What plastic do you need? here's how to decide
The selection of a plastic material
for a specific application can be a difficult task. After careful
consideration, the possibilities should be narrowed down
The first vital step in selecting a plastic material
from the extensive range of available materials at nimrod plastics
(i.e., acrylic,
polycarbonate,
teflon ,
nylon ,
pvc
, polypropylene,
etc.) is to carefully define the requirements of the
application, the physical properties required and the environment in
which the material will need to perform.
The following list of questions should be used to
identify the application as completely as possible. In many cases, the
answers to these criteria may be helpful to eliminate a particular
type of plastic or an entire variety of plastics. The better the
application is defined, the more chance of selecting the best
material for the job.
Physical & Mechanical
Considerations
-
What are the overall part
dimensions (diameter, length, width, thickness)?
-
What load will the part
have to carry?
-
Will the design carry high
loads?
-
What will the highest load
be?
-
What is the maximum stress
on the part?
-
What kind of stress is it
(tensile, flexural, etc.)?
-
How long will the load be
applied?
-
Will the load be continuous
or intermittent?
-
Does the part have to
retain its dimensional shape?
-
What is the projected life
of the part or design?
Thermal Considerations
-
What temperatures will the
part see and for how long?
-
What is the maximum
temperature the material must sustain?
-
What is the minimum
temperature the material will sustain?
-
How long will the material
be at these temperatures?
-
Will the material have to
withstand impact at the low temperature?
-
What kind of dimensional
stability is required (is thermal expansion and contraction
an issue)?
Chemical Considerations
-
Will the material be
exposed to chemicals or moisture?
-
Will the material be
exposed to normal relative humidity?
-
Will the material be
submerged in water? If so, at what temperature?
-
Will the material be
exposed to steam?
-
Will the material be
painted? If so, what kind of paint?
-
Will the material be glued?
If so, what kind of adhesive will be used?
-
Will the material be
submerged or wiped with solvents or other chemicals? If so,
which ones?
-
Will the material be
exposed to chemical or solvent vapors? If so, which If so,
which ones?
-
Will the material be
exposed to other materials that can outgas or leach
detrimental materials, such as plasticizers or
petroleum-based chemicals?
Bearing and Wear Considerations
-
Will the material be used
as a bearing? Will it need to resist wear?
-
Will the material be
expected to perform as a bearing? If so, what will the load,
shaft diameter, shaft material, shaft finish, and rpm be?
-
What wear or abrasion
condition will the material see? Note:: Materials filled with
friction reducers (such as PTFE, molybdenum disulfide, or
graphite) generally exhibit less wear in rubbing
applications.
Other Miscellaneous
Considerations
-
Will the part have to meet
any regulatory requirements?
FDA | USDA
| 3A-Dairy | NSF | USP Class VI
-
Is UL94 Flame retardant
rating required? What level?
5VA | 5VB
| V-0 | V-1 | V-2 | HB
-
Should the material have a
special color and/or appearance?
-
Natural | White | Black
| Other Colors
-
Color match to another
part or material?
-
Window-Clear |
Transparent | Translucent | Opaque
-
Smooth | Polished |
Textured | One-Side or Both
-
Will the part be used
outdoors?
-
Is UV Resistance needed?
-
Is static dissipation or
conductivity important?
After answering the above list of
above questions ,
please contact
nimrod for further assistance. Our sales or
engineering staff will be happy to help you choose one or more
available plastic materials that will meet your requirements. We
stock almost all of the materials we sell, so we can provide
samples or small pieces for your evaluation.
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