Selecting the right plastic material is one of the most important decisions in any injection molding project. The wrong material can result in part failure, manufacturing difficulties, or excessive cost.
Low-cost materials for general-purpose applications. PP (polypropylene) offers excellent chemical resistance and fatigue life. PE (polyethylene) provides toughness and low cost. PS (polystyrene) offers rigidity and clarity but is brittle. ABS provides good impact strength and surface finish. PVC offers flame resistance and weatherability.
Higher-performance materials for demanding applications. PC (polycarbonate) offers exceptional impact strength and optical clarity. PA (nylon) provides outstanding wear resistance and chemical compatibility. POM (acetal) delivers excellent stiffness and dimensional stability. PBT offers good electrical properties and heat resistance.
For extreme environments requiring high temperature resistance, chemical resistance, or mechanical strength. PEEK offers continuous service temperature of 250°C. PEI (Ultem) combines high strength with flame resistance. PPS provides exceptional chemical resistance. PTFE (Teflon) delivers the lowest coefficient of friction.
| Property | ABS | PC | PA66 | POM | PP | PEEK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile Strength (MPa) | 40 | 65 | 85 | 70 | 30 | 100 |
| Impact Strength (J/m) | 200 | 700 | 100 | 80 | 50 | 85 |
| Max Service Temp (°C) | 80 | 125 | 120 | 100 | 90 | 250 |
| Chemical Resistance | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Excellent | Excellent |
| Relative Cost | $ | $$ | $$ | $$ | $ | $$$$$ |