909-594-7487

RESOURCES
PART DESIGN - RESINS - GLOSSARY - FAQ

Resin Guide

  • Features:

    • High Strength
    • Wear Resistant
    • Chemical Resistant
    • High Gloss

    Disadvantages:

    • Poor resistance to acids
    • Subject to UV degradation
    • Flammable
    • Difficult to bond

    Uses:

    Bearings, fasteners, gears, pulleys, springs, toys, valve parts, zippers.

    Trade Names:

    Ashlene, Celcon, Delrin

  • Features:

    • Excellent optical clarity
    • Excellent weatherability and resistance to sunlight
    • Rigid with good impact resistance
    • Good light transmission

    Disadvantages:

    • Poor solvent resistance
    • Subject to stress cracking
    • Low continuous service temperature
    • Poor impact resistance

    Uses:

    Glass replacement, lenses, casings, aquariums.

    Trade Names:

    Acrylite, Kydex, Plexiglas

  • Features:

    • Medium impact resistance
    • Good processability and appearance
    • Dimensional stability
    • General Purpose
    • High Gloss
    • Metal platable
    • Available in clear
    • Good Balance of Properties

    Disadvantages:

    • Limited weathering resistance
    • Moderate heat, moisture and chemical resistance
    • Flammable with high smoke generation

    Uses:

    Calculators, aircraft interiors, cell phones, appliances, audio tapes, automotive bumpers, automotive electronics, computer components, white water canoes, beverage containers, food containers, cosmetics, toys (legos).

    Trade Names:

    Cycolac, Lustran, Polylac, Trilac

  • Features:

    • Good impact resistance
    • Good processability and appearance
    • Dimensional stability
    • General Purpose
    • High Gloss
    • Metal platable
    • Available in clear

    Disadvantages:

    • Limited weathering resistance
    • Moderate heat, moisture and chemical resistance
    • Flammable with high smoke generation

    Uses:

    Calculators, Aircraft Interiors, Cell Phones, Appliances, Audio Tapes, Automotive Bumpers, Automotive Electronics, Computer Components, Connectors, Instrument Panel, Beverage Containers, Food Containers, Cosmetics, Toys.

    Trade Names:

    Bayblend, Cycoloy

  • Features:

    • Durable
    • Good stiffness
    • Impact resistant
    • Food grades available
    • Low cost
    • Moisture resistance
    • Good chemical resistance

    Disadvantages:

    • Poor weather resistance
    • Flammable
    • High thermal expansion
    • Difficult to bond

    Uses:

    Consumer products, houseware items, detergent bottles, milk jugs, food storage containers, electronic wire/cable insulators and medical products.

    Trade Names:

    Alathon, Borealis, Certene, Dow, ExxonMobil, HiFill, Marlex, Unipol

  • Features:

    • Good impact strength
    • Crack resistant
    • Excellent flexibility
    • Low cost
    • Moisture resistance
    • Food grades available
    • Good chemical resistance

    Disadvantages:

    • Poor weather resistance
    • Flammable
    • High thermal expansion
    • Difficult to bond

    Uses:

    Consumer products, houseware items, electronic wire/cable insulators, siding, clamshell packaging, medical products.

    Trade Names:

    Borealis, Certene, Dow, ExxonMobil, Marlex

  • Features:

    • Food contact acceptable
    • Easily processed
    • Temperature resistance
    • Unfilled and glass filled available
    • Good melt flow

    Disadvantages:

    • Degraded by UV
    • High moisture absorptivity
    • Attacked by strong acids/bases

    Uses:

    Automotive components, bearings, electronic connectors, gears, consumer products and industrial products, medium stress components.

    Trade Names:

    Akromid, Celanese, Celstran, Zytel

  • Features:

    • Good heat resistance
    • Excellent chemical resistance
    • High resistance to abrasion
    • Withstands repeated impact

    Disadvantages:

    • Absorbs moisture
    • Requires UV stability
    • Attacked by strong acids/bases
    • High notch sensitivity

    Uses:

    Automotive Components, Electronic Connectors, Gears, Clips, Fasteners, Levers, Bushings. Uses Requiring Heat, Chemical and Wear Resistance

    Trade Names:

    Adell, HiFill, Ultramid, Zytel

  • Features:

    • Excellent wear resistance
    • Excellent chemical resistance
    • Food contact acceptable
    • High impact strength

    Disadvantages:

    • Difficult to fill thin parts
    • Poor resistance to acid
    • Moderate to high price

    Uses:

    Industrial equipment applications, power tool casings, electronic components, housings, automotive connectors, computer keybuttons.

    Trade Names:

    Celstran, Celanex, Crastin, Valox

  • Features:

    • Dimensionally stable
    • Easily processed
    • Clear
    • High impact resistance

    Disadvantages:

    • High processing temperatures required
    • Aromatic sensitivity
    • Chemical resistance is only fair
    • Moderate to high price

    Uses:

    Bottles, cups, LEDs, lenses, lighting applications, single use containers.

    Trade Names:

    Calibre, Hopolex, Hylex , Lexan, Makrolon

  • Features:

    • Good sterilizability
    • Good chemical resistance
    • High strength and stiffness
    • food contact acceptable

    Disadvantages:

    • Moderate to high price

    Uses:

    Engineering applications, medical, healthcare.

    Trade Names:

    Victrex

  • Features:

    • High heat resistance
    • Food contact acceptable
    • High strength
    • Broad chemical resistance
    • Biocompatible

    Disadvantages:

    • High processing temperatures required
    • Limited colorability
    • Relatively high material and processing costs

    Uses:

    Medical/healthcare applications, thin walled parts, containers for liquids and foods, cooking utensils, fiber optics.

    Trade Names:

    Duron, Ultem

  • Features:

    • Thermal stability
    • Heat resistant
    • High strength
    • Low moisture absorption
    • Available in transparent

    Disadvantages:

    • High cost
    • Poor weatherability
    • Difficult to process

    Uses:

    Medical/Healthcare Applications, food services, hydraulic applications.

    Trade Names:

    Udel, Ultrason, Mindel, HiFill, Thermocomp

  • Features:

    • Corrosion resistant
    • High Heat Resistance
    • Good Toughness
    • Low weight
    • Impact resistant
    • High flexibility

    Disadvantages:

    • Poor weatherability
    • High thermal expansion
    • Flammable
    • Subject to stress cracking

    Uses:

    Buckets, toys, consumer products.

    Trade Names:

    Alathon, Bapolene, Dow, Marlex

  • Features:

    • Easily processed
    • Clarity
    • Some grades FDA approved
    • Good flow

    Disadvantages:

    • High processing temps required

    Uses:

    Reusable bottles, pacifiers, sippy cups, carbonated drinks bottles, medical devices, housewares, microwavable packaging.

    Trade Names:

    Celanex, HiFill, Petra, Ramapet, Valox

  • Features:

    • High Heat Resistance
    • High Stiffness
    • Wear Resistant
    • Excellent dimensional stability
    • Flame retardant

    Disadvantages:

    • High costs
    • Difficult to process
    • Fillers required for good impact strength

    Uses:

    Hydraulic components, medical/healthcare, metal replacement, electronic parts.

    Trade Names:

    Celstran, Fortron, Lubricomp, Ryton, Supec.

  • Features:

    • Good impact strength
    • Easily processed
    • Living hinge/Mold-in hinge
    • Food contact acceptable
    • Highly moisture resistance

    Disadvantages:

    • Degraded by UV
    • Flammable, but retarded grades available
    • Attacked by chlorinated solvents and aromatics
    • Difficult to bond

    Uses:

    Packaging, living hinge applications, toys, bottle caps, food containers, fruit baskets, consumer goods.

    Trade Names:

    Adell, Borealis, Celstran, Certene, Hival, Lupol, Profax

  • Features:

    • Optical Clarity
    • Food contact acceptable
    • Flame retardant
    • Fast cycle time
    • Expandable
    • High gloss
    • Low cost

    Disadvantages:

    • Homopolymers are brittle
    • Poor solvent resistance, attacked by many chemicals
    • Flammable, but retarded grades available
    • Subject to stress and environmental cracking

    Uses:

    Disposable tableware, food containers.

    Trade Names:

    Certene, Hival, Polystyrol, Styron, Starex

  • Features:

    • High gloss
    • Dimensionally Stable
    • High clarity
    • High Flow and Rigidity

    Disadvantages:

    • Higher water absorption than polystyrene
    • Low thermal capability
    • Low impact strength
    • Flammable with high smoke generation
    • Yellows more quickly than PS

    Uses:

    Dials, knobs, switches, lenses, trays, containers, cosmetic packaging.

    Trade Names:

    Lustran, Luran, Absolan

  • Features:

    • Good adhesion
    • Good Flexibility
    • Good tear strength

    Disadvantages:

    • Relatively high cost
    • Temperature sensitive

    Uses:

    Rubber replacement, bicycle grips, flexible grip, gaskets, overmolding.

    Trade Names:

    CoolPoly, Dynaflex, Elastamax, Elastocon, Monprene, Versaflex, Santoprene

  • Features:

    • Abrasion Resistant
    • Impact Strength
    • Good Tear Strength
    • Good Flexibility
    • Oil Resistant

    Disadvantages:

    • Narrower hardness range than other TPEs
    • Lower stiffness than similar PET
    • Drying required pre-processing

    Uses:

    Footwear, O-rings, overmolding, power cable jacketing, sporting goods.

    Trade Names:

    Desmopan, Elastollan, Estane, Pearlthane, Pellethane
Source: prospector.com.