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)