Engineering Plastics & Their Properties

16 June 2023

There are many different types of engineering plastics, each having specific characteristics and properties. In order to work with them correctly it is best practice to familiarise yourself with each plastic and their properties.

At FWB, we stock a wide range of engineering plastics suitable for a wide range of domestic and industrial applications. The properties of each of these plastics differ, making certain plastics more suitable for particular applications; so it’s important to understand each property and how you can best apply them.

We’ve created a breakdown of some of the most frequently used engineering plastics and their properties:

Nylon 6

Nylon 6 is a general engineering plastic with excellent versatility that is both strong and hard wearing. Nylon 6 is typically used for pulleys, bearings, rollers, gears and more.

Nylon 6-6

Don’t confuse Nylon 6-6 with Nylon6, these are two different types of engineering plastic and have different applications. Nylon 6-6 is a stiffer plastic than Nylon 6, with better absorption and chemical resistance. This is extremely important to remember as for some instances you may need either Nylon 6-6 or Nylon 6, choosing the wrong engineering plastic could have detrimental effects.

Acetol-C

Acetol-C is a high strength plastic with a low coefficient of friction and good dimensional stability. Acetol C features lower moisture absorption than Nylon materials, making it more suitable for marine applications, as well as electrical insulation parts.

PVC

Probably one of the most well known engineering plastics. PVC is an excellently chemical resistant material, ideal for pump components, acid/chemical tank parts, templates and jigs.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene features excellent chemical resistance and impact strength and can be welded and fabricated. It is commonly used as cladding in the food industry.

Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate offers a very high transparency and excellent impact resistance, making it a very popular material for industrial glazing and guarding applications.

PTFE

PTFE, commonly referred to as Teflon, is used in a huge number of domestic and industrial applications. The advantages of PTFE are that it has a low coefficient of friction, high flex strength, high temperature resistance and its resistance to both water and chemicals.

Acrylic

Also referred to as Perspex or Plexiglass, acrylic is a transparent plastic material with excellent strength, good stiffness, and excellent clarity. Acrylic is often used as an alternative to glass where safety and security are a concern, as it offers the same clarity as glass but does not shatter when it breaks and is much lighter. Acrylic is easy to fabricate, can be bonded with adhesives and solvents and is available in a variety of colours.

PEEK

PEEK, or Polyether Ether Ketone, has the highest heat resistance in thermoplastics and can operate at 240°C continuously or 300°C short term. This thermoplastic self-lubricates and excels in impact, fatigue, radiation and chemical resistance. PEEK is flame resistant and an excellent electrical insulator.

Knowing which engineering plastic to use is vital to any project. Understanding the properties of each plastic will enable you to make the best decision based on the task and application of the plastic. To browse our range of engineering plastics, click here.

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