Thermoplastics and Their Properties
Thermoplastics, like thermosets, are malleable and pliable when heated and hardened when cooled. Commonly used are Polyethelene, Polypropylene, PVC, and PET. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and other specialist styrenics have strong low temperature qualities, dimensional stability, ease of electroplating, low creep, and glossiness.
Aramids PI Aromatic Polyamide is a stiff, dark, strong, electrically insulating material used in various applications such as arc welding torches, chemical fibers, high-temperature resistant foams, aerospace components, and reinforcing fibers. It is also used in glass, toothbrushes, tool handles, translucent packaging, metallized components, and pen barrels.
Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) has rubbery flexibility, transparency, resistance to chemicals, and a high coefficient of friction, making it suitable for various applications. Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) is a closed-cell foam with high structural strength to weight ratio, resilience, chemical resistance, long-lasting durability, buoyancy, multiple impact resistance, and recyclable properties.
ARPRO EPS Foam is a hard, closed-cell thermoplastic foam material used in small electrical components, large appliances, and perishable foods. Fluoroplastics PTFE and FEP are semi-rigid, translucent, chemically resistant, fungus and bacteria proof, stable at high temperatures, tough at low temperatures, weather resistant, and electrically conductive.
Nylon fibers are used in carpets, fishing line, clothing, and food packaging due to their hardness and low gas permeability. Polyaryletheretherketone (PEEKTM) has dimensional stability, chemical and wear resistance, electrical and temperature stability, and a wide range of processing options.
Polybutene-1 (PB-1) is a linear, high molecular weight, isotactic, semi-crystalline polymer produced by polymerizing butene-1 using a stereo-specific Ziegler-Natta catalyst. It is widely used in the production of seal-peel and other types of easy-open packaging, such as carton liners.
Polycarbonate (PC) is a high-temperature engineering thermoplastic with excellent strength and rigidity, making it a popular choice for blends in the business world. Polyacetals POM are rigid, transparent, robust, and springy, used in components for business machines, plumbing systems, clocks, watches, nuclear engineering, and power plants.
Thermally Plastic Polyesters (PBT, PET, and PBT blends have good processing qualities and find wide applications in various industries. HDPE polyethylene has excellent low-temperature toughness, is easy to process, inexpensive, and has good chemical resistance. LLDPE is inexpensive, semi-rigid, translucent, highly durable, waterproof, chemically resistant, and can be treated in various ways.
Polyphenylene oxide (PPO) is rigid, opaque, dimensionally stable in high temperature and humidity conditions, difficult to process, and tough. It is used in coffee makers, washing machines, beverage vending machines, microwaves, and medical equipment. Polypropylene PP is rigid, opaque, non-burning, electrical insulator, moisture-resistant, and rarely used unfilled plastic with excellent chemical resistance and electrical insulation.
Water-soluble poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH, PVA, or PVAl) is printable, injectable, and blowable, with excellent gas and oxygen barriers. It is used in laundry and detergent packets, food packaging, water treatment chemicals, textile yarns, transfer printing, paper products, agrochemicals, unit-dose medications, artificial tears, contact lens lubricants, needlework, and dust abatement.
General-Purpose Polystyrene (GPPS) is brittle, rigid, transparent, cheap, high X-ray resistance, odourless and tasteless, and simple to work with. High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) is hard, transparent, and impact-resistant, used in containers for yogurt, insides of refrigerators, vending machine cups, medicine cabinets, toilet bowls, instrument knobs, and lids.
Polychlorovinyl Chloride (PVC) is a chemical that has various applications in various industries. It can be clear, colored, rigid, or flexible, and is used in various products such as window frames, drainage pipes, medical devices, and automotive components. Styrene acrylate (ASA) is transparent, rigid, and resistant to greases, stress cracking, and crazing. It is also used in glassware, toothbrush holders, and washing machine trim.
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE, TPR) are flexible, transparent, elasticity, wear resistance, and impermeability. They are used in sports shoe bottoms, hammer heads, seals, gaskets, skateboard wheels, synthetic leather materials, and silent running gears. Allylics are durable, see-through, abrasion-proof, and insulating against electricity. They are used in electrical components and optical coatings. Alkyds-Modified Acrylic Coatings (AMC) have properties like rigidity, toughness, heat resistance, arc and tracking resistance, dimensional stability, fungal resistance, and color stability. Epoxies have excellent adhesive capabilities, low shrinkage, and low cure times.
Furan is rigid, brittle, opaque, chemically resistant, self-extinguishing, and has high strength at high temperatures. It is used in various industries, including the chemical industry, foundry, and specialized insulating foams. Melamines/Ure (Aminos) MF and UF are used in decorative laminates, while Phenolic PF offers hardness, brittleness, opacity, resistance to electricity and heat, deformation under load, cost-effectiveness, and resistance to most acids. Polyurethane cast elastomers (EP) have properties like elasticity, resistance to abrasion and chemicals, and gas penetration.
