Plastic Materials Properties & Application

Plastics are versatile, hygienic, lightweight, flexible and highly durable. It accounts for the largest usage of plastics worldwide and is used in numerous packaging applications including containers, bottles, drums, trays, boxes, cups and vending packaging, baby products and protection packaging.Plastic Materials Properties & Application

1. Acetals

Good strength and stiffness
Good resistance to creep, abrasion, moisture, heat and chemicals
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Mechanical parts and components from which high performance is required over a long period – bearings, cams, gears, bushings, rollers; wear surfaces, pipes, valves, housing etc.

High stiffness acetal POM gears and precision mechanical components

2. Acrylics (PMMA)

Possess moderate strength
Good optical properties
Resistance to wear and chemicals
Transparent (Opaque) and have good electrical resistance
E.g.: Lenses, lighted signs, displays, window glazing, automotive lenses, wind shields, lighting fixtures and furniture

Shatterproof transparent acrylic PMMA sheets used as glass substitutes

3.Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)

Dimensionally stable and rigid
Good impact, abrasion and chemical resistance
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Good strength, toughness and high electrical resistance
Low temperature resistance
Cabinets for consumer and electronic goods, automotive components (wheel covers, head light bezels), boat hulls, telephones, refrigerator liners, helmets, tool handles, pipes, fittings, decorative panels etc.

Durable ABS thermoplastic enclosures for electronic devices and computer peripherals

4. Nylon

Good mechanical property
Abrasion and chemical resistance
Self-lubricating
All nylons are hygroscopic – reduces mechanical properties and increases part dimension

Low friction nylon plastic gears and mechanical engineering components

5. Aramids (aromatic polyamides)

Have very high tensile strength
Good stiffness
Typical applications - Fibers for reinforced plastic, bullet proof vests, cables and radial tyres

Heat resistant aromatic polyamides fabric used in firefighter protective clothing

6. Polycarbonates

Versatile
Good Mechanical and Electrical properties
High Impact and chemical resistance
Safety helmets, optical lenses, bullet resistant window glazing, load bearing electrical components, wind shields, medical apparatus, electrical insulators, business machine components etc.

Durable polycarbonate thermoplastic housing for electronic devices

7. Polyethylene

Good electrical and chemical properties
Mechanical properties depend on composition and structure
Inert to chemicals
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Three major classes - LDPE, HDPE, UHMWPE
LDPE, HDPE – House wares, bottles, ducts, bumpers, garbage cans, toys, packaging materials, tubing etc.
UHMWPE – Parts requiring high impact toughness and resistance to abrasive wear (artificial knee and hip joints)

Expanded polystyrene foam sheets used for protective packaging insulation

8. Polystyrene

Inexpensive
Generally, have average properties and good resistance to tearing
Automotive components, medical devices, appliance parts, packing trays, foam insulation, radio components, house wares, toys, furniture parts, pens, safety razor etc.

9. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Wide range of properties, inexpensive, water resistant and self-extinguishing
Not suitable for applications related to strength and heat resistance
Rigid PVC is tough and hard
Used in construction industry (pipes, turbine pumps)
Flexible PVC - wire and cable coatings, in low pressure flexible tubing and hose, footwear, gaskets, seals, sheet coatings, ATM cards etc.

Flexible PVC insulation coatings on electrical wires and cables

Thermosetting Plastics

10. Alkyds (from alkyl, - alcohol and acid)

Possess good electrical insulating properties, impact resistance and dimensional stability
Low water absorption
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Typical applications in electrical and electronic components

Alkyds plastic materials properties and protective coating applications

11. Aminos (Urea and Melamine)

Properties depend upon composition
Aminos are hard and rigid.
Resistant to abrasion, creep and electrical arcing
Small appliance housings, toilet tops, handles
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Urea – Electrical and electronic components, stove hardware, small housings etc.
Melamine – Dinner ware, buttons, military uniforms, ashtrays etc .

Heat resistant amino plastics used in electrical switches and components

12. Epoxies

Excellent mechanical and electrical properties
Good dimensional stability
Strong adhesive property
Good resistance to heat and chemicals
Electrical components requiring good mechanical strength and high insulation
Tools, dies and adhesives
Fiber Reinforced Epoxies – Excellent mechanical properties
E.g.: Pressure vessels, rocket motor casings, tanks and similar structural components.

Durable industrial flooring and composite materials made of epoxies

13. Phenolics

Although brittle, are rigid and dimensionally stable
Resistant to heat, water, chemicals and electricity
Handles, knobs, laminated panels, electronic components (insulators, wiring devices)
Used as bonding materials to hold abrasive grains together in grinding wheels

Electrical insulation applications of phenolic resin materials

14. Silicones

Properties depend on composition
Possess excellent electrical property over wide range of temperature and humidity •Resistant to chemicals and heat
Plastic Materials Properties & Application
Electrical components requiring strength at high elevated temperatures, oven gaskets, heat seals, and water proof materials
A silicone-based material called super lightweight ablator, used as a heat shield on parts of the booster of space shuttle (Silicon rubber adhesive is used to fix ceramic tiles on space shuttle)

High temperature resistant silicone products and materials