The right polymer material

ABS, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and Other Specialist Styrenics 

Properties:
Rigid, opaque, glossy tough, good low temperature properties, good dimensional stability and easily electroplated, low creep.

Applications:
Telephone handsets, rigid luggage, domestic appliance housings (food mixers), electroplated parts, radiator grills, handles, computer housings.

EVA,  Ethylene Vinyl Acetate EVA

Properties:
Flexible (rubbery), transparent, good low temperature flexibility (-70'C), good chemical resistance, high friction coefficient.

Applications:
Teats, handle grips, flexible tubing, record turntable mats, beer tubing, vacuum, cleaner hosing.

PA,  Nylons (Polyamides) PA

Properties:
The majority of nylons tend to be semi-crystalline and are generally very tough materials with good thermal and chemical resistance. The different types give a wide range of properties with specific gravity, melting point and moisture content tending to reduce as the nylon number increases.

Applications:
Nylon fibres are used in textiles, fishing line and carpets. Nylon films is used for food packaging, offering toughness and low gas permeability, and coupled with its temperature resistance, for boil-in-the-bag food packaging.

PE/HDPE, Polyethylene (High Density) HDPE

Properties:
Flexible, translucent / waxy, weatherproof, good low temperature toughness (to -60'C), easy to process by most methods, low cost, good chemical resistance.

Applications:
Chemical drums, jerrycans, carboys, toys, picnic ware, household and kitchenware, cable insulation, carrier bags, food wrapping material.

PP, Polypropylene PP

Properties:
Rigid, opaque, good dimensional stability at high temperature and humidity conditions, difficult to process (blended to ease injection moulding), tough.

Applications:
Coffee pot and washing m/c parts (where high temperature and moisture are critical), replacement for die castings, drink vending machines, microwave components.

PC, PC/ABS Polycarbonate PC

Properties:
Polycarbonates are strong, stiff, hard, tough, transparent engineering thermoplastics that can maintain rigidity up to 140oC and toughness down to -20°C or special grades even lower.

Applications:
In recent years Polycarbonate blends have become increasingly commercially important. PC is widely used in blends due to its excellent compatibility with a range of polymers.

PET, Polyesters (Thermoplastic) PETP, PBT, PET

Properties:
PBT, PET and PBT Blends are engineering plastics with excellent processing characteristics and high strength and rigidity for a broad range of applications.

Applications:
Engineering polymers are used in the manufacture of a wide range of components, including under bonnet parts, exterior parts (window wiper holders and exterior mirror housing)

POM, Polyacetals POM

Properties:
Rigid, translucent, tough, spring-like qualities, good stress relaxation resistance, good wear and electrical properties, resistant to creep and organic solvents.

Applications:
Business m/c parts, small pressure vessels, aerosol valves, coil formers, clock and watch parts, nuclear engineering components, plumbing systems, shoe components.

PVC,  Polyvinyl Chloride PVC        

Properties:
Compatibility with many different kinds of additives - PVC can be clear or coloured, rigid or flexible, formulation of the compound is key to PVC's "added value".

Applications:
Window frames, drainage pipe, water service pipe, medical devices, blood storage bags, cable and wire insulation, resilient flooring, roofing membranes, stationary, automotive interiors and seat coverings, fashion and footwear, packaging, cling film, credit cards, synthetic leather and other coated fabrics.

PUR, glass fibre reinforcement and a polyurethane      

PUR is a composite material consisting of glass fibre reinforcement and a polyurethane polymer.

Properties:
Strength, light weight, corrosion resistant, thermal  and electrical insulation, stability, thin walls, adhesion, paintability, hygienic.

Applications:
Window and door frames, panel sections and door panels for the automotive industry, bumpers, panels and doorjambs etc. in refrigeration, cable trays, ladders,  components in pharmaceutical & food industries, profiles and components in offshore & energy industries.