Choosing the right Plastic material

Selecting the right Plastic material for your product or application can be complicated to say the least.
 
Here at WKH GROUP we have decades of experience of industrial plastics and their uses, we now have stocks of the most specialised of ranges of plastics.
 
The following may go some way to get you started:
 
PLEASE NOTE
If your finished item / component is a stand alone application,
( ie No support from hinges / clasps / braces / guide rails etc )
You must consider-Thermal movement / Bowing and or twisting
Of plastics .

Requirement

Consider

Low Friction

Sliding, slipping components

Nylons, Acetal, PTFE, UHMWE PE, PET (P)

Self- lubricating bearings

Nylons, pet (P)

Dimensional stability

Acetal, PET (P) and Glass Filled Grades

Wear resistance

UHMW PE, Cast Nylon 6

Environment

Chemical resistance

PVC, PP PVDF, HDPE, PEEK, PTFE

Electrical insulation

Thermoset Laminates, PVC, PTFE, PPE

Contact with foodstuff

Acetal, UHMW PE, PET (P), PP, PSU & PE

UV, Age hardening & radiation

High Performance, PEEK, PVDF, PCTFE

Model or prototype work

Acrylic. ABS, PVC

Loading

Impact loads

Nylon 6, PC, Epoxy Laminates, HMW PE

Cyclical loading

Nylons, Acetal

Better resistance to creep

Glass Filled Grades, Thermoset Laminates

High continuous loading

PET(P), High Performance Plastic, PEEK

Temperature

Low temperature impact strength

Nylons, UHMW PE, PVDF

Working temperatures >100°C

High Performance Plastics, PTFE, PEEK

Atex legislation/Directive

Approved materials

Conductive plastic include- Carbon Filled PTFE, HDPE, Static Dissipative Acetal, Acrylic

FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

and or Metal detectable.

UHMWPE, PTFE, Polypropylene, Metal Detectable Acetal