This application guide is intended to assist in reviewing your application criteria and narrowing the material options to be tested. The information contained herein are typical values intended for reference and comparison purposes only. They should NOT be used as a basis for design specifications or quality control. Contact us for manufacturers' complete material property datasheets.

Material Group Characteristics

Step 1: Identify the Correct Material Classification and Select Criteria Most Important To the Application

Amorphous Thermoplastics (Structural)

  • Soften over a wide temperature range
  • Good flammability
  • Tansparency
  • Poor chemical resistance
  • Bonds well using adhesives or solvents
  • Prone to stress cracking
  • Poor fatigue resistance
  • Structural applications only

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Bearing & Wear)

  • Sharp melting point
  • Poor flammability
  • Opaque
  • Good chemical resistance
  • Difficult to bond using adhesives or solvents
  • Resistant to stress cracking
  • Good fatigue resistance
  • Good for bearing and wear

Imidized Materials


  • Best physical properties above 400° F
  • Best temperature resistance
  • Best bearing and wear capabilities
  • Good chemical resistance

Possible Material Options

ABS Polystyrene (HIPS)
Acrylic Polysulfone
Kydex PVC
Noryl Radel
PETG Ultem
Polycarbonate

Possible Material Options

Acetal PET
HDPE Polypropylene
LDPE PPS
Nylon PTFE
PVT PVDF (Kynar)
PEEK UHME-PE

Possible Material Options

PAI (polyamide-Imide
Vespel

Step 2: Mechanical Family/Determine Temperature and Cost Options

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Cost Temp Resistance(HTD)
Ultem Radel
Radel Ultem
Polysulfone Polysulfone
Noryl Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate Noryl
ABS Acrylic
Polystyrene(HIPS) Polystyrene(HIPS)
Kydex ABS
PVC Kydex
PETG PVC
Acrylic PETG

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Cost Temp Resistance(HTD)
PPS PPS
PEEK Nylon
PVDF(Kynar) Acetal
PTFE PBT
PET PVDF(kynar)
PBT PTFE
Nylon PET
Acetal Polypropylene
UHMW-PE HDPE
HDPE LDPE
LDPE
Polypropylene

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Cost Temp Resistance(HTD)
Vespel (polyimide shapes) Vespel (polyimide shapes)
PAI (polyamide-imide) PAI (polyamide-imide)

Step 3: Determine Mechanical Properties/Tensile Strength

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
Tensile Strength(psi)
Ultem 15,200
Polysulfone 10,200
Radel 10,100
Acrylic 10,000
Noryl 8,600
Polycarbonate 9,500
PETG 7,700
PVC 7,500
Kydex 6,100
ABS 4,100
Polystyrene (HIPS) 3,500

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Tensile Strength(psi)
Peek 14,000
Nylon 6(cast) 10,000-13,500
PPS 12,500
Nylon 6/6(extruded) 12,400
PET 11,500
Acetal(homopolymer) 9,500
Acetal(copolymer) 9,800
PBT 8,690
PVDF(Kynar) 7,800
Polypropylene(homopolymer) 5,400
UHMW-PE 3,100
PTFE 1,500-3,000
LDPE 1,400

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized Materials
Tensile Strength(psi)
PAI (polyamide-imide) 21,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 12,500
Vespel (polyimide) SP-2 9,500
Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 8,200
Vespel (polyimide) SP-22 7,500
Vespel(polyimide) SP-21 6,500

Step 4: Mechanical Properties/Flexural Modulus(bending stiffness)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
Flexural Modulus(stiffness psi)
Ultem (30% glass filled) 1,300,000
Polucarbonate (20% glass filled) 800,000
PVC 481,000
Ultem 480,000
Acrylic 480,000
Polysulfone 390,000
Noryl 370,000
Radel R 350,000
Polycarbonate 345,000
Kydex 335,000
Polystyrene (HIPS) 310,000
PETG 310,000
ABS 304,000

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Flexural Modulus (stiffness psi)
PPS 600,000
PEEK 590,000
Nylon (6 cast) 420,000-500,000
Acetal (homopolymer) 420,000
Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) 410,000
Acetal (Copolymer) 370,000
PBT 330,000
PVDF 310,000
Polypropylene (Homopolymer 225,000
Polypropylene (Copolymer) 215,000
HDPE 200,000
UHMW-PE 110,000
PTFE 72,000
LDPE 30,000

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized
Flexural Modulus (stiffness psi)
PAI (polyamide-imide) 711,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-22 700,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-21 550,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 475,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-211 475,000
Vespel(polyimide) SP-21 450,000
Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 450,000

Step 5: Mechanical Properties/IZOD Impact Resistance

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH
Kydex 18.0
Polycarbonate 12.0-16.0
Radel R 13.0
ABS 7.7
Noryl 3.5
Polystyrene (HIPS) 2.0
PETG 1.7
Polysulfone 1.3
Ultem 1.0
PVC 1.0
Acrylic 0.4

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH
LDPE No Break
UHMW-PE 18.0
Polypropylene (Copolymer) 12.5
PTFE 3.5
PVDF (Kynar) 3.0
PEEK 1.6
PBT 1.5
Acetal (Homopolymer) 1.5
Polypropylene (Homopolymer) 1.2
Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) 1.2
Nylon (6 Cast) 0.7-0.9
PET 0.7
PPS 0.5

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized Materials
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH
PAI (polyamide-imide) 2.3
Vespel (polyimide) SP-21 0.8
Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 0.8
Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 0.4

Step 6: Mechanical Properties/Dielectic Strength/Electrical Insulation

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil)
Ultem 830
PVC 544
Kydex 514
Noryl 500
Acrylic 430
Polysulfone 425
PETG 410
Polycarbonate 380
Radel R 360

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil)
Nylon (6 cast) 500-600
Acetal (Homopolymer) 500
Acetal (Copolymer) 500
PTFE 400-500
PEEK 480
PPS 450
PET 400
PBT 400
Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) 300-400
PVDF (Kynar) 280

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized Materials
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil)
PAI (polyamide-imide) 600
Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 560

Step 7: FDA Compliance

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Amorphous Thermoplastics
FDA Compliant Grades Available
Acrylic
PETG
Polycarbonate
Polystyrene (HIPS)
Polysulfone
PVC
Radel R
Ultem

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
FDA Compliant Grades Available
Acetal
HDPE
LDPE
Nylon
PBT
PEEK
PET
PVDF (Kynar)
UHMW-PE

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized Materials
FDA Compliant Grades Available

Step 8: Chemical Resistance

Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest)

Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Good Chemical Resistance
Acetal
HDPE
LDPE
Nylon
PBT
PEEK
PET
Polypropylene
PPS
PTFE
PVDF(Kynar)
UHMW-PE

Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest)

Imidized Materials
Good Chemical Resistance
PAI(polyamide-imide)
Vespel Polyimide Shapes