Material data below comes from the existing catalog. Confirm the exact grade, tolerances and required documentation with your quotation.
| Plastic | Benefits | Applications | Considerations | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| POM | Tough, stiff, hard, and strong. Good lubricity and resistance to hydrocarbons and organic solvents. Good elasticity, slippery. Low creep. Great fatigue properties. | Desirable properties, such as chemical resistance rely heavily on proper crystallization during molding | Due to shrink, you need uniform wall thickness. Painting, coating, and achieving high-cosmetic finish difficult. | |
| PMMA | Good optical properties, high gloss, scratch resistant. Low shrink, Less sink in geometries with thin and thick sections. | Light pipes, lenses, light shades, optical fibers, signs. | Can be brittle. PC is a good alternative. Draft always required, sometimes twice as much as other materials. Poor chemical resistance. | |
| ABS | Tough, impact- and chemical-resistant, low shrink, high dimensional stability, inexpensive | Cosmetic parts, handheld devices, housings, and moldings for electrical tools, remote controls, computers, telephone components | Show knit lines and can have sink and voids in thick areas. You might be able to reduce sink by switching to an ABS/PC-blend. | |
| HDPE | Tough, impact- and chemical-resistant, high shrink, low dimensional stability, inexpensive, density less than water (floats) | Lawn furniture, totes, containers, toys, gas cans | High shrink, low surface energy | |
| PC | Strong, extremely impact resistant, low shrink, good dimensional stability and heat resistance, accepts high cosmetic finishes well | Lenses, indoor and outdoor lighting, cell phone housings, electrical components, medical devices, bulletproof glass. | Possible sensitivities in thick sections of parts could cause voids, bubbles, and sink. Poor chemical resistance. An ABS/PC blend is a good alternative for opaque parts with these issues Acrylic is another option for parts with thick geometries. | |
| ABS/PC | Strength, heat and low-temperature resistance, improved processing, | Automotive, electronic, telecommunications | Improved thick molding and mechanical properties compared to just ABS or PC. Lower cost than PC. | |
| PP | Inexpensive, higher impact resistance in some grades, PP homopolymer can be brittle in cold. Wear resistant, flexible with high elongation. Resistant to acids and bases. Density less than water (floats) | Integral hinges or living hinges, fans, snap-over lids (e.g., shampoo bottle tops), medical pipette tubing | Thick sections in part geometry can void or show sink marks. Shrink and warp possible. If the part has living hinges that require higher stiffness, K-Resin is a good alternative. | |
| PS | High optic clarity, good electric insulator | Plastic utensils, containers, optics, toys | Brittle, poor UV resistance, very susceptible to hydrocarbon solvents | |
| PEEK | High-temperature, high-performance, flame retardant; excellent strength and dimensional stability, good chemical resistance | Bearings, piston parts and pumps; cable insulation; compatible with ultra-high vacuum applications. | High-performance material, very expensive. Ultem (outlined below) is a slightly less-costly option, and PPSU is worth considering if price is a concern. | |
| PEI or Ultem | High-temperature, high-performance, flame retardant, excellent strength and dimensional stability, good chemical resistance. | Medical and chemical instrumentation; tableware and catering; HVAC and fluid handling; electrical and lighting. | Very expensive, though not as costly as PEEK. Look at PPSU as a possible alternative. | |
| PPSU | High-temperature tolerance, dimensionally stable, high toughness. Resistance to radiation sterilization, as well as alkalis and weak acids | Medical instrument components, sterilization trays, automotive fuses, interior aircraft parts, hot water fittings, sockets, and connectors. | Thick sections could result in voids, bubbles or sink. Organic solvents and hydrocarbons can also attack PPSU. Colorant cannot be added to Protolabs-supplied PPSU resins | |
| PA | Wide variety. High strength and temperature tolerance when reinforced. Chemically resistant except to strong bases or acids | Thin-walled features, combs, spools, gears and bearings, screws, structural parts (with glass), pump parts, under-hood components, cameras. | Some nylons can be susceptible to warp due to non-linear shrink. Absorbs moisture, causing issues. | |
| PPA | Less susceptible to moisture than aliphatic polyamides | Automtive housings, modules, valves, sports equipment | Susceptible to warp | |
| PBT | Good electrical properties for power components and works well for automotive applications. Moderate to high strength depending on glass fill. Unfilled grades are tough and flexible. Good resistance to fuels, oils, fats, and many solvents. Doesn’t absorb flavors. Low creep. | Slide bearings, gears and cams; coffee makers and toasters; hair dryer nozzles; vacuum cleaners; handles and knobs for electrical cookers. | Glass-filled PBT resins are prone to warp, and have poor resistance to acids, bases, and hydrocarbons. Thin parts hard to fill with PBT. Nylons are good alternatives. | |
| PET | Similar to PBT, but stiffer and higher melting point | Similar to PBT | Similar to pbt | |
| LCP | Very easy flowing, good chemical resistance, high upper use temp, good electrical properties, low thermal expansion | Connectors, plugs, PCBs, sports equipment | Anisotropic properties and shrinkage, expensive | |
| PPO | Good electrical insulator, hot water / steam resistance | Sensor housings, pumps, connectors | Susceptible to stress cracking | |
| PPS | Very good chemical resistance, high upper use temp, great electrical properties | Electric components, automotive intakes / pumps / valves / sensor encapsulation | Desirable properties, such as chemical resistance rely heavily on proper crystallization during molding |
Advantages of injection molding
Once a tool is made, plastic injection molding is the fastest and most cost-effective way of manufacturing hundreds of thousands of finished plastic parts. Molded parts have excellent surface finishes with reliable and consistent quality.
Frequently asked questions
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