Plastic Selection Chart for Reliable Machinery and Parts
Select the right plastic for machine reliability and reduced downtime
Choosing the right plastic material can improve your machine design, production efficiency, reduce downtime, and save money. Compare key characteristics of UHMW, acetal, nylon, PET, HDPE, PEEK, polycarbonate, and acrylic, including impact strength, temperature range, chemical resistance, moisture absorption and more.
See which performance plastics are available with grades for friction and wear, FDA compliance, and metal and X-ray detection systems. Streamline your plastic material selection process by using this chart as your starting point. Your application requirements will help you to quickly identify plastics to investigate for your machinery and equipment parts.
COMPARE CHARACTERISTICS OF PLASTICS FOR MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT PARTS
| Engineering | High Performance |
Transparent | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | UHMW | Acetal | Nylon | PET (Semi-crystalline) |
HDPE | PEEK | Polycarbonate | Acrylic |
| High Stiffness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| High Impact Strength | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
| High Tensile Strength | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| High Temperature Range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Friction and Wear Grades Available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| Low Moisture Absorption | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Good Chemical Resistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Reduces Noise | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Easy to Machine/Fabricate | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| FDA Compliant Grades Available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metal/X-Ray Detectable Grades Available | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Need More Information about a Material?
Use our interactive properties table to sort, compare, and find the plastic material suited for your application.
Not sure which materials best fit your needs?
Our experienced sales and technical teams are available to assist you with material selection challenges.
Send Us Your Drawings and Specifications
We will manage the entire process closely with our fabrication partners, and then deliver components that meet your critical requirements.
