Engineering Plastics Are Also Highly Versatile And Can Be Formulated With Fillers And Additives

Engineering Plastics 

Engineered plastics are used for a variety of applications requiring superior strength, durability, chemical resistance, thermal stability, machinability, and resilience. There is an expansive selection of engineering resins and polymers available, with new products constantly under development. Selecting the correct plastic for a specific application with demanding specifications is crucial to ensure long-term performance and successful outcomes.

These unique properties make engineered plastics the perfect alternative to metal for a wide range of products and components. They are often far lighter than metal, and can be molded into more complex shapes for design flexibility. They can also be designed to be resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including solvents, corrosives, and high temperatures.

Most importantly, engineering plastics are able to withstand repeated mechanical stress and harsh physical environments. They can also be shaped into custom designs to meet precise requirements, and are easy to mold.

Engineering Plastics are the bridge between standard plastics and high temperature plastics, offering superior mechanical and thermal strength, while not being as sophisticated or costly to produce as high-performance materials such as ceramics. They can operate between 100 and 150 degrees Celsius and can be molded into very tight tolerances. They are also unaffected by corrosive chemicals, oils and other extreme conditions.

The most common types of engineering plastics include ABS which is the most consumed plastic worldwide and found in car bumpers, PA(polyamide) commonly known as nylon, polycarbonate(POM) used for motorcycle helmets and optical discs and PTFE(Teflon). These are all examples of engineered plastics that offer superior chemical and wear resistance.

Many of these materials have been designed to be orientated, which means the molecular structure can be drawn out and made more aligned. This increases the stiffness and strength of the material, while improving its conductivity, diffusion/solubility and piezoelectricity. This makes the material ideal for use in advanced electronics, aerospace and automotive applications, as well as in medical and food packaging.

Some Engineering Plastics can be reinforced with a range of fibers, which enhance the properties of the resin. Glass fibers can improve its creep resistance and high-temperature capabilities at short and long times, while aramid fibers improve its fatigue strength and impact resistance.

SABIC launched new chemically resistant LNP CRX polycarbonate (PC) copolymer resins in August 2022. They have decided to expand their product portfolio in engineering plastics with this launch.