Properties and Applications of Commercially Important Plastics, Table

▪ Table

Table 1: Properties and Applications of Commercially Important Plastics

 

Polymer family and type density 

(g/cm³)  degree of 

crystallinity glass 

transition 

temperature 

(° C) crystal 

melting 

temperature 

(° C) deflection 

temperature 

at 1.8 MPa 

(° C) tensile 

strength 

(MPa) elongation 

at break 

(%) flexural 

modulus 

(GPa) typical products and 

applications

Thermoplastics

    Carbon-chain

    High-density polyethylene (HDPE) (industrial polymers, major)  0.95-0.97  high -120 137 — 20-30 10-1,000 1-1.5 milk bottles, wire and 

    cable insulation, toys

    Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) (industrial polymers, major) 0.92-0.93 moderate -120 110 — 8-30 100-650 0.25-0.35  packaging film, grocery 

    bags, agricultural 

    mulch

    Polypropylene (PP) (industrial polymers, major) 0.90-0.91 high -20 176 — 30-40 100-600 1.2-1.7 bottles, food containers, 

    toys

    Polystyrene (PS) (industrial polymers, major) 1.0-1.1 nil 100 — — 35-50 1-2 2.6-3.4 eating utensils, foamed 

    food containers

    Acrylonitrile-butadiene- (industrial polymers, major) 

      styrene (ABS) (industrial polymers, major)  1.0-1.1 nil 90-120 — — 15-55 30-100 0.9-3.0 appliance housings, 

    helmets, pipe 

    fittings

    Polyvinyl chloride, (industrial polymers, major) 

       unplasticized (PVC) (industrial polymers, major) 1.3-1.6 nil 85 — — 40-50 2-80 2.1-3.4 pipe, conduit, home 

    siding, window 

    frames

    Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) (industrial polymers, major) 1.2 nil 115 — — 50-75 2-10 2.2-3.2 impact-resistant windows, 

    skylights, canopies

    Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) (industrial polymers, major) 2.1-2.2 moderate- 

    high 126 327 — 20-35 200-400 0.5 self-lubricated bearings, 

    nonstick cookware

    Heterochain

    Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (industrial polymers, major) 1.3-1.4 moderate 69 265 — 50-75 50-300 2.4-3.1 transparent bottles, 

    recording tape

    Polycarbonate (PC) (industrial polymers, major) 1.2 low 145 230 — 65-75 110-120 2.3-2.4 compact discs, safety 

    glasses, sporting goods

    Polyacetal (industrial polymers, major) 1.4 moderate -50 180 — 70 25-75 2.6-3.4 bearings, gears, shower 

    heads, zippers

    Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) (industrial polymers, major) 1.3 nil 185 — — 70-105 30-150 3.9 machine, automotive, 

    and aerospace parts

    Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) (industrial polymers, major) 1.35 moderate 88 288 — 50-90 1-10 3.8-4.5 machine parts, appliances, 

    electrical equipment

    Cellulose diacetate (industrial polymers, major) 1.3 low 120 230 — 15-65 6-70 1.5 photographic film

    Polycaprolactam (nylon 6) (industrial polymers, major) 1.1-1.2 moderate 50 210-220 — 40-170 30-300 1.0-2.8 bearings, pulleys, gears

Thermosets*

    Heterochain

    Polyester (unsaturated) (industrial polymers, major) 1.3-2.3 nil — — 200 20-70 <3 7-14 boat hulls, automobile 

    panels

    Epoxies (industrial polymers, major) 1.1-1.4 nil — — 110-250 35-140 <4 14-30 laminated circuit boards, 

    flooring, aircraft parts

    Phenol formaldehyde (industrial polymers, major) 1.7-2.0 nil — — 175-300 50-125 <1 8-23 electrical connectors, 

    appliance handles

    Urea and melamine formaldehyde (industrial polymers, major) 1.5-2.0 nil — — 190-200 35-75 <1 7.5 countertops, dinnerware

    Polyurethane (industrial polymers, major) 1.05 low — — 90-100 70 3-6 4 flexible and rigid foams 

    for upholstery, 

    insulation

See as table:

*All values shown are for glass-fibre-reinforced samples (except for polyurethane).

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