There are lots of plastic materials on the world market today. When you have a plastic molding product that needs plastic material, here are some of the popular choices to consider.
What Plastic Materials Are Commonly Used For Injection Molding?
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is an injection molding material. This material has 44 MPa tensile strength. It impacts strongly. The density is 1.04 g/cm3. 220°C-260°C is its melting point. This lets it take the desired shape. LEGO blocks are ABS. This material resists heat. This is sturdy.
ABS material is one of the most ideal materials for the injection molding process. Many plastic toys are made with it. ABS is electrically insulating compared to other materials. The manufacturing industry uses it.
Polypropylene (PP) Material
Lightweight polypropylene. One cubic centimeter weighs 0.91 grams. 30 MPa is its tensile strength. This substance resists chemicals well. They make it at 160-220℃. The material is flexible. Containers are made from PP plastic injection molding materials. It absorbs moisture slowly.
We make ropes from it. The surface is smooth. Recycling is another possibility for this chemical. Heating does not harm polypropylene. It is strong and durable.
Nylon (PA6 or PA66) Material
Nylon (PA6 or PA66) has a 75 MPa tensile strength. The weight of one cubic centimeter is 1.15 grams. The melting point from 245～280℃(PA6) or 270～295℃ for PA66. Nylon is resistant to wear and utilized for parts such as gears. Water is absorbed by this material. It is robust and adaptable. Nylon is the recommended material for bearings, due to its smooth surface. It’s easy to color and durable. Textiles frequently employ this material.
PEEK Material
PEEK is a very tough material, and very expensive. The tensile strength of this material is 90 MPa. This content has a density of 1.32 grams per cubic centimeter. The melting point is 320°C-390°C. PEEK is resistant to chemicals. The aerospace sector uses plastic injection molding materials like PEEK, due to its extreme durability, light weight and heat resistance.
A large variety of medical devices make heavy use of this material, which is resistant to wear and enjoys a long life. PEEK is particularly well-suited for usage in high-stress environments.
PVC Material
PVC is a very common material which is used plastic injection mold products such as pipes. It has a density of 1.38 g/cm3. The tensile strength is 50 megapascals and has a melting point at 170-190℃. PVC material decomposes easily.
The material itself provides long-lasting insulation and is flexible in some cases. A wide range of building materials make use of low cost PVC parts.
Acetal (POM)
Acetal, or POM, it is a strong material. This material has tensile strength of 70 mega Pascals. This material is dense, weighing 1.41 grams per cubic centimeter, with a melting point of 170-200℃. Acetal is smooth and mostly used for gears and bearings. Use this material to prevent wear.
TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomers)
TPE is a flexible material which is mostly used in overmolding, The density is 1.2 g/cm3 and the tensile strength equals 10 micropascals. Thermoplastic elastomer is one of the materials used for flexible plastic injection molding. The melting point for TPE from 210～250℃.
There are number hardness of TPEs from shore 20 to shore 90, with hardness increasing by number. The material is commonly used as furniture and receptacle handles, and is a great choice for toys. The applications for TPE are numerous.
HDPE Material
HDPE is soft material similar to PP, with a lower cost. The weight per cubic centimeter is 0.95 g with a tensile strength equals 30 MPa. HDPE and other injection molding materials are durable, created at 220~260℃. Bottles are often made from HDPE.
It is a lightweight, recyclable material that does not absorb water. It is used for a variety of containers.
Polycarbonate
PC plastic is manufactured from them.a non-crystalline thermoplastic termed polycarbonate (PC). It refers to polymer molecules with carbonate molecular structure. The ester groups in the molecular structure classify it as aliphatic, alicyclic, aromatic, or aliphatic-aromatic. It is called bulletproof glue due to its remarkable mechanical qualities.
Polycarbonate tensile strength is 70 MPa. The density is 1.25 g/cm³. Its melting point from250～320℃. This material is clear. It is used for lenses or similar products. Plastic injection molding materials like this having high impact strength. Polycarbonate is heat resistant. This plastic can be used in many ways.
| Material | Density (g/cm³) | Melting Point (°C) | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Applications | Impact Resistance |
| ABS | 1.04 | 220-260 | 40-60 | Toys, electronic enclosure, etc. | High |
| Polypropylene | 0.91 | 160-220 | 30-40 | Food containers, basket, etc. | Moderate |
| Polycarbonate | 1.20 | 270-320 | 60-70 | Lens, face cover, etc. | Very High |
| Nylon | 1.15 | 245～290 | 70-100 | Bushing, fan blade, etc. | High |
| PEEK | 1.30 | 320-390 | 90-100 | Baby bottle, medical parts, etc. | Very High |
| PVC | 1.38 | 170-190 | 40-60 | Pipe, pipe fitting, toys, etc. | Moderate |
| Acetal | 1.41 | 175-220 | 60-80 | Bearings, etc. | High |
| TPE | 1.15 | 210～250 | 20-30 | Handle (overmolding), cash, etc. | Very High |
| HDPE | 0.95 | 220~260 | 20-30 | Handle, pallets, etc. | Moderate |
Above are common material which mostly used in the industry. When you have a project, please refer to the above information as reference. If you still not sure about which material you should use, you could contact us at Sincere Tech, We are a China injection molding company that working in plastic industry over 19 years. We will review your project and reocmmend the best suitable material.
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