THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS
The table below provides some brief details on different thermoplastic materials used in injection
moulding. The list is by no means exhaustive and there are a number of blends of different materials,
e.g. PC/ABS, designed to achieve the best performance properties of the two individual components.
Within each group of plastics, different levels of performance are available. Additional strength may be
gained through the addition of fillers, such as talc or glass, in many cases. Also additives to improve UV
stability or flame retardancy or provide antimicrobial properties may also be used.
Material Abbr. Properties Typical Applications
Polypropylene PP Good chemical resistance Packaging, containers
PP
Small domestic appliances
Homopolymer HPPP Semi rigid, durable eg kettles
Large automotive parts,
Good gloss, texture possible, low plates and cups for
PP Copolymer CPPP cost children and picnics
Polyethylene PE
PE Low Density LDPE/LLDPE Good chemical resistance, flexible Low Density –Packaging,
or semi rigid depending on grade. containers. High Density –
PE High Weatherproof, good low crates, chemical drums,
temperature performance. Non gas/water pipe and fittings,
Density HDPE toxic. Low cost kitchenware
Polystyrene PS
GPPS – toys, packaging,
General cosmetic packaging
Purpose GPPS HIPS – TV cabinets,
Brittle, transparent. Poor UV refrigerator linings, toilet
stability. HIPS up to 7x impact seats
High Impact HIPS strength of GPPS
Lenses, signs, light
Rigid, clear, glossy, good weather diffusers, point of purchase
Acrylic PMMA resistance displays
Rigid, opaque, tough, good gloss, Domestic appliances, car
Acrylonitrile ABS texture possible fascias, computer housings
Butadiene
Styrene
Nylon Gears, bearings,
automotive under bonnet
(Polyamide) PA Rigid, tough, hardwearing parts
Aerosol valves, clock parts,
Rigid, tough, springlike, good computer printer
Acetal POM wear and electrical insulation components
Crash helmet visors,
Rigid, transparent, excellent vandal proof glazing, riot
impact resistance, good weather shields, car headlamp
resistance, good dimensional lenses, safety helmets,
Polycarbonate PC stability babies’ bottles
Acrylate
Styrene Housings, telephones,
Rigid, opaque, tough, good UV automotive door mirrors
Acrylonitrile ASA resistance and radiator grilles
Styrene Lenses, drinking tumblers,
Rigid, transparent, tough, kitchen and picnic ware,
Acrylonitrile SAN resistant to stress cracking hi-fi covers
Rigid or flexible grades,
Polyvinyl weatherprooof, non-flammable, Drainpipes and guttering,
good impact strength and cable insulation, flooring,
Chloride PVC electrical insulation roofing, hosepipes
Shoe soles and heels, seals,
Polyurethane PUR Flexible, clear, impermeable gaskets, rollers, wheels
Rigid, clear, extremely tough, Drink bottles, business
wide temperature range machine components,
Polyesters PBT, PET resistance transformer parts
Microwave grills,
Excellent high temperature chemotherapy devices,
stability, rigid or flexible grades surgical equipment, fuel
Polysulphone PES,PSU available. High cost cells
Chemical pumps, medical
Polyphenylene Rigid, opaque, non-burning, good and dental equipment,
chemical resistance at high transformer parts, heating
Sulphide PPS temperature element bases
Polyvinylidene Strong, tough material with
excellent chemical and heat Valves, pumps, bearings in
Fluoride PVDF resistance chemical process industry
Polyphenylene
Rigid, opaque, glossy, excellent TV housings, automotive
Oxide PPO dimensional stability instrument enclosures
Ethylene Vinyl Flexible (rubber-like), good low
temperature flexibility, good Handle grips, ice cube
Acetate EVA chemical resistance trays, hoses
INJECTION MOULDING PROCESS
INJECTION MOULD TOOL
INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE
gives a brief overview of the properties and applications for the majority of thermoplastic materials. For
more detailed information please go to the individual material pages elsewhere on this site.
Please Note: This page is for information purposes only. Rutland Plastics is an Injection Moulder and does not
supply polymers.
The table is also available for download as a pdf document:
Download Datasheet
Abbreviation Full Name Brand Names Properties Applications
Automotive, office
machines, domestic
appliances,
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Cycolac,Magnum, Tough, opaque, rigid, hard, refrigeration, pipe
ABS Styrene Novodur high gloss fittings
Automotive,
telephones, traffic
signs, electric fan
Acrylonitrile Styrene Rigid, transparent, tougher components, wash
ASA Acrylonitrile Luran S, Geloy alternative to Styrene basins
Butadiene Styrene Block
Copolymer Medical products,
drawing
BDS (See also SBC/SBS) Kibiton Tough, crystal clear instruments
Food packaging,
Tough, semi-opaque, surgical products,
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate flexible, good low ice cube trays,
EVA Copolymer Evatane, Escorene temperature properties bicycle saddles
Containers, bottle
Tough, semi-rigid, crates, food storage
translucent, excellent boxes, housewares,
HDPE (PE- weatherability/chemical dustbins, pipe
HD) High Density Polyethylene Rigidex, Lutene resistance fittings
Household
appliances, toys,
Lacqrene, Polystyrol, disposable cups,
HIPS High Impact Polystyrene Styron A-Tech Rigid, hard, translucent toilet seats
Precision parts,
stainless steel and
ceramic
repalecement,
electrical
High stiffness, excellent connectors, surgical
stability at high instruments, dental
LCP Liquid Crystal Polymer Vectra, Xydar temperatures tools
Flexible, translucent,
durable, good
weatherability/low
temperature performance, Lids and closures,
LDPE (PE- Lupolen, Escorene, excellent chemical containers, bins,
LD) Low Density Polyethylene Hostalen resistance laundry baskets
Closures, screw
Stronger and tougher than caps, cold room
LDPE, better mechanical containers, high
Linear Low Density Dowlex, Escorene, properties at low and high quality housewares,
LLDPE Polyethylene Innovex temperatures toys
Fits midway between High Containers,
MDPE (PE- and Low Density closures, pipe
MD) Medium Density Polyethylene Marlex, Rigidex Polyethylene fittings
PA Polyamide (Nylon)
Rigid, tough, translucent,
resistance to oils, good
Akulon, Ultramid, dialectric resistance, hard Gears, bearings,
PA6 Polyamide 6 (Nylon 6) Technyl wearing bushes
PA11 Polyamide 11 (Nylon 11)
Rilsan, Lubricomp, As for Nylon 6 but better Cable ties, aircraft
Thermocomp, performance over wider battery cases,
PA12 Polyamide 12 (Nylon 12) Grilamid range of temperatures sports equipment
PA46 Polyamide 46 (Nylon 46) Stanyl
Automotive fans,
Higher impact strength and door handles and
Zytel, Maranyl, better low temperature filters, kitchen
PA66 Polyamide 66 (Nylon 66) Akulon properties than Nylon 6 appliance housings
Automotive under
High rigidity, excellent bonnet components
strength, high temperature and door handles,
performance comparable to electric motor
PAA6 Polyarylamide Ixef metals housings, furniture
Automotive
windscreen wiper
arms and door
Rigid, extremely tough, handles, electronic
Arnite, Valox, clear, wide operating parts, household
PBT Polybutylene Terephthalate Celanex temperature range appliances
Medical, glazing,
lighting,
CDs/DVDs,
spectacles, safety
Rigid, tough, excellent helmets,
impact resistance, good automotive light
Calibre, Makrolon, weatherability and covers and clear
PC Polycarbonate Lexan dimensional stability roof panels
Similar
applications to ABS
Combination of PC and but where greater
PC/ABS Polycarbonate/ABS blend Bayblend, Pulse ABS properties toughness required
PE Polyethylene Rigidex, Lupolen
PEEK Polyether Etherketone Victrex Outstanding stability at Chemotherapy
wide temperature range, devices, surgical
high cost, specialist tools, microwave
grills
Medical devices,
electrical
insulators,
High strength, excellent pharmaceutical
PEI Polyetherimide Ultem flame and heat resistance process equipment
Tough, good impact
Arnite A, Impet, strength, clear, good high Blow moulded
PET Polyethylene Terephthalate Valox temperature performance bottles
Microwave grills
Tough, wide operating and dishes, medical
temperature, self- respirators, dental
PES Polyethersulphone Radel A, Victrex extinguishing reamers
Lenses. Lighting
covers (indoor and
outdoor),
Polymethyl Methacrylate Hard, rigid, crystal clear, automotive rear
PMMA (Acrylic) Diakon, Plexiglas good weatherability light lenses
Gears, bearings,
electric kettles,
plumbing fittings,
Rigid, very tough, valve and pump
translucent, good housings,
Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) Delrin, Hostaform, dimensional stability and automotive fuel
POM (Polyformaldehyde) Iupital electrical properties systems
Higher rigidity and
Delrin, Hostaform, resistance to fatigue than
POM-H Acetal Homopolymer Iupital copolymers
Better resistance to hot
water and alkalis and better
long term temperature
Delrin, Hostaform, properties than
POM-K Acetal Copolymer Iupital homopolymers
PP Polypropylene Novolen, Capilene, Semi rigid, translucent, Crates and bins,
Innovene excellent chemical housewares,
washing machine
drums, plumbing
fittings, kettle
bodies, automotive
resistance, good bumpers and
recyclability dashboards
PPE Polyphenylene Ether Noryl See PPO
Washing machine,
Rigid, tough, opaque, wide dishwasher and
operating temperature, pump components,
excellent dialectric electrical and
Polyphenylene Oxide (usually properties, may be self automotive
PPO modified – PPO-M) Noryl, Luranyl extinguishing components
Often used as
aluminium
replacement,
connectors,
terminal blocks,
Rigid, tough, high sockets, coil
temperature resistance formers, relay
(continuous use up to components,
240C), good mechanical automotive ignition
PPS Polyphenylene Sulphide Fortron, Ryton and insulation properties parts
Flexible, strong, high Footwear, garden
PPVC abrasion resistance, good hoses, electric cable
(PVC-P) Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride Solvic, Vinnol weathering properties insulation
Toys, disposable
Rigid, high gloss and tumblers,
PS (GPPS) Polystyrene Lacqrene, Polystyrol transparency, brittle containers
Microwave grills
and dishes, dental
reamers, dialysis
equipment,
Tough, wide operating stainless steel and
temperature, self- glass replacement
extinguishing, amber for milk collection
PSU Polysulphone Udel colour, equipment
PVC Polyvinyl Chloride
Strong, tough, excellent Valves, pumps and
chemical and heat bearings, mainly in
resistance and UV stability, the chemical
PVDF Polyvinylidene Flouride Kynar, Solef translucent milky white process industries
Automotive real
lamp covers and
reflectors,
refrigerator doors
and trays, washing
machine trims and
Styrene Acrylonitrile Rigid, tough, transparent, windows, quality
SAN Coplymer Tyril, Lustran resistant to oils and greases kitchen utensils
Replacement
windows and doors,
Rigid, tough, good pipes and fittings,
UPVC Unplasticised Polyvinyl weatherability, flame rainwater goods
(PVC-U) Chloride Corvic, Geon retardant, usually clear and bottles
Automotive
Rubber Modified/Reinforced bumpers and door
PP-EPDM Polypropylene Alfater XL, Keltan Tough, flexible, off-white protection strips
Centrifuge tubes,
medical bottles and
mouth tubes, pens
Styrene Butadiene Styrene Tough, less brittle than and drawing
SBC/SBS Block Coplymer Styrolux GPPS, crystal clear instruments
Thermoplastic Elastomer Flexible, good low Rubber
TPE (Rubber) temperature properties replacement,
automotive gaiters,
seals and gaskets.
Thermoplastic Elastomer –
Used for
TP-EE Ether Ester Arnitel, Hytrel
overmoulding to
provide ‘soft-
Thermoplastic Rubber touch’.
TPR (Elastomer)
TPV Thermoplastic Elastomer or Santoprene, Lamod
Rubber – Crosslinked
Bellows,
diaphragms,
gaskets and seals,
machinery mounts,
Range from hard and rigid shoe soles and
to soft and flexible, better heels.
abrasion and tear Overmoulding,
resistance than rubber, especially in
excellent weatherability and automotive
TPU Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastolan, Estane UV resistance interiors
TYPICAL
MOULDING
SHRINKAGE
TERIAL TYPE RATIO (%)
ABS 0.6
ABS/PC ALLOY 0.7
ACETAL 1.8
ACRYLIC 0.6
CAB 0.5
HDPE 3
LDPE 3
NYLON 6 1.2
NYLON 6 (30%
GF) 0.4
NYLON 6/6 1.5
NYLON 6/6 (33%
GF) 0.5
NYLON 11 1
NYLON 12 1.4
PEEK 1.1
POLYCARBONATE 0.6
POLYESTER PBT 2
PET (SEMI
CRYSTALLINE) 0.4
PET
(AMORPHOUS) 0.4
POLYPROPYLENE
(COPOLYMER) 2
POLYPROPYLENE
(HOMOPOLYMER) 1.5
POLYPROPYLENE
(30% TALC
FILLED) 1
POLYPROPYLENE
(30% GF) 0.5
POLYSTYRENE 0.5
POLYSTYRENE
(30% GF) 0.1
PVC P 1.5
PVC U 0.4
SAN 0.6
SAN (30% GF) 0.1
TPE 2.5
