The Most Common Plastic Injection Molding Materials

Nylon is the name for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides (PA). Nylon is a silk-like thermoplastic, typically made from petroleum, that can be melt-processed into fibers, films, or shapes.  Nylon polymers are used in many commercial applications.

What Type of Nylon is Used for Injection Molding?

The most commonly used types of Nylon for injection molding are Nylon 6, Nylon 6/6, Nylon 66, and Nylon 6/66. Nylon 66 is a more crystalline version of Nylon 6. It is also called polyamide 66 or PA 66. It has improved mechanical properties due to its more ordered molecular structure. Nylon 66 for machining has improved temperature resistance and lower rates of water absorption when compared to standard nylon 6. Nylon 6 offers increased mechanical strength, rigidity, good stability under heat, and chemical resistance. Nylon 6/6 is stiffer and typically more durable than Nylon 6.

For more information see our article on the Types of Nylon.

What Products Are Best for Nylon Injection Molding?

Typical applications of Nylon 66 include wear pads, guide wheels, and slide bearings. Other Nylon applications include high-ware parts, quick-release buckles, gears, and hand cranks. Although Nylon is a strong plastic, it absorbs water and is therefore not the ideal choice for marine applications.

For more information see our article on the Uses of Nylon.

What is the Molding Temperature for Nylon?

The molding temperature for Nylon is under 220-320 Celsius,  with PA 6’s process temperature at  220-300 degrees and PA 66’s process temperature at 260-320 degrees Celsius. Because the processing temperature of Nylon is narrow, the temperature of the machine barrel must be controlled strictly to avoid decomposition of melt.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a high-strength general-purpose engineering plastic used for many commercial products. ABS is durable and lightweight. It is a terpolymer created by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. The proportions can differ from 15% to 35% acrylonitrile, 5% to 30% butadiene and 40% to 60% styrene.

What ABS Plastic Material is Used for Injection Molding?

ABS resin is an opaque thermoplastic polymer and an engineering-grade plastic. There are many advantages to using ABS. It’s tough, has good dimensional stability, resists impacts and scratching, and is hard to break. ABS is a good insulator and doesn’t conduct electricity or give off fumes if exposed to fire. These are essential considerations for product developers working on electrical devices.

What Products Are Best for ABS Plastic Injection Molding?

ABS is used to make products such as electronics, phone adaptors, keyboards, phone hardware, wall socket plastic guards, LEGO bricks, drainpipe systems, and kitchen appliances.

What is the Molding Temperature for ABS Plastic?

ABS has a low melting or molding temperature, making it ideal for injection molding. The process temperature is approximately 40-80 °C, preferably as high within that range as possible. Using a higher mold temperature tends to lengthen the molding cycle time, so the mold temperature setting depends on what is most appropriate for the individual product that is to be molded.

For more information see our ABS Plastic Guide.

Polycarbonate is a high-performance, transparent, engineering-grade thermoplastic that can be used in higher temperature environments, due to its relatively high melting point (155°C). Those qualities come together with a higher price tag, but this aspect is balanced by the versatility polycarbonate.

The main features of this thermoplastic revolve around toughness and high strength, which translates into resistances to impacts and fracture resistance. These resistances are complemented by the material’s high density (1.2 – 1.22 g/cm3).

Advantages of Polycarbonate (PC)

The advantages of Polycarbonate (PC) for Injection Molding are listed below:

• High transmittance (transparency)
• Good operating temperature range (-20°C – 140 °C)
• Flame retardant
• Good electric insulation
• Decent abrasion resistance

Disadvantages of Polycarbonate (PC)

The disadvantages of Polycarbonate (PC) for Injection Molding are listed below:

• Susceptible to damage from hydrocarbons and bases
• Low fatigue tolerance
• Tends to turn yellow after exposure to UV
• Mechanical properties degrade after prolonged exposure to hot water (>60°C)

Uses and Applications of Polycarbonate (PC)

The common uses of Polycarbonate (PC) include: safety helmets, bullet-proof glass, equipment housing, automotive parts, electrical connectors, and electrical insulators.

You can read more about Polycarbonate in our Polycarbonate Guide.

Polycarbonate-acrylonitrile butadiene styrene or PC-ABS is an engineering thermoplastic made of a blend of PC and ABS. The unique balance of properties hinges on the ratio of PC to ABS in the mixture, the polycarbonate’s molecular weight, and any thermoplastic additives in the blend. In addition, the ratio of PC to ABS affects the heat resistance of the final part considerably.

What PC-ABS is used for Injection Molding?

Due to its mechanical properties, PC-ABS plastic is one of the world's most widely used engineering thermoplastics. This material has high strength, high stiffness, high heat resistance, and high impact resistance, even at low temperatures. In addition, PC-ABS holds its dimensional stability over time, and its enhanced flow characteristics and processability make it easy to work with.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via PC-ABS Injection Molding?

PC-ABS is most commonly used in the automotive and electronics industries, these products include glove boxes, knee bolsters, overhead and middle consoles, and blow-molded seatbacks. It is also used to manufacture many popular consumer electronics, including laptop monitor enclosures, TV frames, phone exteriors, and parts of portable hand-held devices.

What is the Molding Temperature for PC-ABS Plastic Injection Molding?

The molding temperature range recommended for PC-ABS plastic is 50 to 80 degrees Celsius. The cooling time is essential for part performance and cycle time optimization. The melt temperature is between 250 to 270 Celsius.

For more information see our PC-ABS Plastic Guide.

Acetal is the common name for a family of thermoplastics with the chemical name "PolyOxy-Methylene." As a semi-crystalline material, acetal is has a low coefficient of friction and good wear properties.

What is Acetal Copolymer (POM) for Plastic Injection Molding?

Acetal Copolymer resin has high strength, toughness, rigidity, and dimensional stability. It also has decent wear and friction properties that can be enhanced with additives. Like Acetal Homopolymer resin, Acetal Copolymer is easy to machine. 

Compared to Homopolymer, Acetal Copolymer resin has better resistance to organic and inorganic solvents and acids. However, it does have longer mold cycling times and is relatively expensive.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Acetal Copolymer (POM)?

Acetal Copolymer is used in applications requiring strength, low water absorption, and chemical resistance. This often means it is used to manufacture high-performance engineering components. Acetal Copolymer is extensively used in the consumer electronics industry and for mechanical and automotive parts.

Some applications for Acetal Copolymer are rollers, bushings, wear strips, ball bearings, small gear wheels, fasteners, gas meters, medical technology, aerosol valves, lock systems, fuel tank modules, and disposable applications.

What is the Molding Temperature for Acetal Copolymer (POM)?

The process temperature of Acetal Copolymer is 110 degrees Celsius.

For more information see our Acetal Copolymer Guide.

Acetal Homopolymer is a tough, resilient plastic that has rigidity, good creep resistance, toughness, dimensional stability, lubricity, surface hardness, and low moisture absorption.

What is Acetal Homopolymer for Plastic Injection Molding?

Compared to Acetal Copolymer resin, Acetal Homopolymer provides higher tensile strength, impact resistance, and good stiffness and creep resistance. These properties allow for shorter molding cycles, thinner and lighter part design, and the potential for cost reductions.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Acetal Homopolymer?

Acetal Homopolymer is used for high load mechanical applications and in plumbing and irrigation applications because of its excellent thread strength and ability to resist scale build-up. Because of its machinability, it is used to prototype in vivo medical devices. Some applications include bearings, gears, conveyor belts, safety restraints, housings, automotive ventilation, automotive cooling system parts, and fuel system components.

What is the Molding Temperature for Acetal Homopolymer?

The melting point of Acetal Homopolymer is 162 to 122 degrees Celsius. The process temperature is 205–225 degrees Celsius for standard grades and 195–215 degrees Celsius for impact modified grades.

For more information see our Acetal Homopolymer Guide.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane is soft and elastic, with excellent tensile and tear strength. For this reason, it is often used to make parts that demand a rubber-like elasticity. ETPU is more expensive than other resins, but there is no substitute for many applications, such as protective wire and cable sheaths. Another advantage is that TPU improves the grip for products that need to be held securely in hand.

What is Engineered Thermoplastic Polyurethane (ETPU) for Plastic Injection Molding?

ETPU is a tough, highly abrasion-resistant resin that bridges the gap between rubbers and plastics. TPUs can be formulated to be rigid or elastomeric. ETPU exhibits a high flex before break and is ideal for wheels and door panels.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Engineered Thermoplastic Polyurethane (ETPU)?

Some of the ETPU products manufactured are automotive instrument panels, caster wheels, sporting goods, power tools, drive belts, medical devices, footwear, inflatable rafts, and a variety of extruded film, sheet, and sheet profile uses. It is also a popular material found in flexible outer cases of devices like mobile phones cases.

What is the Molding Temperature for Engineered Thermoplastic Polyurethane (ETPU)?

The typical mold temperatures are 150 Fahrenheit to 700 Celsius, depending on the TPU being molded.

For more information see our Engineered Thermoplastic Polyurethane (ETPU) Guide.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE), also called polyethylene high-density (PEHD), is a thermoplastic polymer made from the monomer ethylene. When used for HDPE pipes, it is sometimes called "alkathene" or "polythene." With a high strength-to-density ratio, High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used to produce plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geomembranes, and plastic lumber. In addition, HDPE is commonly recycled.

What is High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) for Plastic Injection Molding?

High-density polyethylene has excellent processability, a high strength to high-density ratio, good stiffness, strength, toughness, and moisture resistance. It can be susceptible to environmental stress cracking if internal stresses are not minimized by proper design.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)?

HDPE resin is best for large parts that require outstanding physical performance. It is commonly used in corrosion-resistant piping, plastic lumber, packaging, and plastic bottles, such as ones shown in the image below:

Liquid-crystal polymers, or LCPs, are polymers with liquid crystal properties, usually containing aromatic rings as mesogens. In spite of uncrosslinked LCPs, polymeric materials like liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) and liquid crystal networks (LCNs) can also exhibit liquid crystallinity. They are both crosslinked LCPs but have different cross-link density. They are commonly used in the digital display market.

What is Liquid-crystal Polymer for Plastic Injection Molding?

Liquid-crystal polymer is flame retardant, has excellent mechanical strength, excellent dimensional stability, a low coefficient of thermal expansion, high dielectric strength, outstanding mechanical properties at high temperatures, excellent chemical resistance, and good weatherability.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Liquid-crystal Polymer?

Injection molding with LCP resin is ideal for high-stressed parts. LCPs are also injection molded into IC sockets, HF network switches, custom high-power electrical connectors, power modules for wind and solar inverters and converters, and many other precision devices.

LCP is also particularly suitable for microwave-frequency electronics, medical devices, and dental tools.

What is the Molding Temperature for Liquid-crystal Polymer?

LCP has a process temperature of 240 degrees Celsius.

Read more at our Liquid Crystal Polymer Guide.

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a thermoplastic created from the monomer ethylene. The EPA estimates 5.7% of LDPE is recycled in the United States. In spite of competition from more modern polymers, LDPE is an important plastic grade, with the worldwide LDPE market reaching a volume of about 33 billion US dollars in 2013.

What is Low-density Polyethylene for Plastic Injection Molding?

LDPE retains its toughness and flexibility over a wide temperature range. It is a highly recyclable material. It does have the disadvantage that its density drops off dramatically above room temperature, and exposure to light and oxygen results in loss of strength and a loss of tear resistance.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Low-density Polyethylene?

LDPE resin is typically used when injection molding laboratory equipment, containers, and bottles. It is also widely used for molding liners for tanks and ponds.

What is the Molding Temperature for Low-density Polyethylene?

LDPE has a process temperature of 46 degrees Celsius.

For more information on LDPE see our Low-Density Polyethylene Guide.

Linear Low-density Polyethylene is one of the most commonly used packaging films in the packaging industry. The density reduction comes about by using comonomers that put side groups on the main chain that act like branches in decreasing crystallinity. It is a soft, flexible material.

What is Linear Low-density Polyethylene for Plastic Injection Molding?

LLDPE is stretchable and recyclable. Therefore, thin sections are possible without losing the material’s strength. It also does not strain harden. However, it does have some disadvantages that include shear thickening, that it is more difficult to mold with than some of the other materials on this list, and it has a poorer flow.

What Products Are Best Manufactured via Linear Low-density Polyethylene?

LLDPE resin is typically used to manufacture plastic films, bags, stretch wrap, covers, lids, toys, and cable insulation.

What is the Molding Temperature for Linear Low-density Polyethylene?

The molding temperature for LLDPE is 90 degrees Celsius to 110 degrees Celsius.

You can read more in our Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Guide.

PMMA, also known as acrylic glass, is a transparent thermoplastic often used as a replacement for shatterproof glass. PMMA is fully recyclable, but due to its similarities to glass, it is usually combined with various additives or fillers to enhance specific properties such as impact resistance, flame retardancy, chemical resistance or UV light filtering.

PMMA also has a quite high density (1.17-1.20 g/cm3) which confers strength while not making the material too heavy.

Advantages of Acrylic (PMMA) for Injection Molding

The advantages of Acrylic (PMMA) for Injection molding are listed below:

• Transparent
• Tough and durable
• Scratch-resistant
• Resistant to weathering and UV
• Resistant to chemicals(detergents, cleaners, acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons)
• Good dimensional stability

Disadvantages of Acrylic (PMMA) for Injection Molding

The disadvantages of Acrylic (PMMA) for Injection molding are listed below:

• Limited heat resistance
• Attacked by organic solvents
• Poor wear and abrasion resistance
• Can crack under heavier loads
• Low impact resistance

Uses and Applications of Acrylic (PMMA) in Injection Molding

Common uses of Acrylic in Injection molding include: Interior and exterior panels, bumpers, fenders, screens (including smartphone screens), dental equipment, and medical storage devices.

For more information see our Acrylic (PMMA) Guide.

Polystyrene (PS)

Polystyrene is a very commonly used plastic in packaging applications and consumer goods due to its relatively low cost. However, PS-based litter takes a very long time to decay. Depending on the type, PS can either be classified as a thermoplastic or thermoset (a plastic that is not melted for processing).

Besides the low cost, polystyrene is easily processable for techniques including gluing, painting, cutting, and sanding.

Advantages of Polystyrene (PS)

• Cheap
• Transparent
• Easy to mold and process
• Good electrical properties
• Rigid

Disadvantages of Polystyrene (PS)

• Poor chemical resistance
• Flammable
• Brittle

Applications of Polystyrene

Applications and uses of polystyrene include: packaging, toys, cutlery, cassette cases, electronic housing, containers, glazing, and tool cases.

You can read more at our Polystrene (PS) Guide.

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is made of a combination of propylene monomers. It’s used in everything from industrial automotive to consumer products. A notable feature of this plastic is its glue resistance, meaning that glue will have a hard time sticking to parts made of this material. For this reason, welding is usually employed whenever bonding is needed.

PP also exhibits a low density and a relatively high coefficient of friction. Because of this, polypropylene may not be the best injection molding plastic to use in high friction environments.

Advantages of Polypropylene (PP)

Advantages of Polypropylene include:

• Polypropylene is highly resistant to solvents such as fats
• Polypropylene is resistant to bases and acids
• Polypropylene is Fatigue-resistant
• PP has high resistance to electricity (can act as an insulator)
• PP has high impermeability

Disadvantages of Polypropylene (PP)

Disadvantages of Polypropylene include:

• Polypropylene is subject to oxidation at higher temperatures
• Polypropylene is will show plastic deformations relatively early in the deformation process
• Polypropylene is affected by UV (will suffer property degradation)
• Polypropylene is hard to paint over
• Polypropylene is flammable

Applications of Polypropylene (PP)

Application of PP include: pipes, laboratory equipment, pallets, and hinges.

Read more at our Polypropylene (PP) Guide.

Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)

PEEK is a versatile molding resin ideal for applications requiring sterilized equipment or containers. It is highly resistant to chemicals and heat and capable of resisting submersion in liquids long-term. It also can generally be subjected to harsh operational environments.

The mechanical properties of PEEK allow it to be used as reinforcement material in various scenarios.

Advantages of Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)

• PEEK is fatigue and stress-resistant.
• PEEK is resistant to high-pressure water and steam.
• PEEK has high chemical resistance.
• PEEK can be subjected to sterilization (like in autoclaving).
• PEEK is easy to manufacture.
• PEEK has very low emissions when exposed to flame.

Disadvantages of Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)

• PEEK is expensive.
• PEEK can be attacked by halogens and acids.
• PEEK has low resistance to UV light.

Applications of Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)

Applications of PEEK include: tubes, bearings, seals, valves, electrical cable insulation, medical implants, sterilized containers, pumps, heavy machine parts, and compressors.

Read more at our Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK) Guide.

This guide presented an understanding of the most common plastic injection molding materials.

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