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Plastics Materials Guide

Nicolet Plastics provides expert advice about the plastic molding materials that drive the cost, function, versatility and production of your parts. By partnering with Nicolet Plastics, you can explore plastic material options that will improve your design and ultimately reduce your bottom line. For more in-depth resins and plastics information, contact us.

Brand Names: Delrin, Celcon

Relative Cost: Medium

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Impact Resistance: Medium Flash: Good
  • High Temp Strength: Medium-Low

Moldability Charactersitics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Poor
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Fair

Brand Names: Plexiglass, Acrylite

Relative Cost: Medium

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Excellent
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium
  • Impact Resistance: Low
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Lustran, Cycolac

Relative Cost: Low

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Good
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium-Low
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Dow HDPE, Chevron HDPE

Relative Cost: Low

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Excellent
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Unknown
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Poor
  • Flash: Poor
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Low
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Zytel

Relative Cost: Medium

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Excellent
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Good
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Poor
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Fair

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Zytel

Relative Cost: Medium

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Good
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Excellent
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Fair
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Fair

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: High
  • Impact Resistance: Medium
  • High Temp Strength: High

Brand Names: Valox, Crastin

Relative Cost: Medium-High

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Unknown
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Fair
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Lexan, Makrolon

Relative Cost: Medium-High

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Fair to Good
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Medium-High

Brand Names: Cycoloy, Bayblend

Relative Cost: Medium

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good to Excellent
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Good
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Medium

Brand Names: Ultem

Relative Cost: High

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good to Excellent
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Good
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Poor

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: High
  • Impact Resistance: Medium
  • High Temp Strength: High

Brand Names: Ultem

Relative Cost: High

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good
  • Fills Small Features: Fair
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Excellent
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Poor

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Very High
  • Impact Resistance: Medium
  • High Temp Strength: High

Brand Names: Maxxam, Profax

Relative Cost: Low

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Fair
  • Fills Small Features: Excellent
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Poor
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Poor
  • Flash: Poor
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Low
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Styron

Relative Cost: Low

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Good
  • Fills Small Features: Good
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Unknown
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Fair
  • Flash: Fair
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Good

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Medium-Low
  • Impact Resistance: Low
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Brand Names: Isoplast, Santoprene

Relative Cost: Low-Medium

Moldability Characteristics

  • Warp and Dimensional Accuracy, Molded: Poor
  • Fills Small Features: Good
  • Voids in Thick Sections: Excellent
  • Sink in Thick Sections: Good
  • Flash: Poor
  • High Temperature Hard on Mold & Ejectors: Excellent

Mechanical Properties

  • Strength: Low
  • Impact Resistance: High
  • High Temp Strength: Low

Frequently Asked Questions

Find quick answers to your questions here or contact us directly for any additional inquiries.

The shape and size of the mold cavity affect how easily the plastic can flow into the mold. If the cavity is too small or too complex, it can cause problems during the injection process. In addition, the parting line of the mold affects manufacturability. A well-designed parting line will make removing the part from the mold easier. 

DFM should be considered from the very beginning of the product development process. By taking into account these factors, you can create products that are easier and cheaper to manufacture. 

Sharp corners and intricate features can be difficult to mold, resulting in poor-quality parts. Instead, try a plastic part design with rounded corners and simpler features. 

Design for manufacturability, or DFM, is a critical aspect of plastic injection molding. By designing products with manufacturability, you can save time and money in the manufacturing process. 

There are several factors to consider when designing for manufacturability, including the type of plastic, the part geometry, and the mold design. 

Some plastics are more accessible to mold than others. For example, polycarbonate is a difficult plastic to mold and requires special tooling and cooling considerations. On the other hand, polypropylene is a relatively easy plastic to mold and does not require as much specialized tooling. 

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