Choose Your Materials

Selecting the correct material for your product or application can be a complex task. At WKH, we specialise in plastics and are here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have.

To help guide your decision, we've provided a comprehensive overview of each material and its specific uses below.

Requirement	Materials to 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
Sewarage / Waste / Water	WRAS Approved (Water Regulations Approval Scheme), Acetals, PVC
Electrical insulation	Thermoset Laminates, PVC, PTFE, PPE
ATEX / ESD avoidance	PC350 Antistatic Polycarbonate ,conductive PTFE Static dissipative Acetal / HDPE
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 & 66, 1000 Grade UHMWPE, Epoxy Laminates, Polypropolene
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

Important: If your finished item or component is intended to function independently, without support from hinges, clasps, braces, guide rails, or similar structures, it is crucial to account for potential issues such as thermal expansion, bowing, and twisting of plastics. These factors can greatly affect the performance and longevity of your product.