Plastic Materials Comparison Table

Secondary
Material Appearances Features
Capabilities

Acetal Opaque/ Can be - Good Toughness - Sawed

Colored
(Copolymer) - Superior Abrasion - Drilled
Resistance
(Homopolymer) - Routed
- Contains Internal
Lubricant

Acrylic Clear, - Good Chemical - Sawed

Transparent Tints Resistance
or Translucent to - Drilled
Opaque Colors/ - Good Contact
Can be Colored Clarity - Routed

- Impact Modified - Punched

- Excellent
Toughness Grade

- Good Exterior
Properties

Acrylonitrile Opaque/ Can be - Excellent - Sawed

Butadiene- Colored Toughness
Styrene - Drilled
- Good Formability
(ABS) - Routed
- High Gloss Finish
- Punched
- Good Stiffness

- High Impact
Strength

- Good Low Temp

 Properties

- Good Chemical
Resistance

- Flame Retardant

Cellulose Clear, - Excellent Clarity - Sawed

Acetate Transparent Tints
Butyrate or Translucent to - Good Toughness - Drilled
Opaque Colors/
(Butyrate) Can be Colored - Excellent - Routed
Printability
- Punched
- Good Stiffness

Chlorinated Off-white/Grey - High Heat - Sawed

Polyvinyl Deflection
Chlorided Temperature - Drilled

(CPVC) - High Impact - Routed

Strength
- Punched
-Good Dimensional
Stability

- High Rigidity

- Good Chemica
Resistnace

Copolyester Clear, - Good Impact - Sawed

Transparent Tints Strength
(PETG) or Translucent to - Drilled
Opaque Colors/ - High Flex Modulus
Can be Colored - Routed
- Good Chemical
Resistance - Punched

- Good Toughness

- High Clarity

Ethylene Vinyl Translucent/ Can - Good Flexibility - Sawed

Acetate be Colored
- Good Toughness - Drilled
(EVA)
- Good Memory - Punched
Retention
 - Sealed

Polycarbonate Transparent/ Can - UV Grade - Sawed

be Colored
- FDA Grade - Drilled

- High Impact - Routed

Strength
- Punched
- Good Electrical
Properties

- Good Dimensional
Stability

- High Rigidity

- Excellent Clarity

- Good Surface Gloss

Polyester Opaque / Can be - Good Toughness - Sawed

Colored
- Superior Abrasion - Drilled
Resistance
- Routed
- Contains Internal
Lubricant

Polyethermide Opaque/ Can be - Exceptional - Sawed

Colored Strength and Modulus
- Drilled
- Flame Retardant
- Routed
- High Dielectric
Strength

- Good Chemical
Resistance

- Excellent
Machinabilty

Polyethylene Opaque/ Can be - Moderate Stiffness - Sawed

Colored
(HDPE) - Stress Crack - Drilled
Resistance
- Routed
- Excellent Electrical
 Properties - Punched

- Good Chemical
Resistance

- Abrasion Resistant

- Cost Effective

Polyethylene Opaque/ Can be - Excellent Electrical - Sawed

Colored Properties
(LDPE) - Drilled
- Excellent
Toughness - Routed

- High Gloss Finish - Punched

- Cost Effective

- Good Durability

Polyphenylene Opaque/ Can be - Excellent Impact - Sawed

Colored Resistance
- Drilled
- Excellent
Toughness - Routed

- Flame Retardant

- Low Water
Absorption

Polypropylene Opaque/ Can be - Good Stiffness - Sawed

Colored
(Copolymer) - Good Impact - Drilled
Strength
(Hompolymer) - Routed
- Excellent
Toughness - Punched

- High Resistance to
Solvents

- Living Hinge

Polystyrene Clear, - Good Stiffness - Sawed

Transparent Tints
(Crystal) or Translucent to - Good Clarity - Drilled
Opaque Colors/
Can be Colored
 - Low Impact - Routed
Strength

- Cost Effective

- Excellent
Printability

Polystyrene Clear, - Good Stiffness - Sawed

Transparent Tints
(High Impact) or Translucent to - Cost Effective - Drilled
Opaque Colors/
Can be Colored - High Impact - Routed
Strength
- Punched
- Excellent
Printability

Polysulfone Translucent / Can - High Tensile - Sawed

be Colored Strength
- Drilled
- High Modulus
- Routed
- Good Chemical
Resistance

- FDA Approved

Polyurethane Translucent/ Can - Cut Resistant - Sawed

be Colored
(Ester) - UV Grade - Drilled

(Ether) - Good Clarity - Routed

- Contains Internal - Punched

Lubricant
- Sealed
- Heat Resistant

- Good Abrasion
Resistance

- Good Chemical
Resistance

- Low Temperature
Flexibility
 - Oil Resistant

- Good Tear Strength

- Good Toughness

Polyvinyl Clear, - Good Impact - Sawed

Chloride Transparent Tints Strength
and Translucent - Drilled
(Rigid PVC) to Opaque - Good Clarity
Colors/ Can be - Routed
Colored - Good Toughness
- Punched
- Excellent Thermal
Stability

- Exterior Grade

- Interior Grade

- FDA Grade

- Excellent
Printability

Polyvinyl Clear, - Good for Industrial - Sawed

Chloride Transparent Tints Applications
and Translucent - Drilled
(Flexible PVC) to Opaque - Good Chemical
Colors/ Can be Resistance - Routed
Blended in- Colored
house - FDA Approved for - Punched
Medical Applications

- Flexibility from 60
to 90 Shore A Scale

- Finishes can vary

Thermoplastic Tan/ Can be - Excellent Flex - Sawed

Rubber Colored Fatigue
- Drilled
(TPR) - Flame Retardant
- Routed
- Good Weather
Resistance - Punched

- Good Memory - Sealed

Retention
 - Excellent Wear
Resistance

- Good Chemical
Resistance

Table 1: Mechanical properties of typical polymeric materials

Adapted from: Alvino 1994

Max.
Tensile Elongation Flexural
Common Specific operating
Chemical name strength at break modulus
name gravity temp.
(MPa) (%) (GPa)
(°C)
ABS (high acrylonitrile butadiene
1.04 40 8 2.2 70
impact) styrene
polymethyl
Acrylic 1.18 70 2 2.9 55
methacrylate
Epoxies 1.2 70 3 3.0 130
(low density)
LDPE 0.92 10 400 0.2 80
polyethylene
Polycarbonate 1.15 90 100 2.8 115
e.g. polyethylene
Polyester 1.8 50 2 9.0 130
terephthalate
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene 2.1 25 200 0.5 180
PVC (flexible) 1.3 15 300 0.007 50
poly(vinyl chloride)
PVC (rigid) 1.4 50 60 3.0 90
Silicones 1.4 5 450 240

The properties for PVC are usually categorized based on rigid and flexible PVCs.
 Property Rigid PVC Flexible PVC
Density [g/cm3][6] 1.3–1.45 1.1–1.35
Thermal conductivity [W/(m·K)][7] 0.14–0.28 0.14–0.17
Yield strength [MPa][6] 31–60 10–25
[8]
Young's modulus [psi] 490,000
Flexural strength (yield) [psi] 10,500[8]
Compression strength [psi] 9500[8]
Coefficient of thermal expansion (linear) [mm/(mm °C)] 5×10−5[8]
Vicat B [°C][7] 65–100 Not recommended
Resistivity [Ω m][9][10] 10 16
1012–1015
Surface resistivity [Ω][9][10] 1013–1014 1011–1012