Engineering and High Performance Plastics
ENERGETIC PLASTICS is mainly focusing on engineering and high performance plastics. As such it is essential to gives you an overview of engineering and high performance thermoplastics, their key properties and applications. Engineering plastics/polymers represent a group of plastics that possess a range of desirable performance properties than standard commodity thermoplastics. They normally offer following advantages that enable them to be excellent alternatives to many conventional materials such metals and ceramics.
Some Properties of Engineering plastics:
- Good mechanical strength, impact resistance and rigidity
- Resistant to many chemicals
- Good wear and abrasion resistance, self-lubrication
- Excellent machining and processing properties
- Good dimensional stability
There is no clear definition of a high-performance plastic. There is inevitably an overlap between high performance plastics and general engineering plastics. Some commodity plastics can also be modified through reinforcements to compete with engineering resins. As a general rule of thumb however, high performance plastics are considered to have a short-term heat resistance of 250 °C and long-term heat resistance of 160 °C. Other distinguishing features of high performance plastics include their high strength and stiffness, resistance to many chemicals and their outstanding electrical properties.
 |
Continuous use Temperature of Engineering and High Performance Plastics (°C)
|
| PEEK |
260 |
| LCP |
240 |
| PAI |
210 |
| PPSU |
205 |
| PPS |
200 |
| PES |
180 |
| PEI |
170 |
| PSU |
150 |
| PBT |
120 |
| PC |
115 |
| POM |
85 |
| PA6 |
80 |
| PA66 |
80 |
| PPO |
80 |
| ABS |
70 |
| PMMA |
50 |
Mechanical Applications
Engineering plastics are widely used in many mechanical applications: bearings, gears, valves, pumps, bushes, sprockets, diaphragms, wear pads, compression rings, connecting rods, valve seals, air ducts, fan blades, artificial joints, plant construction materials, pressure vessels, building materials, aircraft fuselages, automotive applications including exhaust pipes, gear box, power transmission, fuel and hydraulic fuel lines, piston rings, bumper bars, facia and fuel tanks.
Electrical Applications
A few examples of electrical applications: electrical cable and wire insulations, electrical systems and components, automotive ignition, switches, relays, capacitors, transformers, resistors, printed circuit boards, bush holders, terminal blocks, electric motor parts, capacitors, telecommunications equipment, ignition components, television and radio location.
Thermal Applications
Thermal applications of engineering plastics include: heat shrinkable tubing, heat resistant parts, oven parts, oven grills, cooling systems, expansion tanks, heating systems, heat exchangers, thermal protections and high heat applications.
Miscellaneous Applications
Other applications of polymers are: chemical, solvent, chemical and oil resistant parts, sterilisation, medical components, washing machine and dishwasher components, marine protection, aerospace, missiles, aircraft jet engines, helicopter, helicopter blades, gamma radiation resistant parts, sporting gear, glazing, battery cases and solar panels.
