ABS
Generic Class
ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene)
Typical Applications
Automotive (instrument and interior trim panels, glove compartment doors, wheel covers, mirror housings, etc.), refrigerators, small appliance housings and power tools applications (hair dryers, blenders, food processors, lawnmowers, etc.), telephone housings, typewriter housings, typewriter keys, and recreational vehicles such as golf carts and jet skis.
Injection Molding Processing Conditions
Drying ABS resins are hygroscopic and drying is required prior to processing. Suggested drying conditions are 80 - 90 C (176 - 195 F) for a minimum of 2 hours. Resin moisture content should be less than 0.1%
Melt Temperature 200 - 280 C (392 - 536 F); Aim: 230 C (446 F)
Mold Temperature 25 - 80 C (77 - 176 F). (Mold temperatures control the gloss properties; lower mold temperatures produce lower gloss levels)
Resin Injection Pressure 500 - 1,000 bar (7,250 - 14,500 psi)
Injection Speed Moderate - high
Chemical and Physical Properties
ABS is produced by a combination of three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. Each of the monomers impart different properties: hardness, chemical and heat resistance from acrylonitrile; processibility, gloss, and strength from styrene; and toughness and impact resistance from butadiene. Morphologically, ABS is an amorphous resin.
The polymerization of the three monomers produces a terpolymer which has two phases: a continuous phase of styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) and a dispersed phase of polybutadiene rubber. The properties of ABS are affected by the ratios of the monomers and molecular structure of the two phases. This allows a good deal of flexibility in product design and consequently, there are hundreds of grades available in the market. Commercially available grades offer different characteristics such as medium to high impact, low to high surface gloss, and high heat distortion.
ABS offers superior processibility, appearance, low creep and excellent dimensional stability, and high impact strength.
Major Manufacturers
Dow Chemical (Magnum grades), GE Plastics (Cycolac), Bayer (Lustran), BASF (Terluran), Chi Mei (Polylac), LG Chemical (Lupos), Cheil Synthesis.
PA 12
Generic Class
PA 12 (Polyamide 12 or Nylon 12)
Typical Applications
Gear wheels for water meters and business machines, cable ties, cams, slides, and bearings.
Injection Molding Processing Conditions
Drying The moisture content must be below 0.1% prior to processing. If the material is exposed to air, drying in a hot air oven at 85 C (185 F) for 4 -5 hours is recommended (3-4 hours in a desiccant dryer). If the container is unopened, it may be used directly for molding after 3 hours of equilibration to shop floor temperature.
Melt Temperature 230 - 300 C (446 - 580 F); Not to exceed 310 C (590 F) for standard grades and 270 C (518 F) for flame retardant grades
Mold Temperature 30 - 40C (86 - 104 F) for unreinforced grades; for thin walled or large surface area components, 80 -90 C (176 - 194 F) may be used; 90 - 100 C (194 - 212 F) for reinforced grades. Increasing the mold temperature increases the crystallinity level. It is very important to precisely control the mold temperature.
Resin Injection Pressure Up to 1,000 bar (14, 500 psi) Low hold pressures and high melt temperatures are recommended.
Injection Speed High (high speeds give better finish on glass-filled grades)
Runners and Gates
Runner diameters for unfilled grades may be as small as 3 - 5 mm because of the material's low viscosity. Reinforced grades require larger diameters (5 - 8 mm). The runner shape should be the full round type. Sprues should be as short as possible.
A variety of gates may be used. Small gates for large parts should be not be used, in order to avoid highly stressed components or excessive shrinkage. The thickness of the gate should preferably be equal to the part thickness. When using submarine gates, the minimum recommended diameter is 0.8 mm.
Hot runner molds may be used effectively but precise temperature control is necessary to prevent material drooling or freezing off at the nozzle. When hot runners are used, the size of the gates may be smaller than in the case of cold runners.
Chemical and Physical Properties
PA 12 is a linear, semicrystalline-crystalline thermoplastic derived from butadiene. It has properties similar to PA 11 but its crystal structure is different. PA 12 is a good electrical insulator and its properties are not as sensitive to humidity as other polyamides. It has good resistance to shock and resistant to many chemicals. It is extensively modified with plasticisers and reinforcements. In comparison to PA 6 and PA 66, these materials have a lower melting point, density, and much lower moisture regain. It is not resistant to strong oxidizing acids.
Viscosity is determined by water content, temperature, and residence time. This material flows easily. Shrinkage is of the order of 0.005 - 0.02 mm/mm (0.5 - 2%). This is dependent on the specific grade, wall thickness, and processing conditions.
Major Manufacturers
Huls (Vestamid), Elf Atochem (A).
PA 6
Generic Class
PA 6 (Polyamide 6, or Nylon 6, or Polycaprolactam)
Applications
Used in many structural applications because of its good mechanical strength and rigidity. It is used in bearings because of its good wear resistance.
Injection Molding processing conditions
Drying Since PA 6 absorbs moisture readily, care should be taken to ensure its dryness prior to molding. If the material is supplied in watertight packaging, the containers should be kept closed. If the moisture content is >0.2%, drying in a hot air oven at 80 C (176 F) for 16 hours is recommended. If the material has been exposed to air for more than 8 hours, vacuum drying at 105 C (221 F) for more than 8 hours is recommended.
Melt Temperature 230 - 280 C (446 - 536 F); 250 - 300 C (482 - 572 F) for reinforced grades
Mold Temperature 80 - 90 C (176 - 194 F). Mold temperature significantly influences the crystallinity level which in turn affects the mechanical properties. For structural parts, a high degree of crystallization is required and mold temperatures of 80 - 90 C (176 - 194 F) are recommended. High mold temperatures are also recommended for thin-wall parts with long flow lengths. Increasing the mold temperature increases the strength and hardness, but the toughness is decreased. When the wall thickness is greater than 3 mm, a cold mold is recommended (20 - 40 C / 68 - 104 F), which leads to a higher and more uniform degree of crystallinity. Glass reinforced resins are always processed at mold temperatures greater than 80 C (176 F).
Resin Injection Pressure Generally between 750 - 1,250 bar (~11,000 - 18,000 psi) (depends on material and product design)
Injection Speed High (slightly lower for reinforced grades)
Runners and Gates
The gate location is important because of very fast freeze-off times. Any type of gate may be used; the aperture should not be less than half the thickness of the part. When hot runners are used, the size of the gates can be smaller than when cold runners are used, because premature freeze-off is prevented. When using submarine gates, the minimum diameter of the gate should be 0.75 mm.
Chemical and Physical Properties
The molecular structure of polyamides consist of amide (CONH) groups joined by linear aliphatic sections (based on methylene groups). The toughness, rigidity, crystallinity, and thermal resistance of polyamide resins are due to the strong interchain attraction caused by the polarity of the amide groups. The CONH groups also cause a lot of moisture absorption.
Nylon 6 is produced by polymerization of caprolactam. The chemical and physical properties are similar to that of PA 66. However, its melting point is lower than PA 66 and it has a wider processing temperature range. Its impact strength and solvent resistance are better than PA 66, but its moisture absorption is higher. Many properties are affected by moisture absorption, which must be taken into account when designing with this resin. Various modifiers are added to improve mechanical properties; glass is one of the most commonly used fillers. Addition of elastomers such as EPDM or SBR improves impact resistance.
For unfilled grades, shrinkage is of the order of .01 - .015 mm/mm (1 - 1.5%). Addition of glass fibers reduce the shrinkage to as low as 0.3% in the flow direction (but could be as high as 1% in the cross-flow direction). The post-molding shrinkage is affected mainly by the crystallinity level and moisture absorption. The actual shrinkage is a function of part design, wall thickness, and processing conditions.
Major Manufacturers
BASF (Ultramid , DuPont (Zytel), DSM (Akulon)
PA 66
Generic Class
PA 66 (Polyamide 66, or Nylon 66, or poly (hexamethylene adipamide))
Applications
Competes with PA 6 for most applications. PA 66 is heavily used in the automotive industry, appliance housings, and generally where impact resistance and strength are required.
Injection Molding Processing conditions
Drying Drying is not required if the material is sealed prior to molding; however, if the containers are left open, drying in a hot air oven at 85 C (185 F) is recommended. If the moisture content is > 0.2%, vacuum drying at 105 C (220 F) for 12 hours is recommended.
Melt Temperature 260 - 290 C (500 - 554 F); 275 - 280 C (527 - 536 F) for glass filled grades; melt temperatures above 300 C (572 F) should be avoided
Mold Temperature 80 C (176 F) suggested. Mold temperature affects crystallinity level which in turn affects physical properties. In the case of thin walled parts, crystallinity changes with time if mold temperatures of less than 40 C (104 F) are used. In such cases, annealing may be needed to retain dimensional stability.
Resin Injection Pressure Generally between 750 - 1,250 bar (~11,000 - 18,000 psi), depends on material and product design
Injection Speed High (slightly lower for reinforced grades)
Runners and Gates
The gate location is important because of very fast freeze-off times. Any type of gate may be used; the aperture should not be less than half the thickness of the part. When hot runners are used, the size of the gates can be smaller than when cold runners are used, because premature freeze-off is prevented. When using submarine gates, the minimum diameter of the gate should be 0.75 mm.
Chemical and physical properties
PA 66 homopolymer is produced by the polymerization of hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid (a dibasic acid). Among commercially available polyamides, PA 66 has one of the highest melting points. It is a semicrystalline-crystalline material. The resins have strength and stiffness which is retained at elevated temperatures. It does absorb moisture after molding, but the retention is not as much as in the case of PA 6. Moisture absorption depends on the composition of the material, wall thickness, and environmental conditions. Dimensional stability and properties are all affected by the amount of moisture absorption which must be taken into account for product design.
Various modifiers are added to improve mechanical properties; glass is one of the most commonly used filler. Addition of elastomers such as EPDM or SBR improves impact resistance.
The viscosity is low and therefore, it flows easily (but not as easily as PA 6). This allows molding of thin components. The viscosity is very sensitive to temperature. Shrinkage is of the order of 0.01 - 0.02 mm/mm (1 - 2%). Addition of reinforcing glass fibers reduces the shrinkage to 0.2 - 1%. Differential shrinkage in the flow and cross-flow directions is quite high. Mineral fillers yield more isotropic moldings. PA 66 is resistant to most solvents but not to strong acids or oxidizing agents.
Major Manufacturers
BASF (Ultramid A), DuPont (Minlon - mineral reinforced grades; Zytel), Monsanto (Vydyne), DSM (Akulon).
PBT
Generic Class
PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalates)
Typical Applications
Household appliances (food processor blades, vacuum cleaner parts, fans, hair dryer housings, coffee makers, etc.), electronics (switches, motor housings, fuse cases, key caps for computer keyboards, connectors, fiber optic buffer tubing, etc.), automotive (grilles, body panels, wheel covers, and components for doors and windows, etc.)
Injection Molding Processing Conditions
Drying This material is sensitive to hydrolysis at high temperatures. It is therefore important to dry the material prior to molding. Suggested drying conditions (in air) are 120 C (248 F) for 6 - 8 hours (or 150 C (300 F) for 2 - 4 hours). Moisture levels must be below 0.03%. When using a desiccant dryer, drying at 120 C (248 F) for 2.5 hours is recommended.
Melt Temperature 220 - 280 C (428 - 536 F); aim: 250 C (482 F)
Mold Temperature 40 - 60 C (104 - 140 F) for unreinforced grades. For other grades, a wide range of temperatures can be used, depending on the grade (15 - 80 C / 59 - 176 F). Cooling channels should be properly designed to minimize part warpage. The heat removal must be fast and uniform. Cooling channels of 12 mm diameter are recommended.
Resin Injection Pressure Moderate (up to maximum of 1500 bar / 21750 psi).
Injection Speed Fastest possible speeds should be used (due to fast solidification of PBTs)
Runners and Gates
Full round runners are recommended to impart maximum pressure transmission (rule of thumb: runner diameter = part thickness + 1.5 mm). A wide variety of gates may be used. Hot runners may also be used, taking care to avoid drool and material degradation. Gate diameters or depths should preferably be between 0.8 - 1.0 times the part thickness. When using submarine gates, the minimum recommended diameter is 0.75 mm.
Chemical and Physical Properties
PBT is one of the toughest engineering thermoplastics. It is a semicrystalline resin and has excellent chemical resistance, mechanical strength, electrical properties (high dielectric strength and insulation resistance), and heat resistance, all of which are stable over a broad range of environmental conditions. It has very low moisture absorption.
PBT, which is a polyester, is produced by the polycondensation reaction of dimethyl terephthalate an butanediol.
Tensile strength ranges from 50 MPa (7,250 psi) for unfilled grades to 170 MPa (24,650 psi) for glass reinforced grades. High levels of glass fillers make the material more brittle. Crystallization is rapid and this could cause warpage due to non-uniform cooling. In the case of glass filled grades, shrinkage is reduced in the flow direction, but in the cross-flow direction it may be equal to that of the base resin. Shrinkage is of the order of 0.015 - 0.028 mm/mm (1.5 -2.8%). A 30% glass-filled resin has a shrinkage range of 0.3 - 1.6%. The melting point (approximately 225 C / 437 F) and heat distortion temperatures are lower than that of PET. The Vicat softening point is approximately 170 C (338 F). The glass transition temperature ranges from 22 - 43 C (71 - 109 F).
The melt viscosity is fairly low and due to fast crystallization rates, cycle times are typically low.
Major Manufacturers
BASF (Ultradur), Ticona (Celanex), GE Plastics (Lomod, Valox), Bayer (Pocan), Huls (Vestoduv), Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics (Novadur), Teijin Chemicals.
Drying PC resins are hygroscopic and pre-drying is important. Recommended drying conditions are 100 - 120 C (212 - 248 F) for 3 to 4 hours. Moisture content must be less than 0.02% prior to processing.
Melt Temperature 260 - 340 C (500 - 644 F); higher range for low MFR resins and vice-versa
Mold Temperature 70 - 120 C (158 - 248 F); higher range for low MFR resins and vice-versa
Fill Pressure As high as possible for rapid molding
Injection Speed Slow injection speeds when small or edge gates are used; high speeds for other types of gates
Chemical and Physical Properties
Polycarbonate is a polyester of carbonic acid. All general-purpose polycarbonates are based on bisphenol A. The bisphenol A component of the molecule contributes to the high glass transition temperature (150 C / 302 F). The rotational mobility of the carbonyl group within the molecule contributes to the high ductility and toughness of the resin.
PC is an amorphous engineering resin with exceptionally good impact strength, heat resistance, clarity, sterilizability, flame retardancy, and stain resistance. The notched Izod impact strength of PC is very high and mold shrinkage is low and consistent (.1 -.2 mm/mm).
High molecular weight PCs (which translate to low melt flow rate) have higher mechanical properties, but processibility of such resins becomes difficult. The type of PC chosen for a particular application should be based on the desired criteria (for high impact properties, use a low-MFR PC; conversely, for optimal processibility, use a high-MFR PC).
The melt viscosities are typically Newtonian up to shear rates of 1000 1/s and decrease beyond that. The Heat Deflection Temperature Under Load is typically between 130 -140 C (266 - 284 F) and the Vicat Softening Point is typically around 155 C (311 F).
Major Manufacturers
Dow Chemical (Caliber), GE Plastics (Lexan), Bayer (Apec, Macrolon), DSM (Xantar), LNP (Lurbricomp, Thermocomp), Mitsubushi Engineering Plastics (Novarex), Teijin Chemical (Panlite).
PETG
Generic Class
PETG (Glycol-modified PET; Copolyesters)
Typical Applications
PETGs offer a desirable combination of properties such as clarity, toughness, and stiffness. Applications include medical devices (test tubes and bottles), toys, displays and lighting fixtures, face shields, and refrigerator crisper pans.
Injection molding processing conditions
Drying Drying is essential for PETG prior to injection molding. The moisture level must be below 0.04%. Drying temperature is not to exceed 66 C (150 F). Drying at approximately 65 C (149 F) for 4 hours is recommended.
Melt Temperature 220 - 290 C (428 - 554 F); The melt temperature is grade specific
Mold Temperature 10 - 30 C (50 - 86 F); Recommended: 15 C (60 F)
Resin Injection Pressure 300 - 1,300 bar (4,350 - 19,000 psi)
Injection speed High speeds without causing embrittlement
Chemical and Physical Properties
PETGs (or copolyesters) are glycol modified PETs; the modification is done by adding a second glycol during polymerization. The resulting molecular structure is irregular and the resin is clear and amorphous with a glass transition temperature of 88 C (190 F). PETGs can be processed over a wider processing range than conventional PETs and offer good combination of properties such as toughness, clarity, and stiffness.
Drying PMMA is hygroscopic and must be dried prior to molding. Drying at 90 C (194 F) for 2-4 hours is recommended.
Melt Temperature 240 - 280 C (460 - 536 F)
Mold Temperature 35 - 80 C (90 - 176 F)
Injection Speed Moderate
Chemical and Physical Properties
Pellets for injection molding are made either by bulk polymerization of methyl methacrylate followed by extrusion and pelletization or by polymerization in an extruder. Formulations vary by molecular weight and physical properties such as flow rate, heat resistance, and toughness. Higher molecular weight grades are tougher than lower molecular weight grades. High flow formulations are generally preferred for molding.
Heat deflection temperature under load varies from 75 C (167 F) for high flow materials to 100 C (212 F) for low flow (high molecular weight) materials.
PMMA has excellent optical properties and weatherability. The white light transmittance is as high as 92%. Molded parts can have very low birefringence which makes it ideally suited as a material for video discs.
PMMA exhibits room temperature creep. The initial tensile strength is high but under long term, high stress loading, it exhibits stress craze. Impact strength is good but it does show some notch sensitivity.
Major Manufacturers
Cyro Industries, Atohaas (Plexiglas), BASF, Mitsubishi Rayon.