Junying Die Casting Company
Basic Resins Used for Plastic Injection Molding
Dec 14, 2015
ju***ng
On this page
Basic resins used for plastic injection molding are classified into commodity resin and engineering resin.
Commodity resin is a kind of inexpensive resins which are easy to be processed. Commodity resin has been widely applied, including toys, packaging and consumer products.
Compared with commodity resin, engineering resin has better mechanical and thermal properties. With high strength, engineering resin has excellent high temperature resistance, abrasion resistance and corrosion resistance. Engineering resin is often used to take place of wood or metal in order to reduce cost or weight while maintaining strength and performance.
Commodity resins
ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE (ABS)
| Strength: | Low – Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Fair – Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair – Good |
| Resistance to Flash: | Good |
| Cost of Resin: | Low – Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low Impact |
| Advantages: | Chemical resistant, easily processed, good surface finish, RoHS Compliant, flame retardant |
| Disadvantages: | Limited weathering resistance |
| Common Uses: | Consumer Goods, auto interiors, toys |
| Brand Examples: | Cycolac, Lustran, Trilac |
ACRYLIC (PMMA)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | Low |
| Material Flow: | Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Good |
| Resistance to Flash: | Good |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low Impact |
| Advantages: | Good weatherability, insulation, clear/colorable |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Glass replacement, lenses, casings, aquariums |
| Brand Examples: | Acrylite, Kydex, Plexiglass |
HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (HDPE)
| Strength: | Low |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Excellent |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Poor |
| Cost of Resin: | Low |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Food contact acceptable, easily processed |
| Disadvantages: | High thermal expansion, poor weather resistance |
| Common Uses: | Toys, Buckets |
| Brand Examples: | Chevron, Dow, Relene |
POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
| Strength: | Low |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Excellent |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Poor |
| Cost of Resin: | Low |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Food contact acceptable, easily processed |
| Disadvantages: | Degraded by UV |
| Common Uses: | Consumer Goods / Living Hinge Applications |
| Brand Examples: | Hival, Lupol, ProFax |
POLYETHYLENE (PE)
| Strength: | Low |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Excellent |
| Resistance to Flash: | Poor |
| Cost of Resin: | Low |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Corrosion resistant, low weight, high flexibility, food contact acceptable, easily processed |
| Disadvantages: | Poor weatherability, high thermal expansion |
| Common Uses: | Toys, Bearings, Buckets |
| Brand Examples: | Bapolene |
POLYSTYRENE (PS)
| Strength: | Low – Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | Low – Med |
| Material Flow: | Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair – Good |
| Resistance to Flash: | Fair |
| Cost of Resin: | Low |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Food contact acceptable, flame retardant, fast cycle time, expandable |
| Disadvantages: | Poor solvent and chemical resistance |
| Common Uses: | Toys, packaging, product casings (Crystal PS for clear cases, cups) |
| Brand Examples: | Starex, Styron |
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC)
| Strength: | Low – Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low – Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Med |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Low |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med – High |
| Advantages: | Flame retardant, high Gloss, UV resistant |
| Disadvantages: | High density, UV sensitive |
| Common Uses: | Soft, flexible parts; fencing; containers, can also be rigid to add strength |
| Brand Examples: | Mixvil, Vital-line |
STYRENE ACRYLONITRILE (SAN)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low – Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Low |
| Material Flow: | Med |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low – Med |
| Advantages: | Good weatherability, chemical resistant, high Clarity, good processability |
| Disadvantages: | Higher water absorption and yellowing than PS |
| Common Uses: | Electical and Automotive applications, cosmetic Packaging, containers |
| Brand Examples: | Absolan |
Engineering Resins
ACETAL (POM)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low – Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Fair |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Good |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Low fatigue, low moisture sensitivity, chemical resistant, good chemical properties |
| Disadvantages: | Poor resistance to acids, UV Degradation |
| Common Uses: | Springs, bearings, valve parts |
| Brand Examples: | Ashlene, Celcon, Delrin |
POLYBUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PBT)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Fair |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Fair |
| Cost of Resin: | Med – High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low – Med |
| Advantages: | Dispersible, good electrical properties, food contact acceptable |
| Disadvantages: | Difficult to fill thin parts, poor resistance to acid |
| Common Uses: | Electronic components, housings, automotive connectors |
| Brand Examples: | Celstran, Celanex, Valox |
PBT / PET (GLASS FILLED)
| Strength: | High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Fair – Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Poor – Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Fair |
| Cost of Resin: | Med – High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Low moisture absorption, high stiffness-to-weight ratio, medical and UV resistant grades |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Structural parts, housings, automotive components |
| Brand Examples: | Crastin, Rynite, Makroblend |
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low – Med |
| Advantages: | Chemical resistant, clarity, easily processed |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Infant products, sterilizer lids, dishwasher parts |
| Brand Examples: | Celanex, Ramapet |
POLYCARBONATE (PC)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med – High |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Fair |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair – Good |
| Resistance to Flash: | Good |
| Cost of Resin: | Med – High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | RoHS compliant, dimensionally stable, easily Processed |
| Disadvantages: | Fair chemical resistance, degrades during extended processing times |
| Common Uses: | Lenses, light covers, single use containers |
| Brand Examples: | Hopolex, Lexan, Makrolon |
POLYETHER ETHER KETONE (PEEK)
| Strength: | High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | High |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Good |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Med – High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Chemical resistant, abrasive resistant, corrosive and hydrolysis resistant, can be filled with carbon fiber, graphite, molybdenum disulfide, etc. for lubricating properties and enhanced mechanical strength, food contact acceptable, good sterilizability |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Engineering applications, medical/healthcare |
| Brand Examples: | Victrex |
POLYETHER IMIDE (PEI)
| Strength: | High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | High |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Med – High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Flame Retardant, good chemical resistance, good processability |
| Disadvantages: | Notch sensitive, limited colorability |
| Common Uses: | Medical/healthcare, automotive, aerospace, metal replacement, thin walled parts |
| Brand Examples: | Duron, Ultem |
POLYETHERSULFONE (PES) / POLYSULFONE (PSU)
| Strength: | High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med – High |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Low – Med |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Acid resistant, thermal stability, hydrolysis resistant |
| Disadvantages: | Poor weatherability, difficult to process, cost |
| Common Uses: | Food service, automotive, medical/healthcare, aerospace, engineering applications |
| Brand Examples: | HiFill, Thermocomp |
POLYETHYLENE ETHER (PPE)
| Strength: | Med – High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Med – High |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med – High |
| Material Flow: | High |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med – High |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | High |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Med |
| Advantages: | Excellent electrical properties, resistant to acids and bases, can be blended with PS to improve processability and toughness |
| Disadvantages: | High viscosity, high cost, color degrades with UV |
| Common Uses: | Automotive, electrical and industrial applications |
| Brand Examples: | Ashlene, Norpex |
POLYAMIDE (NYLON)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Good – Excellent |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Fair |
| Resistance to Flash: | Poor |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low – Med |
| Advantages: | Food contact acceptable, easily processed |
| Disadvantages: | Degraded by UV |
| Common Uses: | Bearings, medium stress components |
| Brand Examples: | Akromid, Celanese, Zytel |
POLYAMIDE (NYLON) – GLASS FILLED
| Strength: | High |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | High |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Good – Excellent |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Poor |
| Resistance to Flash: | Fair |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Fair |
| Advantages: | High Strength, wear and chemical resistance |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Metal replacement, connectors, bushings |
| Brand Examples: | Capron, Zytel |
THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER (TPE)
| Strength: | Low |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low |
| Resistance to Impact: | High |
| Material Flow: | Excellent |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Poor |
| Resistance to Flash: | Poor |
| Cost of Resin: | Low – Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Good weatherability, recyclable, good UV Resistance, good adhesion, good colorability |
| Disadvantages: | |
| Common Uses: | Rubber replacement, bushings, seals |
| Brand Examples: | Elastocon, Santoprene |
THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE (TPE/TPU)
| Strength: | Med |
| Strength at Elevated Temp: | Low Med |
| Resistance to Impact: | Med |
| Material Flow: | Low |
| Resistance to Shrinkage/Warpage: | Med |
| Resistance to Flash: | Med |
| Cost of Resin: | Med |
| Impact on Mold (wear): | Low |
| Advantages: | Wide durometer range, oil, chemical and hydrolysis resistant, good wear resistance |
| Disadvantages: | Limited service temperature, processability |
| Common Uses: | Gaskets, surgical instruments, sporting goods |
| Brand Examples: | Celstran, Elastollan |
