Technical Data Sheet: Plastics Property Comparison & Selection Guide

Applicable Scope: Raw material selection, injection molding process design, end-use application verification for general-purpose and engineering plastics.

1. General Notes

All data in this document are typical values of unmodified virgin resin, tested under standard laboratory conditions (23°C, 50% RH). Actual performance of modified compounds or finished products may vary with formulation, processing technology, wall thickness, and service environment. For critical applications, we recommend requesting batch-specific test reports or conducting sample validation.

Core Property Comparison Table

Material Name (Abbreviation)	Long-Term Continuous Service Temp. (°C)	Hardness Standard / Typical Value	UL 94 Flame Class	Key Characteristics & Typical Applications
Polypropylene (PP)	100 – 120	Shore D 60 – 70	HB	Food-contact safe; only general-purpose plastic approved for microwave use; excellent fatigue resistance.
				Applications: Microwave containers, automotive interior parts, living hinges.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)	90 – 110	Shore D 60 – 65	HB	Opaque, waxy texture, high chemical resistance, good impact strength at low temperature.
				Applications: Milk bottles, shampoo containers, industrial drums.

Material Name (Abbreviation)	Long-Term Continuous Service Temp. (°C)		Hardness Standard / Typical Value		UL 94 Flame Class		Key Characteristics & Typical Applications
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)	80 – 95		Shore D 40 – 50		HB		Flexible, good clarity, poor heat resistance.
							Applications: Plastic wrap, squeeze bottles, cable jacketing.
Polystyrene (PS)	70 – 85		Rockwell M 60 – 75		HB		High transparency, extremely brittle, easy to ignite with heavy black smoke emission.
							Applications: Disposable cutlery, CD cases, packaging inserts.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)	80 – 100		Rockwell R 100 – 115		HB		Balanced rigidity and toughness, excellent surface finish for electroplating/painting.
							Applications: LEGO bricks, electronic housings, automotive trim.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)	60 – 80		Shore D 70 – 85		V-0		Inherent flame retardancy due to chlorine content; requires thermal stabilizers during processing; emits pungent hydrogen chloride gas when burned.
							Applications: Building pipes, wire sheathing, medical tubing.
Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA/Acrylic)	65 – 95		Rockwell M 80 – 100		HB		Light transmittance >92% (higher than glass), excellent weather resistance, poor impact strength.
							Applications: Optical lenses, light guide plates, outdoor signage.
Polycarbonate (PC)	120 – 135		Rockwell R 118 – 125		V-2 (modifiable to V-0)		High transparency, outstanding impact resistance, good dimensional stability.
							Applications: Safety goggles, electronic enclosures, automotive headlight lenses.
Material Name (Abbreviation)		Long-Term Continuous Service Temp. (°C)		Hardness Standard / Typical Value		UL 94 Flame Class		Key Characteristics & Typical Applications
Polyamide 6 / Polyamide 66 (PA6/PA66/Nylon)		100 – 150		Rockwell R 110 – 125		V-2 / HB		Excellent wear resistance, high mechanical strength, hygroscopic (property fluctuation with moisture content).
								Applications: Gears, bearings, cable ties, engine peripheral parts.
Polyoxymethylene (POM/Delrin®)		90 – 110		Rockwell M 80 – 94		HB		Superior self-lubrication, high stiffness, low friction coefficient, highly flammable.
								Applications: Precision gears, pump components, conveyor system parts.
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)		Bottle grade: ~65		Rockwell R 115 – 125		HB		Bottle-grade has low thermal deformation temperature; engineering-grade offers high strength and creep resistance.
		Engineering grade: 120 – 150						Applications: Beverage bottles, fiber, electronic connectors.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE/Teflon®)		Up to 260		Shore D 50 – 60		V-0		"Plastic King": near-universal chemical inertness, lowest surface friction of all solids, high cost.
								Applications: Non-stick coatings, sealing gaskets, semiconductor process components.

Material Name (Abbreviation)	Long-Term Continuous Service Temp. (°C)	Hardness Standard / Typical Value	UL 94 Flame Class	Key Characteristics & Typical Applications
Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)	220 – 240	Rockwell R 120 – 125	V-0	Excellent chemical resistance, high dimensional stability, good electrical insulation.
				Applications: High-temperature electronic parts, chemical pump housings, automotive sensors.
Polyimide (PI/Kapton®)	300+	Rockwell R 120 – 130	V-0	Highest long-term heat resistance among commercial plastics, radiation resistant.
				Applications: Aerospace structural parts, high-frequency flexible circuits, semiconductor wafer carriers.

Flame Retardancy Rating Explanation (UL 94 Standard)

Rating	Test Method	Performance Requirement
HB	Horizontal Burning	Slow burning along the horizontal specimen; no requirement for self-extinction.
V-2	Vertical Burning	Self-extinguishes within 30s after flame removal; allows molten drips that may ignite cotton.
V-0	Vertical Burning	Self-extinguishes within 10s after flame removal; no ignitable molten drips allowed.

Application-Based Material Selection Guidelines

End-Use Scenario	Recommended Material	Selection Rationale
Food contact / Microwave-safe containers	PP	Meets FDA/LFGB food safety standards, withstands 120°C without deformation, no toxic leaching risk.
Transparent + Drop-resistant parts	PC	Balances >88% light transmittance with high impact strength; avoids shattering risk of PMMA.
High-temperature / Fire-hazard environments	V-0 rated modified PC / PPS / PI	Complies with fire safety regulations; balances cost and performance per service temperature requirement.
Wear-resistant moving parts (gears, sliders)	POM / Wear-resistant PA	Low friction coefficient reduces energy loss; high fatigue resistance extends service life.

Technical Support & Supply Notice

We maintain spot inventory of full-series raw materials including but not limited to:

PP · ABS · PC · Glass-fiber Reinforced PC · PA · TPV · TPU · POM

All specifications are available: multi-hardness grades, flame-retardant/non-flame-retardant variants, weather-resistant modified grades, high-flow grades.