Plastic Material Selection

We have access to an extensive resource tool for researching and comparing polymers.

These databases cover the worldwide market and provide technical data on a polymer's relative strengths and limitations, potential applications, processabilty, and chemical resistance, as well as its general mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties (see the example for Nylon 66 (PA6-6)).

A cost index can also be provided to give a rough idea for comparison among different materials.

To give you some help with plastics for your application, this plastic material selection guide lists most common material types available and an overview of each one's basic properties when in natural colour unfilled grade. Also listed is some advice on typical trade names, costs and uses for mouldings made from each material type.

Material Types, Trade Names & Abbreviations		Density g/cm³	Description, Details & Typical Applications
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Cycolac/Magnum/Novodur/Terluran	ABS	1.06	Natural opaque and tough, low/medium cost. Telephone handsets and vacuum cleaner housings.
Cellulose Acetate Dexel/Cellidor/Setilithe	CA	1.20	Transparent, tough, from flexible to rigid, high cost. Spectacles frames and screwdriver handles.
Polystyrene - General Purpose Lacqrene/Styron/Solarene	GPPS	1.00	Transparent and brittle, low cost. Cosmetics packaging and ball-point barrel pens.
Polyethylene - High Density Eraclene/Hostalen/Stamylan	HDPE	0.96	Natural waxy appearance; tough & stiff, low cost. Chair seats and milk crates.
Polystyrene - High Impact Polystyrol/Kostil/Polystar	HIPS	1.05	Natural translucent and tough, low cost. Food containers; cotton reels; toys - model kits.
Polyethylene - Low Density Alkathene/Escorene/Novex	LDPE	0.92	Natural waxy appearance; tough & flexible, low cost. Kitchenware and many sealing lids & closures.
Polyamide 6 (Nylon) Akulon/Ultramid/Grilon	PA6	1.14	Almost opaque/white, very tough, medium/high cost. Bushes, bearings, curtain runners & combs.
Polyamide 6.6 (Nylon) Kopa/Zytel/Radilon	PA6.6	1.14	Almost opaque/white, rigid & tough, medium/high cost. Levers, housings, handles etc.
Polyamide 11+12 (Nylon) Rilsan/Grilamid	PA11+12	1.18	Opaque to clear, rigid & tough, very high cost. Air filters, safety masks, spectacle frames etc.
Polyester - Thermoplastic Celanex/Crastin & Lupox/Rynite	PBT PET	1.42 1.34	Rigid & stable, medium/high cost. Electrical sockets, housings and parts.
Polycarbonate Calibre/Lexan/Makrolon	PC	1.20	Transparent; very tough and resilient, high cost. Street lamp covers and safety helmets.
Polyether Sulphone Victrex/Udel	PES	1.37	Clear, tough, v.high chemical resistance & cost. Valve seat linings, metal replacement parts etc.
Acrylic Diakon/Oroglas/Plexiglas	PMMA	1.18	Transparent and brittle, low/medium cost. Lenses; car light housings and reflectors.
Acetyl Delrin/Hostaform/Lucel	POM	1.42	Natural - opaque white, very tough, low/med. cost Gears and bearing; taps and aerosol valves.
Polypropylene Novolen/Appryl/Escorene	PP	0.91	Natural waxy appearance; tough & stiff, low cost. Beer crates and spade handles.
Polyphenylene Oxide Noryl/Thermocomp/Vamporan	PPO	1.07	Tough & stable, high cost. Electrical parts requiring tight tolerances.
Polyphenylene Sulphide Ryton/Fortron	PPS	1.65	Brown, v.good heat resist., v.high strength & cost Fuel system parts, guides, bearings etc.
Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride Welvic/Varlan	PVC	1.30	Transparent to opaque; tough & flexible, low cost. Shoe soles and electrical insulation.
Styrene Acrylonitrile Luran/Arpylene/Starex	SAN	1.07	Transparent and brittle, low cost. Table and picnic ware.
Thermoplastic Elastomer/Rubber Hytrel/Santoprene/Sarlink	TPE/R	1.10	Tough & flexible, high cost. Electrically insulated parts, seals, bushes & washers.
Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Polycol/Trosiplast	UPVC	1.40	Transparent to opaque; tough, low cost. Outdoor applications - gutters, drainpipes & fittings.