Material Types and
Trade Names
Abbreviations |
Density
g/cm³ |
Description and Details
Typical Applications |
Acetal
Delrin / Hostaform / Lucel |
POM |
1.42 |
Natural - opaque white, very tough, low-med.cost
Gears and bearing; taps and aerosol valves |
Acrylic
Diakon / Oroglas / Plexiglas |
PMMA |
1.18 |
Transparent and brittle, low - medium cost
Lenses; car light housings and reflectors |
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
Lustran / Magnum / Starex |
ABS |
1.06 |
Natural opaque and tough, low - medium cost
Telephone handsets + vacuum cleaner housings |
Cellulose Acetate
Cellidor / Dexel / Setilithe |
CA |
1.20 |
Transparent, tough, flexible to rigid, high cost
Spectacles frames and screwdriver handles |
Polyamide 6 (Nylon)
Akulon / Grilon / Ultramid |
PA6 |
1.14 |
Almost opaque/white, very tough, med-high cost
Bushes, bearings, curtain runners + combs |
Polyamide 6.6 (Nylon)
Radilon / Vydyne / Zytel |
PA6.6 |
1.14 |
Almost opaque/white, rigid+tough, med-high cost
Levers, housings, handles etc |
Polyamide 11+12 (Nylon)
Grilamid / Rilsan |
PA11
PA12 |
1.18 |
Opaque to clear, rigid + tough, very high cost
Air filters, safety masks, spectacle frames etc |
Polyester - Thermoplastic
Celanex / Crastin / Rynite |
PBT
PET |
1.42
1.34 |
Rigid + stable, medium - high cost
Electrical sockets, housings and parts |
Polycarbonate
Calibre / Lexan / Makrolon |
PC |
1.20 |
Transparent, very tough and resilient, high cost
Street lamp covers and safety helmets |
Polyethylene - Low Density
Alkathene / Escorene / Novex |
LDPE |
0.92 |
Natural waxy look, tough+flexible, low cost
Kitchenware and many sealing lids + closures |
Polyethylene - High Density
Eraclene / Hostalen / Stamylan |
HDPE |
0.96 |
Natural waxy look, tough + stiff, low cost
Chair seats and milk crates |
Polyether Sulphone
Udel / Victrex |
PES |
1.37 |
Clear, tough, v.high chemical resistance+cost
Valve seat linings, metal replacement parts etc |
Polypropylene
Appryl / Escorene / Novolen |
PP |
0.91 |
Natural waxy look; tough + stiff, low cost
Beer crates and spade handles |
Polyphenylene Oxide
Noryl / Thermocomp / Vamporan |
PPO |
1.07 |
Tough + stable, high cost
Electrical parts requiring tight tolerances |
Polyphenylene Sulphide
Fortron / Ryton |
PPS |
1.65 |
Brown, v.good heat resist., v.high strength+cost
Fuel system parts, guides, bearings etc |
Polystyrene - General Purpose
Lacqrene / Styron / Solarene |
GPPS |
1.00 |
Transparent and brittle, low cost
Cosmetics packaging and ball-point barrel pens |
Polystyrene - High Impact
Kostil / Polystar / Polystyrol |
HIPS |
1.05 |
Natural translucent and tough, low cost
Food containers; cotton reels; toys - model kits |
Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride
Polycol / Trosiplast |
UPVC |
1.40 |
Transparent to opaque; tough, low cost
Outdoor applications - gutters, drainpipes+fittings |
Plasticised Polyvinyl Chloride
Varlan / Welvic |
PVC |
1.30 |
Transparent to opaque; tough + flexible, low cost
Shoe soles and electrical insulation |
Styrene Acrylonitrile
Arpylene / Luran / Starex |
SAN |
1.07 |
Transparent and brittle, low cost
Table and picnicware |
Thermoplastic Elastomer / Rubber
Hytrel / Santoprene / Sarlink |
TPE
TPR |
1.10 |
Tough & flexible, high cost
Electrically insulated parts, seals + bushes |