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How do I know what type of plastic is used for a certain application?

Acetal

  • Gears
  • Cams
  • Bushings
  • Clips
  • Lugs
  • Door handles
  • Housing
  • Fuel-systems
  • Steering columns
  • Cranks
  • Handles

Acrylic

  • Aircraft
  • Boats
  • Mass Transit
  • Architectural and protective glazing
  • Internally illuminated outdoor signs
  • Lighting Diffusers
  • Product prototypes
  • Demonstration models
  • Point-of-purchase displays

ABS

  • Housings of small appliances
  • Communications equipment
  • Business machines
  • Automotive instrument panels
  • Pipe and fittings
  • Automobile grills, wheel covers and mirror housings
  • Luggage shells
  • Tote trays
  • Large components for recreational vehicles

Nylon

  • Business machines
  • Appliances parts
  • Industrial equipment parts

Cast Nylon

  • Rollers
  • Bushings
  • Gears
  • Sheaves
  • Sprockets
  • Wear pads
  • Star wheels

Polycarbonate

  • Skylights
  • Outdoors signs
  • Interior aircraft parts
  • Safety face shields
  • RV windshields
  • Safety and vandal resistance windows
  • Banks
  • Trains
  • Armored cars

PETG

  • Graphic arts
  • Blister packaging
  • Architectural glazing
  • Electronic component packaging
  • Baking, candy and other food industries

PEEK

  • Wire and cable coating
  • Automotive engine parts
  • Aerospace components

Low Density Polyethylene

  • Packaging applications
  • Industrial bags
  • Shrink bundling
  • Produce bags
  • Blow molded bottles
  • Large industrial containers
  • Injection molded housewares

High Density Polyethylene

  • Bottles and Jugs
  • Tanks
  • Trash containers
  • Carts
  • Pallets
  • Drums
  • Highway barriers
  • Cutting boards
  • Food containers
  • Tote boxes
  • Pipe
  • Kick plates
  • Buckets

UHMW polyethylene

  • Conveyor wear strips
  • Snowmobile track sprockets
  • Guide rails
  • Bearings
  • Chute linings
  • Components requiring abrasion resistance, impact resistance, or a low coefficient

Polypropylene

  • Plating tanks
  • Tanks
  • Acid delivery piping systems
  • Appliance pumps
  • Water pumps
  • Scrubbers
  • Fume hoods
  • Laboratory equipment
  • Exhaust equipment
  • Chemical processing equipment
  • Packaging
  • Machine cases
  • Totes
  • Bins

Polystyrene

  • Appliances
  • Toys
  • Housewares

PTFE

  • Liners
  • Gaskets and spacers
  • Valve components
  • Tubing
  • Seal
  • Piston rings
  • Bushings
  • Bearings
  • Slide bearings
  • Wire and cable insulation

Flexible PVC

  • Flexible tubing
  • Food and beverage grade tubing
  • Protective glove and clothing
  • Strip doors

Rigid PVC

  • Chemical processing
  • Water and waste water treatment
  • Irrigation pipe
  • Corrosive fume handling (duct)
  • Food contact applications
  • Drain , waste, and vent
  • Tanks and vessels
  • Nuts, bolt, fasteners
  • Pump and valve components
  • Plumbing

Expanded PVC

  • POP displays
  • Trim board
  • Sign blanks
  • Case goods

CPVC

  • Chemical processing
  • Plating
  • Condensate return lines
  • Water and waste water treatment
  • Corrosive fume handling
  • Hot and cold water plumbing
  • Tanks and vessels
  • Pump and valve components
  • Nuts, bolt, fasteners
  • Corrosive fume handling (duct)
Title: How do I know what type of plastic is used for a certain application?
Description: Common applications for the materials that we offer.
Published: 3/5/2008
Last Edited: 1/4/2023
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Information disclaimer:

The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by United States Plastic Corp. and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of materials, time or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this information.