| Name (code) |
Main performance characteristics |
Examples of uses |
| Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) |
Rigid polyvinyl chloride has high strength and excellent insulation properties; it has good chemical stability and strong resistance to acids and alkalis. It can be used at -15℃+60℃, has good thermoforming performance and low density |
As a corrosion-resistant structural material, it is used in the chemical industry, such as oil pipelines, containers, centrifugal pumps, valve fittings |
| Soft polyvinyl chloride is not as strong as hard polyvinyl chloride, but has a large elongation and good electrical insulation. It can be used at -15℃~+60℃ |
Insulation sheaths of wires and cables, agricultural films, and industrial packaging. However, it is not suitable for food packaging because it is toxic |
| Foamed polyvinyl chloride is light, heat-insulating, sound-insulating and vibration-proof |
Foamed polyvinyl chloride pads, packaging materials |
| Polyethylene (PE) |
Low-pressure polyethylene is hard, has good wear resistance, corrosion resistance and electrical insulation properties, but poor heat resistance, becomes soft in boiling water; high-pressure polyethylene is a lighter type of polyethylene, with high chemical stability, good high-frequency insulation, softness, impact resistance and transparency; ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene has high impact strength, fatigue resistance, wear resistance, requires cold pressing and casting |
Low-pressure polyethylene is used to make plastic plates, plastic ropes, gears and bearings that bear small loads, etc.; high-pressure polyethylene is most suitable for blow molding films, hoses, plastic bottles and other products used for food and drug packaging. Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene can be used as anti-friction and anti-wear parts and transmission parts, as well as wire and cable sheaths, etc. |
| Polypropylene (PP) |
It has a low density and is one of lighter commonly used plastics. It is superior to low-pressure polyethylene in strength, hardness, rigidity and heat resistance. It can be used for a long time at 100~120℃, absorbs almost no water, has good chemical stability, excellent high-frequency insulation, and is not affected by temperature. However, it is brittle at low temperatures, not wear-resistant, and easy to age. |
Make general mechanical parts, such as gears, pipes, joints, etc.; make corrosion-resistant parts, such as pump impellers, chemical pipelines, containers, insulating parts; make covers of televisions, radios, electric fans, motors, etc. |
| Polyamide (commonly known as nylon) (PA) |
Odorless, non-toxic; high strength and good toughness; has a certain heat resistance, can be used at 100 ℃. Excellent wear resistance and self-lubrication, small friction coefficient, good silencing and oil resistance, can withstand water, oil, general solvents; good corrosion resistance; antibacterial and mildew; good formability. But creep is large, thermal conductivity is poor, water absorption is high, and molding shrinkage rate is large |
Commonly used are nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 1010, etc. Used to manufacture certain load-bearing and transmission parts that require wear resistance and corrosion resistance, such as bearings, gears, pulleys, screws, nuts and some small parts; can also be used as high-pressure oil-resistant seals, anti-corrosion and wear-resistant coatings on metal surfaces. |
| Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) |
Good transparency, can transmit more than 99% of sunlight; good coloring, certain strength, resistance to ultraviolet rays and atmospheric aging, very corrosion-resistant, excellent electrical insulation performance, can be used at -60~+100℃. But it is brittle, soluble in organic solvents, surface hardness is not high, and it is easy to scratch |
Make transparent parts in aviation, instrumentation, automobile and radio industries, such as aircraft seat windows, lampshades, TV, radar screens, oil marks, oil cups, equipment signs, instrument parts, etc. |
| Styrene-butylene-acrylonitrile copolymer (ABS) |
Performance can be adjusted by changing content of three monomers. It has high impact toughness and high strength, excellent oil resistance, water resistance and chemical stability, high electrical insulation and cold resistance, high dimensional stability and certain wear resistance. Surface can be plated with metal, easy to process and shape, but it is easy to delaminate after long-term use. |
Making housing of telephones, amplifiers, televisions, instruments, motors, gears, pump impellers, bearings, handles, pipes, tank linings, instrument panels, car bodies, car armrests, etc. |
| Polyoxymethylene (POM) |
Excellent comprehensive mechanical properties, good wear resistance, low water absorption, high dimensional stability, good colorability, good anti-friction and anti-aging properties, excellent electrical insulation and chemical stability, can be used in the range of -40~+100℃. However, it is easy to decompose when heated, and molding shrinkage rate is large |
For making anti-friction and wear-resistant transmission parts such as bearings, rollers, gears, electrical insulation parts, corrosion-resistant parts and chemical containers |
| Polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as plastic king) (F-4) |
Can resist corrosion from almost all chemicals; good aging resistance and electrical insulation, no water absorption; excellent high and low temperature resistance, can be used for a long time at -195~250℃; small friction coefficient, self-lubricating. But it cannot be hot-formed, can only be sintered, decomposes harmful gases at high temperature, and has a high price. |
Make corrosion-resistant parts, anti-friction and wear-resistant parts, seals, insulating parts, such as high-frequency cables, capacitor coil frames, chemical reactors, pipelines, etc. |
| Polysulfone (PSF) |
Bisphenol A type: excellent heat resistance, cold resistance, weather resistance, creep resistance and dimensional stability, high strength, excellent electrical insulation, high chemical stability, can be used for a long time at -100~+150℃. But the UV resistance is poor and the molding temperature is high |
Manufacturing high-strength, heat-resistant parts, friction-reducing and wear-resistant parts, transmission parts, such as precision gears, cams, vacuum pump blades, instrument housings and covers, heat-resistant or insulating instrument parts, automobile guards, instrument panels, gaskets and washers, computer parts, electroplated metals to make integrated electronic printed circuits |
| Non-bisphenol A type: heat-resistant, cold-resistant, can work for a long time at -240+260℃, high hardness, self-extinguishing, aging-resistant, radiation-resistant, good mechanical properties and electrical insulation, high chemical stability. But not resistant to polar solvents |
| Chlorinated polyether (or polychloroether) |
Extremely high chemical corrosion resistance, easy to process, can be used for a long time at 120℃, good mechanical properties and electrical insulation, low water absorption, dimensional stability. But poor low temperature resistance |
Made in corrosive media, anti-friction, wear-resistant transmission parts, precision mechanical parts, linings and coatings of chemical equipment, etc. |
| Polycarbonate (PC) |
Transparency is as high as 86%~92%, stable in use at -100+130℃, good toughness, impact resistance, high hardness, creep resistance, heat resistance, cold resistance, fatigue resistance, and good water absorption. Tendency to stress cracking |
Aircraft seat window covers, protective helmets, bulletproof glass and mechanical electronics and instrument parts |
| Polyurethane plastic (PUR) |
Excellent wear resistance, good toughness, high load-bearing capacity, hard but not brittle at low temperatures, resistant to ozone, weather, many chemicals and oils, radiation, and flammable. Soft foam has excellent high and low temperature insulation performance |
Used to make seals, transmission belts, heat insulation, sound insulation and vibration-proof materials, gears, electrical insulation parts, solid tires, wire and cable sheaths, automotive parts |
| Phenolic plastic (commonly known as Bakelite) (PF) |
High strength, hardness and heat resistance, working temperature can generally be above 100℃, with extremely small friction coefficient under water lubrication conditions, excellent electrical insulation, good corrosion resistance (except strong alkali), mold resistance, and good dimensional stability. But it is brittle, poor light resistance, dark color, poor molding processability, and can only be molded |
Making general mechanical parts, water-lubricated bearings, electrical insulation parts, chemical corrosion-resistant structural materials and lining materials, such as instrument housings, electrical insulation boards, insulating gears, fairings, acid-resistant pumps, brake pads, etc. |
| Epoxy plastic (EP) |
It has high strength, good toughness, excellent point insulation, waterproof, moisture-proof, mildew-proof, heat-resistant and cold-resistant, can be used for a long time in the range of -80~+200℃, has good chemical stability, small shrinkage after curing, and strong adhesion to many materials |
Plastic molds, precision measuring tools, mechanical instrument structural parts, electrical, electronic components and coils, infusion, coating and encapsulation, and repair parts, etc. |
| Silicone plastic |
High heat resistance, can be used for a long time at 180~200℃. Excellent electrical insulation, good insulation for high-voltage arc and high frequency, good moisture resistance, certain chemical corrosion resistance, radiation resistance, ozone resistance, and low temperature resistance. But price is relatively expensive |
Used for high-frequency insulation parts, motor and electrical insulation parts in humid tropical areas, electrical and electronic components, coil infusion and fixation, heat-resistant parts, etc. |
| Poly(p-carboxybenzoate) plastic |
It is a new type of heat-resistant thermosetting plastic. It can be used for a long time at 315℃, and short-term use temperature range is 371~427℃. Thermal conductivity is extremely high, 3~5 times higher than that of ordinary plastics. It has good wear resistance and self-lubrication, excellent electrical insulation, wear-resistant formulation and self-extinguishing properties. |
Wear-resistant, corrosion-resistant and dimensionally stable self-lubricating bearings, high-pressure seals, automotive engine parts, electronic and electrical components, and special-purpose fibers and films, etc. |
