Plastic Injection Molding Materials
This is a list of many of the materials Anpllocnc has experience in injection molding; from commodity resin to high-tech engineering grades. There are 1,000s of materials available for use in injection molded products, it can be a daunting task to determine the optimal material for your particular application. If you are unsure what material you need, or even where to start with the selection process, Anpllocnc is here to help. Contact our team today for assistance.
Injection Molding Material Selection
The base materials used for plastic injection molding generally are referred to as thermoplastic polymers. There are many different types of these plastics, and each family of resin has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. Further, every family has different grades, which have their own unique qualities. Although there are multiple properties of plastic, the most frequently referenced ones include heat resistance, chemical resistance, impact resistance, weather resistance, UV resistance, moisture resistance, flame retardant, toughness, hardness, flexibility, stability, elasticity, strength, weight, mass density (or specific gravity), and clarity.
With so many types, grades and properties of plastic, it can be difficult to know where to begin the search for the right material for a part, component or requirement. As such, the table below lists the most common plastic injection molding materials and their main properties and frequent applications. Although this certainly is not a complete and definitive listing, it should serve as a helpful guide to start researching the right thermoplastic polymer for your project. If you have any questions or would like some assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to help.
Plastic injection molding materials chart
| MATERIAL | HIGHLIGHTS | COMMON APPLICATIONS | MASS DENSITY (G/CM) | SHRINKAGE (IN/IN) | CLARITY | TONNAGE PER SQUARE INCH (ESTIMATED) | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
|
Flame retardant; impact resistant
|
Automotive; medical; electrical; appliances; toys
|
1.02-1.05
|
0.005
|
Translucent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$
|
|
ASA
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate
|
Toughness; chemical, heat and weather/UV resistant
|
Automotive; outdoor applications; electrical
|
1.07
|
0.004-0.007
|
Opaque
|
2.5-3.5
|
$$
|
|
EVA
Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate
|
Softness; flexibility; clarity; gloss
|
Sporting goods; medical; foam; rubber replacement
|
0.92-0.97
|
0.007-0.020
|
Transparent
|
2.0-3.0
|
$
|
|
HDPE
High Density Polyethylene
|
Rigidity; moisture resistant; food contact
|
Packaging; food; industrial
|
0.935-0.96
|
0.025-0.035
|
Opaque
|
2.5-3.5
|
$
|
|
HIPS
High Impact Polystyrene
|
Impact resistant; flame retardant; food contact
|
Food; packaging
|
1.04
|
0.003-0.007
|
Transparent
|
2.0-2.5
|
$
|
|
LDPE
Low Density Polyethylene
|
Chemical resistant; flexibility; toughness; gloss
|
Packaging; food; industrial
|
0.91-0.925
|
0.015-0.026
|
Transparent or Opaque
|
2.0-3.0
|
$
|
|
LLDPE
Linear Low Density Polyethylene
|
High tensile strength; high impact resistance; flexibility
|
Bags; packaging; toys; covers; lids; containers
|
0.918-0.94 0
|
0.015-0.035
|
Translucent
|
2.0-3.0
|
$
|
|
PA6
Polyamide 6 (Nylon 6)
|
Heat and chemical resistant; impact modified
|
Automotive; electrical; industrial; consumer; engineering
|
1.13
|
0.009-0.012
|
Opaque
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PA66
Polyamide 66 (Nylon 66)
|
Heat and chemical resistant; impact modified
|
Automotive; electrical; industrial; consumer; engineering
|
1.14
|
0.015-0.020
|
Opaque
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PA66 30%GF
30% Glass Filled Polyamide (Nylon 66)
|
High rigidity, hardness and strength; high stability
|
Automotive; engineering; gears; cams; bearings; electrical; metal substitute
|
1.22-1.49
|
0.003-0.008
|
Opaque
|
4.0-5.0
|
$$
|
|
PBT
Polybutylene Terephthalate (Polyester) [Valox]
|
Chemical and heat resistant; mechanical strength
|
Electrical; automotive; showerheads; irons
|
1.31
|
0.012-0.023
|
Opaque
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PC
Polycarbonate [Lexan]
|
High impact strength; clarity; flame retardant
|
Electrical; lighting; automotive; appliances; medical
|
1.20
|
0.005-0.007
|
Transparent
|
4.0-5.0
|
$$
|
|
PC+ABS
Polycarbonate + ABS [Cycoloy]
|
Toughness; dimensional stability; low moisture absorption
|
Appliances; automotive; electrical; consumer; medical
|
1.08-1.22
|
0.005-0.007
|
Opaque
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PEEK
Polyether Ether Ketone
|
Mechanical and chemical resistance
|
Bearings; piston parts; aerospace; automotive; medical; chemical processing
|
1.30-1.50
|
0.010-0.020
|
Opaque
|
5.0
|
$$$
|
|
PEI
Polyetherimide [Ultem]
|
High tensile strength; flame retardant; chemical resistant
|
Electrical; aerospace; medical; lighting; appliances
|
1.27
|
0.006
|
Translucent
|
4.0-6.0
|
$$$
|
|
PET
Polyethylene Terephthalate [Dacron]
|
Lightweight; moisture barrier; strength; impact resistant
|
Bottles; food packaging
|
1.44-1.73
|
0.002
|
Transparent
|
4.0-5.0
|
$$
|
|
PMMA
Polymethyl Methacrylate (Acrylic)
|
High clarity; weather, heat and chemical resistant
|
Glass substitute; automotive; lighting; medical; lenses; optics
|
1.19
|
0.002-0.006
|
Transparent
|
3.0-4.0
|
$
|
|
POM
Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) [Celcon; Delrin]
|
Lubricated; wear and chemical resistant; stiffness
|
Automotive; industrial; mechanical; electrica
|
1.41-1.42
|
0.018-0.035
|
Opaque
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PP (Copolymer)
Polypropylene Copolymer
|
Impact resistant; lightness; food contact
|
Automotive; household; electrical; packaging
|
0.90
|
0.010-0.025
|
Opaque
|
2.5-3.5
|
$
|
|
PP (Homopolymer)
Polypropylene Homopolymer
|
Impact resistant; lightness; food contact
|
Automotive; household; electrical; packaging
|
0.902
|
0.010-0.025
|
Translucent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$
|
|
PPE
Polyphenylene Ether
|
Electrical properties; flame retardant; chemical resistant; low moisture absorption
|
Electrical; appliances; construction; automotive
|
1.13
|
0.006
|
Translucent
|
3.0-4.0
|
$$
|
|
PPS
Polyphenylene Sulfide [Ryton]
|
Chemical and fire resistance; thermal and dimensional stability
|
Automotive; electrical; industrial; appliances
|
1.40-2.00
|
0.003-0.010
|
Opaque
|
3.5-4.5
|
$$
|
|
PS
Polystyrene (GPPS)
|
Impact resistant; flame retardant; food contact
|
Packaging; electrical; toys; appliances
|
1.05
|
0.003-0.007
|
Transparent
|
2.0-2.5
|
$
|
|
PVC
Polyvinyl Chloride
|
Flame retardant; high impact resistance
|
Industrial; electronic
|
1.22
|
0.002
|
Opaque
|
2.0-3.0
|
$
|
|
SAN
Styrene Acrylonitrile
|
Chemical and heat resistance; clarity
|
Electrical; appliances; automotive
|
1.06
|
0.002-0.005
|
Transparent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$$
|
|
TPE
Thermoplastic Elastomer
|
Elasticity; chemical and weather resistant
|
Rubber substitute; automotive; seals; overmolding
|
0.87-1.20
|
0.017-0.047
|
Translucent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$$
|
|
TPU
Thermoplastic Polyurethane
|
Range of hardness grades; abrasion and chemical resistant
|
Footwear; sporting goods; wheels; seals
|
1.01-1.23
|
0.012-0.017
|
Transparent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$$
|
|
TPV
Thermoplastic Vulcanizate [Santoprene]
|
Strength; flexibility; lightweight
|
Automotive; appliances; electrical; construction; healthcare; industrial
|
0.92-0.97
|
0.010-0.050
|
Transparent
|
2.5-3.5
|
$$
|
A Strategy that Delivers Service
Anpllocnc follows a simple strategy founded on People, Process and Technology. Our strategy in supported by a culture of respect and genuine concern for others and is the “secret sauce” that makes us different.
People
- Our team of plastic engineering professionals support customer applications with decades of industry experience
- Our tooling and technical application team provide solutions to product revisions and advancements in automation and assembly.
- We partner with the world’s leading resin manufacturers and custom compounders to deliver deep technical resources in the areas of custom resin applications and testing.
Process
- Manufacturing operations are certified to ISO 9001:2015 standards
- Manufacturing processes for every part are optimized and qualified to repeatable standards prior to releasing to production.
- Molding machines and tooling are calibrated and managed to established MRO standards
- Materials certified and lot tracked by barcode
- Every machine and key processing parameter is measured, reported and recorded in real time.
Technology
- We provide and maintain modern production technology and tools for our processing technicians to work efficiently.
- Our systems provide real time access to inventory, scheduling, machine utilization and many other factors to help us meet our client requirements.
- Broad press range to accommodate 55 to over 800 tons
- Automation inside and outside the tool, printing, sonic welding, assembly and custom packaging.
Try Our Problem-solving Injection Molding Services Now
Anpllocnc serves you with injection molding solutions from design to tooling to material selection and manufacturing. Contact our specialized team and solve your problem now.