Understanding the Basics of

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• Understanding the Basics of
• Plastic Materials and
• the IAPD Thermoplastics Rectangle

Prepared by the IAPD Education Committee (Module
2) Presented courtesy of Modern Plastics, Inc.
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Definitions

• Thermoplastic
• Thermoset

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Types of Thermoplastics

• Imidized materials
• Amorphous plastics
• High performance
• Engineering
• Commodity
• Semi-crystalline plastics
• High performance
• Engineering
• Commodity

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Amorphous vs. Crystalline Thermoplastics

• Amorphous (a-morphous without shape) - The
  polymer chains are in random arrangement.
  Molecular structure is incapable of forming
  regular order (crystallizing) with molecules or
  portions of molecules regularly stacked in
  crystal-like fashion. Molecular arrangement is
  randomly twisted, kinked and coiled.
• Crystalline - The polymer chains form a regular
  pattern. Molecular structure forms regular order
  (crystals) with molecules or portions of
  molecules regularly stacked in crystal-like
  fashion. Molecular arrangement is arranged in an
  ordered fashion.

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Amorphous Commodity ThermoplasticsKey
Characteristics

• Low cost, temperature resistance and strength
• Good dimensional stability
• Bonds well
• Typically, but not always, transparent

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Amorphous Commodity ThermoplasticsMaterials

• Acrylic (PMMA)
• Polystyrene (PS)
• Acrylonitrile - Butadiene - Styrene (ABS)
• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
• Polyethylene Terepthalate Glycol (PETG)
• Cellulose Acetate Butyrate (CAB)

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Amorphous Engineering ThermoplasticsKey
Characteristics

• Moderate cost
• Moderate temperature resistance
• Moderate strength
• Good to excellent impact resistance
• Good dimensional stability
• Not true in all cases
• Translucency

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Amorphous Engineering ThermoplasticsMaterials

• Polycarbonate (PC)
• Polyphenylene Oxide (Modified PPO)
• Polyphenylene Ether (Modified PPE)
• Thermoplastic Urethane (TPU)

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Amorphous High Performance ThermoplasticsKey
Characteristics

• High cost
• High temperature
• High strength and good stiffness
• Good chemical resistance
• Transparency
• Hot water and steam resistance

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Amorphous High Performance ThermoplasticsMaterial
s

• Polysulfone (PS)
• Polyetherimide (PEI)
• Polyethersulfone (PES)
• Polyarylsulfone (PAS)

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Semi-Crystalline Commodity Thermoplastics Key
Characteristics

• Low cost, temperature resistance and strength
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Low COF
• Near zero moisture absorption
• Very good electrical properties
• Good toughness

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Semi-Crystalline Commodity Thermoplastics
Materials

• Polyethylene (PE)
• High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
• Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• Polymethylpentene (PMP)

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Semi-Crystalline Engineering ThermoplasticsKey
Characteristics

• Moderate cost, temperature resistance and
  strength
• Good chemical resistance
• Good bearing and wear properties
• Low COF
• Difficult to bond

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Semi-Crystalline Engineering ThermoplasticsMateri
als

• Nylon (PA)
• Acetal (POM)
• Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET)
• Polybutylene Terepthalate (PBT)
• Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE)

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Semi-Crystalline High Performance Thermoplastics
Key Characteristics

• Temperature resistance
• Good electrical properties and toughness
• Outstanding chemical resistance
• Low coefficient of friction (COF)
• High cost

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Semi-Crystalline High Performance Thermoplastics
Materials

• Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
• Polytetra Fluoroethylene (PTFE)
• Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)
• Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
• Polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE)
• Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)
• Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
• Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)

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Imidized Materials Key Characteristics

• Very high cost per pound
• Excellent properties above 204C/400F
• Excellent electrical properties
• Excellent dimensional stability
• Low coefficient of friction (COF)
• Very low thermal expansion
• Good wear characteristics

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Imidized Materials Materials

• Polyimide (PI)
• Polyamide-imide (PAI)
• Polybenzimidazole (PBI)

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