Choosing the Right Engineering Plastic: A Full Guide | AFT Fluorotec

Selecting the appropriate engineering plastic for industrial applications is a critical decision that can significantly impact performance, durability, and compliance. With industries such as aerospace, automotive, food processing, science and medical requiring materials that meet stringent standards, understanding the key criteria and available options is essential when it comes to choosing the right engineering plastic for your applications. 

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Understanding Engineering Plastic Types and Their Applications

Engineering plastics are designed to meet specific application requirements, at the same time being strong enough to withstand challenging environments. Here’s an overview of the commonly used materials in high quality engineering plastics:

Material

Key Properties

Applications

PTFE

High chemical resistance, low friction

Seals, gaskets, medical devices

PEEK

High strength, temperature resistance

Aerospace components, engine parts

Nylon

Durable, wear-resistant, lightweight

Gears, bearings, automotive parts

Each plastic has unique properties that make it suitable for use by different industries and in different environments. Identifying the right material starts with understanding these qualities and applying them to their potential applications.

Key Criteria for Selecting Engineering Plastics

Choosing the right material involves evaluating a number of critical factors:

1. Durability and Wear Resistance

Some materials need to endure mechanical stresses, particularly if they’re being used for high-friction applications like gears or bearings.

2. Temperature Resistance

High-performance plastics such as PEEK are essential for parts used in environments with extreme temperature demands, such as the aerospace, hydrogen and gas & oil industries. 

3. Chemical Resistance

For industries like food processing or medical, PTFE offers superior resistance to chemicals and sterilisation processes. Check out our Chemical Compatibility Tool to help you choose the right materials for your needs. 

4. Mechanical Strength and Flexibility

Assessing the balance between strength and flexibility is based on the needs of the application. For example, nylon provides excellent wear resistance with lightweight flexibility.

5. Compliance and Regulatory Considerations

Industries such as aerospace and medical have strict compliance standards which result in the need for ISO certifications and FDA regulations. Materials like PEEK and PTFE are often preferred because of their adherence to these standards.

Environmental and Sustainability Factors

With increasing focus on sustainability, more industries are exploring eco-friendly plastics. We manufacture high quality engineering plastics that are designed to last, significantly reducing the need to replace parts. This, combined with our commitment to environmentally-friendly solutions, helps our clients get closer to their sustainability goals without compromising on either quality or performance.

Want more information on Uhmwpe Plastics Plates? Feel free to contact us.

Practical Steps for Choosing the Right Engineering Plastic

Selecting the ideal material doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Follow these practical steps:

1. Define the Application Purpose

   Identify the general use and specific industry requirements.

2. Assess Thermal Requirements

   Consider temperature ranges the material must withstand.

3. Evaluate Chemical Exposure

   Analyse exposure to chemicals or sterilisation processes.

4. Consider Additional Criteria

   Include factors like strength, weight, and environmental concerns.

5. Determine the Plastic Shape

   Choose between sheets, rods, or custom moulded components.

By following these steps, you can narrow down the options and make a confident choice.

Why Partner with AFT Fluorotec for Your Engineering Plastic Needs

We specialise in bespoke engineering solutions using high-performance engineering plastics such as PTFE and PEEK. Our precision engineering and end-to-end capabilities combined with our focus on quality assurance and compliance have enabled us to create sometimes complex machine parts from a wide variety of materials. In many cases, we’ve been able to provide innovative solutions, delivering parts that other suppliers couldn’t. 

Manufacturing in-house, we are capable of creating machined plastic parts in a range of sizes from 1mm micro parts up to products 1,800mm in diameter. We are happy to produce parts in whatever quantity you need - no job is too big or too small! 

Contact us to learn more about how we can design and manufacture engineering plastic solutions for your exacting needs. 

FAQs

How do I choose the right plastic material?

Start by defining your application, considering factors like temperature, chemical exposure, and compliance needs. Check out our Chemical Compatibility Tool to help you choose the best polymer if you use corrosives and chemicals. Alternatively, contact us to discuss the best engineering plastics for your needs.  

What is the best plastic for engineering applications?

The best material depends on the application. PTFE is ideal for chemical resistance, while PEEK offers high strength and temperature resistance. However, other materials are available. The best thing to do is contact us and talk to one of our specialists about the best plastic for your engineering needs.  

Are there eco-friendly engineering plastics?

Yes, options such as recyclable or bio-based plastics are increasingly available and suitable for specific applications.

How do I ensure compliance with regulatory standards?

Work with a trusted provider like AFT Fluorotec, which specialises in materials that meet ISO certifications and FDA regulations.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Choosing the right engineering plastic is a complex yet vital process that can drive long-term operational success. At Fluorotec, we’re here to guide you through every step, ensuring your materials meet performance, compliance, and sustainability requirements.

Contact us today to discuss your project and discover the best solutions for your industrial applications.

Machinable Plastics

OK, I'm going to admit right up front....I'm not a plastics expert. In fact, after going three Google screens deep into a search, I still can't tell you when to choose nylon over Delrin. But, for what it's worth, here are a few go-to plastics and their uses. I also put together a small table that gives you the basic properties of several well known plastics.

UHMW-PE or UHMW for Short (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene)

This is an inexpensive and easy to machine plastic that has probably the best coefficient of friction of any of the common materials you'll use and it's also cheap at around $5-6/lb. Unfortunately, it's not very strong, so it's not ideal for nests or structural members. It makes for great wear strips and sliding surfaces if it's backed up by a sturdier structure, and it's ok if it's just for low precision parts whose functionality is not affected by deflection, wear, or dings.

Delrin, Nylon, and Ertalyte

All three of these have similar properties, and can be pretty much interchanged. I think Ertalyte may wear a little better for nests and touch tooling and is used quite a bit for electrical isolation and some for lower temperature thermal isolation/insulation. Delrin tends to be used more for general purpose pieces, It's a little cheaper per pound than Ertalyte, has good mechanical properties, and machines well. I'd say it's the most popular plastic in our industry based on my fairly narrow worldview. Nylon, while pretty much identical to Delrin, doesn't seem to get used as often, but that could just be what I've seen. Your company may have a standard picked from one of these three that makes the choice easy.

Nylatron

Nylatron is a special recipe nylon that is infused with molybdenum disulphide that enhances its mechanical properties and reduces thermal expansion. This makes it an ideal material for homemade bushings and close tolerance wear strips. An additional version, Nylatron GSM Blue, is also infused with oil, which decreases its coefficient of friction and makes it an even better bushing material.   

G11 Phenolic (Green Glass)

I have had a lot of success with green glass for nests that are used to isolate hot parts from the rest of the machine. You will see from the chart that its "service temp" (the maximum temperature for continuous use) is only about 100 degrees F higher than the other materials, but the mechanical properties are basically off the charts. You will get excellent wear resistance and its mechanical properties don't degrade as temperature increases. So why not use it for everything? It can be a bit brittle, and it machines off in a dust, so I'm guessing it's not the healthiest thing in the world to work with. I'd probably only use it in high heat/electrical isolation situations.

PEEK

You will see from the chart that PEEK is like a magic plastic. Top numbers in almost every category. And that certainly includes the price at $80/lb, so that's why I would say you probably won't run into a situation where one of the other plastics won't do the job for a lot less money. But it is out there if you ever do need magic.

Table of a Few Common Plastics

I captured a few stats on the plastics I mentioned above to help consolidate all the information in one place. If you google plastics, there are hundreds available, and you can find a lot more specific information on any one of them, but this should get you started.

Poured/Molded Plastics

In addition to the machinable plastics, another nice trick to have in the bag is the ability to pour plastics to a mold for various shapes and functions. This can be especially useful in making specialty seals for leak testing or for creating assembly/test nests when the only way to hold a part is by touching the "Class A" surfaces (those finish surfaces that show on a final product and will be scrapped if that surface is scuffed or scratched during processing).

Seals

For seals, a steel mold is made as the negative of the shape you want, then it's poured and cured. The most common material is Polyurethane (usually just called urethane), but Polyester and Silicon are also used somewhat regularly. There are a host of other specialty materials that can be used for adverse environments, but that's probably for your own research if you're in one of those situations. Seal hardness is selected by balancing the ability to conform to a surface (leaning towards softer) with the seal life (leaning towards harder). I'd say typical hardness for most seals varies from 60-90 Shore (A).

Nests/Fixtures

The overwhelming material of choice for a nest is urethane. Choosing a hardness is a little different for a nest than a seal. In this case, the harder the nest, the easier it is to do something as simple as bolt it down and the longer it will last. But, the harder it is, the more likely it will be to mar the surface of the product, the very thing you're trying to avoid by molding. Too soft, and it could deflect more than you can tolerate in your design or pick up debris that will scratch a part surface. You will likely be in the 40-80 Shore A area for nests. See my post on Poured and Printed Nests for a little more info.

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