Material
Areas of use
Price level
Environmental properties
PS Packaging etc.
PS (Polystyrene)
Beneficial properties:
Hard and rigid, easy to colour, transparent, comes in various qualities
Limitations:
Brittle, low softening temperature, low UV and chemical resistance
Areas of use:
Packaging, disposable items, household items, cellular plastic
ABS Kitchen appliances etc.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
Beneficial properties:
High impact resistance, surface hardness and surface finish, suitable for chroming and plating
Limitations:
Low chemical resistance to solvents, limited weather resistance
Areas of use:
Kitchen appliances, instrument panels, toys, furniture, office appliances, industrial components
SAN Household items etc.
SAN (Copolymer of acrylonitrile and styrene)
Beneficial properties:
Hard and rigid, transparent, better thermal, chemical and outdoor resistance than PS
Limitations:
Yellows when exposed to heat and UV, resistance to some solvents
Areas of use:
Household items, fridge components, toothbrush handles, cups, trays
ASA Housings etc.
ASA (Copolymer of acrylonitrile, styrene and acrylic ester elastomer)
Beneficial properties:
High impact resistance, surface hardness, surface finish, good colour and outdoor durability
Limitations:
Low chemical resistance to solvents, lower impact resistance in cold than ABS
Areas of use:
Impact-resistant outdoor components, furniture, housings
PMMA Luminaires etc.
PMMA (Acrylic)
Beneficial properties:
Transparent, high surface gloss and hardness, very good outdoor durability
Limitations:
Attacked by strong acids, alcohols and hydrogen chloride
Areas of use:
Lenses and luminaires, protective glass, window glass, signs
PE Household articles etc.
PE (Polyethylene)
Beneficial properties:
Very good impact resistance over a wide temperature range, chemical resistance and good electrical properties
Limitations:
High shrinkage, scratch sensitive, fire sensitive, oily surface that makes printing and gluing difficult
Areas of use:
Household items, toys, bottles and pipes, buckets, packaging (film and bags)
PP Bottles etc.
PP (Polypropylene)
Beneficial properties:
Low density, good chemical resistance and better properties at higher temperatures than PE
Limitations:
Becomes brittle below -20°C, poor UV resistance
Areas of use:
Bottles, containers, pipes, electrical insulation components, instrument panels, kitchen equipment, toys
POM Gears etc.
POM (Acetal)
Beneficial properties:
Good friction and durability properties. Excellent combination of toughness, stiffness, fatigue strength and creep resistance (spring material)
Limitations:
Difficult to glue, sensitive to acids
Areas of use:
Snaps, impellers, gears, plain bearings, handles, fine mechanical details
PA Cable insulation etc.
PA (Polyamide)
Beneficial properties:
Good combination of mechanical and chemical properties, good temperature resistance
Limitations:
High moisture absorption, sensitive to acids
Areas of use:
Gears, screws, housings, cable isolation, shafts
PET Household appliances etc.
PET (Thermoplastic polyester)
Beneficial properties:
Great stiffness and hardness, high chemical and abrasion resistance, good transparency, temperature resistance (modified)
Limitations:
Electrostatic, hydrolysis sensitive, prone to warping
Areas of use:
Housings, household products, bottles
PBT Household products etc.
PBT (Thermoplastic polyester)
Beneficial properties:
Great stiffness and hardness, high chemical and abrasion resistance, good transparency, temperature resistance (modified)
Limitations:
Electrostatic, hydrolysis sensitive, prone to warping
Areas of use:
Housings, household products, bottles
PC Protective helmets etc.
PC (Carbonate plastic)
Beneficial properties:
Extremely high impact resistance, dimensionally stable, good outdoor durability, transparency
Limitations:
Sensitive to fractures and micro cracks, low acid resistance
Areas of use:
Protective helmets, lenses, windshields, luminaires, housings
PSU Medical equipment etc.
PSU (Polysulfone)
Beneficial properties:
Temperature resistant, including at very low temperatures, radiation resistant and dimensionally stable
Limitations:
Stress cracking is caused by organic solvents
Areas of use:
Medical equipment, household goods for microwaves, engine compartment components
PPS Car accessories etc.
PPS (Polyphenylene sulphide)
Beneficial properties:
Stiff and hard, high temperature and chemical resistance, flame resistant with good fatigue strength
Limitations:
Low impact strength, attacked by oxidising acids
Areas of use:
Taps, pipes, car accessories, electrical components
TPE Gaskets etc.
TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers)
Beneficial properties:
Can be adapted to different softnesses, replacing rubber material
Limitations:
Temperature resistance not as high as silicone
Areas of use:
Gaskets, rubber details (replaces natural rubber), handle details
PLA Mobile phone shells etc.
PLA (Polylactide)
Beneficial properties:
Polymerisation of bio-materials from eg corn starch or sugar cane
Limitations:
Brittle, low softening temperature, low UV and chemical resistance
Areas of use:
Kitchen products, mobile phone shells, packaging
PEEK Engine parts etc.
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PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
Beneficial properties:
Very high temperature resistance, durability and stiffness, low flammability and excellent hydrolysis resistance
Limitations:
Demanding during processing, high mould shrinkage
Areas of use:
Engine details, electronic components