moulding material selection guide
To help you select the right plastic for your mouldings, this plastic moulding material selection guide lists the most common plastic material types available together with an overview of basic properties of each plastic when in natural colour unfilled grade. This guide also lists typical trade names, costs & uses for mouldings made from each type of plastic material.
Toolcraft have worked with a very wide range of plastic materials over the years and are able to help you select the right material for your moulding project. We have some very knowledgeable suppliers as well.
| Plastic Material Types and Abbreviations Common Material Trade Names |
Density g/cm³ |
Key Characteristics Typical Applications |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetal, Polyacetal or Polyformaldehyde Delrin / Hostaform / Celstran / Kepital |
POM | 1.42 | Natural - opaque white, very tough, low-med.cost Gears and bearing; taps and aerosol valves |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Novodur / Lustran / Starex / Terluran |
ABS | 1.06 | Natural opaque and tough, low - medium cost Telephone handsets + vacuum cleaner housings |
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate Luran |
ASA | 1.19 | Transparent. High UV stability, low – medium cost. Conservatory parts, outdoor applications like antenna covers, roof vents |
| Cellulose Acetate Cellidor / Dexel / Tenite Acetate |
CA | 1.20 | Transparent, tough, flexible to rigid, high cost Spectacles frames and screwdriver handles |
| Polyamide 6 (Nylon) Promyde / Badamid / Akulon / Polyram / Vampamid / Ravamid / Denyl |
PA6 | 1.14 | Almost opaque/white, very tough, med-high cost Bushes, bearings, curtain runners + combs |
| Polyamide 6.6 (Nylon) Makamid / Badamid / Akulon / Domamid / Vydyne / Technyl |
PA6.6 | 1.14 | Almost opaque/white, rigid+tough, med-high cost Levers, housings, handles etc |
| Polyamide 11+12 (Nylon) Badamid / Grilamid / Rilsan |
PA11 PA12 |
1.18 | Opaque to clear, rigid + tough, very high cost Air filters, safety masks, spectacle frames etc |
| Polyester - Thermoplastic Ultradur / Rynite |
PBT PET |
1.42 1.34 |
Naturally cream. Rigid + stable, medium - high cost Electrical sockets, housings and parts |
| Polycarbonate Trirex / Infino / Calibre / Makrolon |
PC | 1.20 | Transparent, very tough and resilient, high cost Street lamp covers and safety helmets |
| Polyethylene - Low Density Alkathene / Escorene |
LDPE | 0.92 | Opaque white. Natural waxy feel. Tough+flexible, low cost |
| Polyethylene - High Density Eraclene / Hostalen / Stamylan |
HDPE | 0.96 | Opaque white. Natural waxy feel. Tough + stiff, low cost |
| Polyether Sulphone Victrex |
PES | 1.37 | Clear, tough, v.high chemical resistance+cost Valve seat linings, metal replacement parts etc |
| Polymethyl methacrylate (Acrylic) Diakon / Acrypet |
PMMA | 1.18 | Transparent and brittle, low - medium cost Lenses; car light housings and reflectors |
| Polypropylene Capilene / Innovene / Appryl / Escorene / Novolen / Moplen |
PP | 0.91 | Translucent to opaque white. Natural waxy look. Tough + stiff, low cost |
| Polyphenylene Oxide Noryl / Thermocomp / Vamporan |
PPO | 1.07 | Opaque. Tough + stable, high cost Electrical parts requiring tight tolerances |
| Polyphenylene Sulphide Torelina / Fortron |
PPS | 1.65 | Brown, v.good heat resist., v.high strength+cost Fuel system parts, guides, bearings etc |
| Polystyrene - General Purpose Empera / Styron |
GPPS | 1.00 | Transparent to white and brittle, low cost Cosmetics packaging and ball-point barrel pens |
| Polystyrene - High Impact Altech / Empera |
HIPS | 1.05 | Natural translucent and tough, low cost Food containers; cotton reels; toys - model kits |
| Polyvinyl Chloride Doeflex / Evicon / Nakan / Apex |
PVC | 1.30 | Transparent to opaque; tough + flexible, low cost Shoe soles and electrical insulation |
Polyvinylidene Fluoride Kynar |
PVDF | 1.78 | Opaque white. High chemical resistance, very high cost. Filter systems. |
| Styrene Acrylonitrile Lustran / Luran / Starex |
SAN | 1.07 | Transparent and brittle, low cost Table and picnicware |
Styrene Methyl Methacrylate Nova / Dylark |
SMMA | 1.07 | Transparent. Good dielectric transmission & UV stability, very good for thick sections, low cost. Satellite dish covers. |
| Thermoplastic Elastomer / Rubber Arnitel / Evoprene / Santoprene / Thermolast |
TPE TPR |
1.10 | Transparent to cream. Tough & flexible, high cost Electrically insulated parts, seals + bushes |
For more help with plastics view our ultrasonic welding of plastics or injection moulding troubleshooting guides.
