How to choose the plastic materials for your prototype?

Usually we use ABS, POM, PA (Nylon), PC (Polycarbonate), and PMMA (Acrylic) as the choices for our prototype materials. But do you know what’s the different of these materials? Which material is the best choice for you? To answer these questions, we have to know the characteristic of each material.

 

1. ABS Plastic:

ABS plastic provides the best balance of properties when cost is a factor. It has an excellent combination of toughness and Rigidity. Acrylonitrile provides a good chemical corrosion resistance and surface hardness. And Butadiene provides a good toughness and impact resistance. And Styrene provides a good rigidity and mobility, and ease of printing and dyeing. ABS plastic can be used in temperatures ranging from -50°C to +70°C.

 

ABS plastic advantages:

1. Good mechanical strength, high impact strength even in the cooling

2. Resists scratching, excellent abrasion resistance and creep resistance

3. Good electrical properties

4. High dimensional stability, high surface strength and good luster

5. Good chemical resistance to inorganic salt, alkalis and many acids (strong oxidizing acids is an exception).

 

As for the above characteristics, so ABS plastic is suit for making the below products.

1. Automotive interior and exterior

2. Aircraft interior trims, home appliances

3. Architectural model buildings& prototype Models

4. Machine parts and roller

 

2. POM Plastic

POM plastic has excellent physical performances: high hardness, good wear resistance and fatigue resistance, good chemical stability and electricity insulation, dimensional stability, especially excellent solvent rigidity (elastic modules) and mechanical strength. It can act as lubricated parts, decorated parts, precision instruments, bearings gears, pumps, and insulated shells replacing of bronze, copper alloy, zinc, aluminum, steel and other metals.

 

POM plastic advantages:

1. Excellent abrasion and creep resistance property;

2. High dimensional and shape stability;

3. Retains toughness under low temperature (-40°C);

4. Resistant to organic solvents; Insoluble under normal temperature;

5. Thermal deformation temperature is close to that of PC, PTFE and nylon;

6. High compressive strength, second only to glass fiber;

7. Good sliding property; wear resistant; non-water absorbent;

 

As for the above characteristics, so POM plastic is suited for making the below products.

1. Sliding parts: bearing and lining, roller, conveyor chain;

2. Precision mechanical components: gear, cam, coupler, idler roller;

3. Waterproof components: impeller, pump case, gasket;

4. Electrical parts: guide pulley, spring lock;

5. Fixture, lever, handle, knob and other jig materials;

 

3. PA /Nylon Plastic

PA/Nylon plastic is recognized as the most widely used and known engineering plastic in the current market. PA/Nylon has the best performance, very tough, even at low temperatures, and high surface hardness, mechanical lower shock, and abrasion resistance. Combined with these characteristics and good insulation, and chemical properties, it has become common-level materials. It’s widely used in a variety of mechanical structures and spare parts. Temperature resistance from -40°C to 110 °C.

 

PA/Nylon advantages:                                                                      

1. High strength and stiffness 

2. High impact and notch impact strength 

3. High heat deflection temperature

4. Good at dampening 

5. Good abrasion resistance

6. Low coefficient of friction

7. Good chemical stability against organic solvents and fuels

8. Excellent electrical properties, ease of printing and dyeing

9. Food safe, noise reduction.

 

As for the above characteristics, so PA/Nylon plastic is suited for making the below products.

1. Fan blades, structural panels, wear pads

2. Bearing parts, gear wheels, pump parts, parts in the automotive manufacturing

3. Sliding rails, castors, fittings etc..

 

4. PC/Polycarbonate Plastic

Polycarbonate is a transparent thermoplastic material with good strength and stiffness and outstanding impact resistance. It provides the best mechanical property and electrical insulation, high dimensional stability and excellent creep resistance. Polycarbonate's toughness and optical clarity make it ideal for a wide variety of applications. And it can be used in temperatures ranging from -130°C to +130°C.

 

Polycarbonate advantages:

1. Strong and stiff and outstanding toughness

2. High impact resistance

3. Good optical clarity

4. Easy to fabricate

5. Thermoforms well after drying

6. Easy to solvent bond

7. Glass filled grades for enhanced strength and stiffness

 

As for the above characteristics, so Polycarbonate plastic is suited for making the below products.

1. Impact strength parts

2. Architectural glazing

3. Skylights, transparent manifolds

4. Semiconductor machinery components

5. Optical materials, lighting materials, medical equipment.

 

5. PMMA/Acrylic Plastic

PMMA/Acrylic plastic is a most useful material in the workshop ,because it can be used to make precision engineering components for both domestic and industrial products.

 

PMMA/Acrylic advantages:

1. Exceptional light transmission with virtually no colour bias -even in thick blocks.

2. Excellent resistance to outdoor weathering.

3. Good resistance to impact.

4. High gloss, hard surface.

5. High tensile strength and rigidity.

6. Easily thermoformable with simple workshop tools.

7. Easy to clean.

8. Capable of being fully recycled.

 

As for the above characteristics, so PMMA Acrylic plastic is suited for making the below products.

Medical equipment, avionics and transportation, light, lighting lamp, and fixture, craft products, exhibitions, decoration, advertising signs.