MATERIALS/RESINS |
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General Utility/Commodity |
Engineering Resin |
Specialty |
| ABCO (Proprietary Pexco material) |
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Properties / Characteristics: flame resistant, smoke retardant, high strength to weight ratio, chemical resistance, impact resistance, colorability
Segment Applications: aerospace, transportation |
| Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) |
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Properties / Characteristics: impact resistance, shock absorbance, toughness, electrical insulation, snap for assembly, good strength to weight ratio, often a bridge from utility to engineered materials
Segment Applications: refrigeration and appliance components, aerospace, RV/Bath, Lighting, pipe systems, musical instruments, automotive, enclosures for electrical assemblies, outdoor equip., luggage, small appliances, toys |
| Acrylic |
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Properties / Characteristics: high transparency, weather resistance, does not turn yellow or crumble when exposed to sunlight
Segment Applications: lighting fixtures, P.O.P., Packaging, transparent windows, signboards, taillights, bathtub liners, sinks, cell phone screens, LCD display manufacturing |
| Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile (ASA) |
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Properties / Characteristics: UV and weather resistance, long-term color stability; resistant to oils, greases, salt solutions; usually nice glossy appearance
Segment Applications: outdoor applications (as a coating for PVC, ABS, or other non-weatherable resins), exterior siding, signs, automotive and marine applications |
| Butyrate |
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Properties / Characteristics: clarity, ultra-violet resistant, ease of fabrication, high gloss, impact resistant
Segment Applications: P.O.P. signs and displays, tubing, packaging, signs, machine guards, glazing |
| Copolyester (PETG) |
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Properties / Characteristics: toughness, versatility, chemical resistance, clarity, processability
Segment Applications: signs & displays, medical, packaging, consumer goods (pens, toys, sporting goods, etc), home appliances, cosmetics |
| Crystal Polystyrene |
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Properties / Characteristics: good price/performance , low to moderate impact strength, clarity, approved for food contact
Segment Applications: housewares, medical, laboratory, electronics, packaging, display applications |
| EVA (Ethylene vinyl acetate) |
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Properties / Characteristics: clarity, gloss, low-temp. toughness, stress and UV resistance, waterproof, no odor, competes with rubber and vinyl products in electrical applications
Segment Applications: fence, recreation, traffic, sports equipment, adhesives, biomedical engineering, clinginess-enhancing additive in plastic wraps |
| FPVC (flexible PVC) |
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Properties / Characteristics: soft, flexible to semi-rigid; bendable, whether resistant, clear or opaque
Segment Applications: medical, P.O.P., marine, gaskets & seals, tubing, gardening applications |
| Fluoropolymers |
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Properties / Characteristics: high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases; resistance to high temperatures & flame/smoke retardency, chemical reaction, corrosion, and stress-cracking; mechanical toughness
Segment Applications: medical, industrial, architectural, fabrics, automotive uses, cabling materials, food processing, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, semiconductor manufacturing |
| HDPE |
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Properties / Characteristics: stronger tensile strength that lower density polyethylene; harder, more opaque, higher temperature resistance; resistant to solvents
Segment Applications: fencing, traffic, medical, consumer, refilable bottles and bottle caps, different chemical resistant piping, insulators, containers, folding furniture, plastic lumber |
| Impact Acrylic |
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Properties / Characteristics: impact strength, light weight, light transmission, chemical resistance, durability
Segment Applications: lighting, P.O.P. displays, store fixtures, glazing and general fabrication |
| Impact Polystyrene |
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Properties / Characteristics: low cost, easy to fabricate, impact resistant; good machinability, dimensional stability, and aesthetic qualities; easy to paint and glue; FDA compliant
Segment Applications: lighting fixtures, P.O.P., low strength structural applications, pre-production prototypes, food processing applications, housings, covers |
| LDPE |
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Properties / Characteristics: recyclable, translucent or opaque; flexible and tough, but breakable; lower tensile strength and density than HDPE, but higher resilience
Segment Applications: medical, consumer, tubing, lawn & garden, computer hardware parts, lab equipment, playground |
| Noryl (Polypheyleneoxide) |
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Properties / Characteristics: blend of PPO and polystyrene; heat & chemical resistance, good electrical properties, hydrolytic and dimensional stability, low moisture absorption, processibility, low specific gravity
Segment Applications: lighting fixtures, aerospace, transportation, electronics, electrical equipment, household appliances, coatings, machinery, high temperature applications |
| Nylon 6 |
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Properties / Characteristics: dimensional stability, abrasion resistant, low coefficient of friction, high tensile strength, elasticity, lustre, wrinkle-proof, resistant to acids and alkalis
Segment Applications: medical, toothbrushes, surgical supplies, strings in musical instrumets, threads, ropes, clothing |
| Nylon 6/6 |
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Properties / Characteristics: abrasion resistance, low coeffiecient of friction, noise damping characteristics, electrical insulating, resistant to alkalis and organic chemicals, easy to fabricate, good strength to weight ratio
Segment Applications: various industrial and commercial applications, medical |
| Nylon 11 |
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Properties / Characteristics: derived from renewable resources, chemical resistance, durability, flexibility, cold impact and thermal resistance, not biodegradable
Segment Applications: medical, automotive, pneumatic tubing, cable sheathing, oil and gas, sporting, electronics, and catheters |
| Nylon 12 |
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Properties / Characteristics: low water absorbing, chemical resistance, stress and fatigue resistance, ability to accept high loading of fillers, minimal heat resistance, high cost compared to other nylons
Segment Applications: medical, cable ties, wire insulation, hosing, nozzles, flexible cover caps, gaskets, sealing rings, protective coverings, medical catheters, sporting |
| Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) |
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Properties / Characteristics: resistant to heat, gamma radiation, high pressure steam, chemicals; easy to fabricate, good strength to weight ratio
Segment Applications: electrical components, aerospace, medical, microwaves, automotive, chemical processing |
| Polyetherimide (ULTEM) |
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Properties / Characteristics: heat, solvent, & flame resistance, low smoke generation, mechanical strength, dielectric strength and stability, low dissipation factor over a wide range of frequencies, transparent, good strength to weight ratio
Segment Applications: aircraft components, electrical components, circuit boards, microwave applications, medical, automotive applications, pump and valve parts |
| Polyethersulfone (PES) |
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Properties / Characteristics: tough, rigid, excellent high temp. properties, transparent; has dimensional stability, creep resistance, and good electrical properties; flame retardant, moldable; bad weathering properties and low chemical resistance, good strength to weight ratio
Segment Applications: pharmaceutical and medical applications, waste water recovery, filtration, food and beverage processing, gas separation |
| Polycarbonate |
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Properties / Characteristics: durable, high impact and scratch resistance, transparent up to 2", thermal and dimensional stability, UV resistance, good strength to weight ratio
Segment Applications: lighting fixtures, aerospace, signs & displays, medical, consumer products |
| Polypropylene |
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Properties / Characteristics: light weight, tough and flexible, chemical resitance, low moisture absorbtion, dielectric strength, economical, degrades when exposed to UV and sunlight, competes with ABS and sometimes is known as a "poor man's" engineering material
Segment Applications: medical, transportation, various industrial and commercial applications |
| Polysulfone |
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Properties / Characteristics: toughness and stability at high temp., flame & smoke retardency, strength to weight ratio, expensive raw materials & processing, resistant to chemicals, excellent electrical and mechanical properties
Segment Applications: refrigeration, food & beverage processing, medical devices, automotive, electronic applications, filtration media, waste water recovery |
| Polyvinylchloride (PVC) |
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Properties / Characteristics: 3rd most widely used plastic; hard and rigid, but the addition of plasticizers makes it soft; easy to blend and process; flame and wheather (corrosion) resistant; excellent insulator, resistant to grease, oil, chemicals, and UV; clear
Segment Applications: refrigeration, signs & displays, lighting fixtures, building & construction, electronics, medical, signs |
| RPVC |
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Properties / Characteristics: low-maintance material; can be easily cut, sawed, drilled and fabricated; durable under many adverse conditions and resistant to fire, most chemicals and water
Segment Applications: electrical, medical, signs and displays, double glazed windows and sills; vinyl siding, plumbing and drainage applications |
| Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) |
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Properties / Characteristics: elastic, no need for reinforcing agents, easy to color; economical production, but high cost of raw materials; temperature resistance; high compression set; melt at high temp
Segment Applications: automotive, medical, building and construction, electrical, household appliances, consumer, industrial |
| Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) |
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Properties / Characteristics: UV resistance, high heat stability, abrasion resistance, low-temperature flexibility, multiple process capability
Segment Applications: medical, recreation, outdoor applications, automotive, wire and cable, household, building and construction |
| Thermoplastic Urethane (TPU) |
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Properties / Characteristics: abrasion and wear resistance, chemical resistance, oil resistance, hydrolytic stability, elasticity, low temp. resistance, UV resistance, tear strength
Segment Applications: tubing, safety, medical, sporting goods, film, coating applications, gaskets, automotive, engineering parts |