Material Group Characteristics
Step 1: Identify the Correct Material Classification and Select Criteria Most Important To the Application
Amorphous Thermoplastics (Structural)
- Soften over a wide temperature range
- Good flammability
- Tansparency
- Poor chemical resistance
- Bonds well using adhesives or solvents
- Prone to stress cracking
- Poor fatigue resistance
- Structural applications only
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Bearing & Wear)
- Sharp melting point
- Poor flammability
- Opaque
- Good chemical resistance
- Difficult to bond using adhesives or solvents
- Resistant to stress cracking
- Good fatigue resistance
- Good for bearing and wear
Imidized Materials
- Best physical properties above 400° F
- Best temperature resistance
- Best bearing and wear capabilities
- Good chemical resistance
This application guide is intended to assist in reviewing your application criteria and narrowing the material options to be tested. The information contained herein are typical values intended for reference and comparison purposes only. They should NOT be used as a basis for design specifications or quality control. Contact us for manufacturers' complete material property datasheets.
| Possible Material Options |
| ABS |
Polystyrene (HIPS) |
| Acrylic |
Polysulfone |
| Kydex |
PVC |
| Noryl |
Radel |
| PETG |
Ultem |
| Polycarbonate |
|
| Possible Material Options |
| Acetal |
PET |
| HDPE |
Polypropylene |
| LDPE |
PPS |
| Nylon |
PTFE |
| PVT |
PVDF (Kynar) |
| PEEK |
UHME-PE |
| Possible Material Options |
| PAI (polyamide-Imide |
| Vespel |
Step 2: Mechanical Family/Determine Temperature and Cost Options
Amorphous Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest) |
| Cost |
Temp Resistance(HTD) |
| Ultem |
Radel |
| Radel |
Ultem |
| Polysulfone |
Polysulfone |
| Noryl |
Polycarbonate |
| Polycarbonate |
Noryl |
| ABS |
Acrylic |
| Polystyrene(HIPS) |
Polystyrene(HIPS) |
| Kydex |
ABS |
| PVC |
Kydex |
| PETG |
PVC |
| Acrylic |
PETG |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
(Highest to Lowest) |
| Cost |
Temp Resistance(HTD) |
| PPS |
PPS |
| PEEK |
Nylon |
| PVDF(Kynar) |
Acetal |
| PTFE |
PBT |
| PET |
PVDF(kynar) |
| PBT |
PTFE |
| Nylon |
PET |
| Acetal |
Polypropylene |
| UHMW-PE |
HDPE |
| HDPE |
LDPE |
| LDPE |
|
| Polypropylene |
|
Imidized Materials
(Highest to Lowest) |
| Cost |
Temp Resistance(HTD) |
| Vespel (polyimide shapes) |
Vespel (polyimide shapes) |
| PAI (polyamide-imide) |
PAI (polyamide-imide) |
Step 3: Determine Mechanical Properties/Tensile Strength
Amorphous Thermoplastics
Tensile Strength(psi) |
| Ultem |
15,200 |
| Polysulfone |
10,200 |
| Radel |
10,100 |
| Acrylic |
10,000 |
| Noryl |
8,600 |
| Polycarbonate |
9,500 |
| PETG |
7,700 |
| PVC |
7,500 |
| Kydex |
6,100 |
| ABS |
4,100 |
| Polystyrene (HIPS) |
3,500 |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Tensile Strength(psi) |
| Peek |
14,000 |
| Nylon 6(cast) |
10,000-13,500 |
| PPS |
12,500 |
| Nylon 6/6(extruded) |
12,400 |
| PET |
11,500 |
| Acetal(homopolymer) |
9,500 |
| Acetal(copolymer) |
9,800 |
| PBT |
8,690 |
| PVDF(Kynar) |
7,800 |
| Polypropylene(homopolymer) |
5,400 |
| UHMW-PE |
3,100 |
| PTFE |
1,500-3,000 |
| LDPE |
1,400 |
Imidized Materials
Tensile Strength(psi) |
| PAI (polyamide-imide) |
21,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 |
12,500 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-2 |
9,500 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 |
8,200 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-22 |
7,500 |
| Vespel(polyimide) SP-21 |
6,500 |
Step 4: Mechanical Properties/Flexural Modulus(bending stiffness)
Amorphous Thermoplastics
Flexural Modulus(stiffness psi) |
| Ultem (30% glass filled) |
1,300,000 |
| Polucarbonate (20% glass filled) |
800,000 |
| PVC |
481,000 |
| Ultem |
480,000 |
| Acrylic |
480,000 |
| Polysulfone |
390,000 |
| Noryl |
370,000 |
| Radel R |
350,000 |
| Polycarbonate |
345,000 |
| Kydex |
335,000 |
| Polystyrene (HIPS) |
310,000 |
| PETG |
310,000 |
| ABS |
304,000 |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Flexural Modulus (stiffness psi) |
| PPS |
600,000 |
| PEEK |
590,000 |
| Nylon (6 cast) |
420,000-500,000 |
| Acetal (homopolymer) |
420,000 |
| Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) |
410,000 |
| Acetal (Copolymer) |
370,000 |
| PBT |
330,000 |
| PVDF |
310,000 |
| Polypropylene (Homopolymer |
225,000 |
| Polypropylene (Copolymer) |
215,000 |
| HDPE |
200,000 |
| UHMW-PE |
110,000 |
| PTFE |
72,000 |
| LDPE |
30,000 |
Imidized
Flexural Modulus (stiffness psi) |
| PAI (polyamide-imide) |
711,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-22 |
700,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-21 |
550,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 |
475,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-211 |
475,000 |
| Vespel(polyimide) SP-21 |
450,000 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 |
450,000 |
Step 5: Mechanical Properties/IZOD Impact Resistance
Amorphous Thermoplastics
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH |
| Kydex |
18.0 |
| Polycarbonate |
12.0-16.0 |
| Radel R |
13.0 |
| ABS |
7.7 |
| Noryl |
3.5 |
| Polystyrene (HIPS) |
2.0 |
| PETG |
1.7 |
| Polysulfone |
1.3 |
| Ultem |
1.0 |
| PVC |
1.0 |
| Acrylic |
0.4 |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH |
| LDPE |
No Break |
| UHMW-PE |
18.0 |
| Polypropylene (Copolymer) |
12.5 |
| PTFE |
3.5 |
| PVDF (Kynar) |
3.0 |
| PEEK |
1.6 |
| PBT |
1.5 |
| Acetal (Homopolymer) |
1.5 |
| Polypropylene (Homopolymer) |
1.2 |
| Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) |
1.2 |
| Nylon (6 Cast) |
0.7-0.9 |
| PET |
0.7 |
| PPS |
0.5 |
Imidized Materials
IZOD impact(notched) toughness(ft-lbs/in) RPH |
| PAI (polyamide-imide) |
2.3 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-21 |
0.8 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 |
0.8 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-3 |
0.4 |
Step 6: Mechanical Properties/Dielectic Strength/Electrical Insulation
Amorphous Thermoplastics
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil) |
| Ultem |
830 |
| PVC |
544 |
Kydex |
514 |
| Noryl |
500 |
Acrylic |
430 |
| Polysulfone |
425 |
PETG |
410 |
| Polycarbonate |
380 |
| Radel R |
360 |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil) |
| Nylon (6 cast) |
500-600 |
| Acetal (Homopolymer) |
500 |
Acetal (Copolymer) |
500 |
| PTFE |
400-500 |
PEEK |
480 |
| PPS |
450 |
PET |
400 |
| PBT |
400 |
| Nylon 6/6 (Extruded) |
300-400 |
| PVDF (Kynar) |
280 |
Imidized Materials
Dielectric strength insulation(v/mil) |
| PAI (polyamide-imide) |
600 |
| Vespel (polyimide) SP-1 |
560 |
Step 7: FDA Compliance
Amorphous Thermoplastics
FDA Compliant Grades Available |
| Acrylic |
PETG |
| Polycarbonate |
Polystyrene (HIPS) |
| Polysulfone |
PVC |
| Radel R |
| Ultem |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
FDA Compliant Grades Available |
| Acetal |
HDPE |
| LDPE |
Nylon |
| PBT |
PEEK |
| PET |
| PVDF (Kynar) |
| UHMW-PE |
Imidized Materials
FDA Compliant Grades Available |
Step 8: Chemical Resistance
Amorphous Thermoplastics
Good Chemical Resistance |
Semi Crystalline Thermoplastics
Good Chemical Resistance |
| Acetal |
HDPE |
| LDPE |
Nylon |
| PBT |
PEEK |
| PET |
| Polypropylene |
| PPS |
| PTFE |
| PVDF(Kynar) |
| UHMW-PE |
Imidized Materials
Good Chemical Resistance |
| PAI(polyamide-imide) |
| Vespel Polyimide Shapes |