Plastics Applications Guide
Material Classification/Criteria for Application |
Mechanical Family/Temperature and Cost Options
|
Mechanical Properties/Tensile Strength
Mechanical Properties/Flexural Modulus
|
Mechanical Properties/IZOD Impact Resistance
|
Mechanical Properties/Dielectic Strength/Electrical Insulation
FDA Compliance|
Chemical Resistance
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 |