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Engineering Plastic (Fundamentals of Industrial Materials: Non-Metallic Edition)

This article is designed to help users select materials with greater confidence by providing a brief introduction to the characteristics and selection methods of resin, urethane, rubber and sponge.

What are industrial materials?
Engineering plastic
Transparent resin, glass / urethane, rubber, sponge

Engineering plastic

Plastic with excellent strength and heat resistance

Plastics have disadvantages compared to metal materials, such as low heat hesitance temperature, low mechanical strength, and easy deformation. Engineering plastic is a reinforced version of that.

Generally, materials with a tensile strength of 49 MPa or higher and a flexural modulus of 2.5 GPa or higher even after long-hour exposure to an environment of 100°C or higher are applicable. Engineering plastic with heat resistance that can maintain functionality for long hours even at higher temperatures of 150°C or more is specifically referred to as super engineering plastic.

Since there are various types and grades available, selection is based on an operating environment and required characteristics.

Main operating environments

Workpiece protection (cushioning material)
Insulation
Lightweight
Low noise
Rust prevention

Required characteristics

Abrasion resistance
Chemical resistance
Heat resistance
Insulation properties
Slip characteristics
Workability

Material	Merits	Demerits	Application
MC nylon > Product details	Mechanical strength and abrasion resistance are good. Workability is good as well, but it is not so easy to work with as polyacetal.	Dimensional stability is poor due to high water absorbency.	General-purpose engineering plastic material. MISUMI handles 8 grades of this material. Gear, bearing, door wheel, abrasion resistant item
Polyacetal (Duracon) > Product details	Mechanical strength, fatigue resistance and workability are good. As water absorbency is low, dimensional stability is good as well.	Heat resistance and abrasion resistance are inferior to those of MC nylon.	General-purpose engineering plastic material. MISUMI handles 4 grades of this material. Wheel, roller, gear, cabinet, spring, screw
Ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene > Product details	Lightweight. Abrasion resistance and slip characteristics are good.	As it is easily warped, it is not suitable for precision parts. Soft and poor workablity.	Conveyor rollers, guide rails
Bakelite > Product details	Paper-based products are inexpensive. Cloth-based products are strong. Workablity is good, but dust scatters when cutting.	Water absorption may cause warpage and change insulation properties.	Insulation panels such as switchboards, control panels, breakers, and other heat-resistant applications
Epoxy glass > Product details	Heat resistance, moisture resistance and insulation properties are good. In comparison with Bakelite, dimensional change is less and insulation properties are higher.	Workability is poor, and drilling or cutting in the lamination direction may cause crack.	Insulation plates
Ceramic (aluminum 96/99) > Product details	Abrasion resistance, insulation properties, and heat resistance are good, and there is little elastic deformation.	Workablity is poor.	Insulation and heat-resistant parts for electrical and semiconductor fields, etc.
Fluoropolymer > Product details	Heat resistance, chemical resistance, and slip characteristics are good.	As it is easily warped, it is not suitable for precision parts. Soft but poor workablity.	Sheet packing, electrical insulation materials
PEEK > Product details	Heat resistance, insulation properties, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, friction/abrasion resistance, and workability are good. (Super engineering plastic)	Cost is high. When machining, there is a possibility of chipping in the direction that the milling machine exits due to being harder than MC nylon.	Robot parts, hot water pump parts, connectors for aircraft, laser equipment parts, valve parts for nuclear power plants
PPS > Product details	Heat resistance, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability are good. Less expensive than PEEK.	When machining, there is a possibility of chipping in the direction that the milling machine exits due to being harder than MC nylon.	Semiconductor, LCD manufacturing equipment parts, testing equipment parts, etc.
ABS > Product details	Milling workability and coating properties are good. Plating on plastic main body is possible.	Weather resistance is poor. It deteriorates in long-hour exposure to direct sunlight. Chemical resistance is also poor.	Material for prototypes
PBT	Heat resistance, electrical characteristics, dimensional stability, and insulation properties are good. Workablity is also good.	-	Automotive electrical components
UNILATE > Product details	Insulation, heat resistance, withstand voltage, strength, and workability are good. Workablity is relatively good as well.	-	Insulation parts
Antistatic PET > Product details	Antistatic properties, workability, and dimensional stability are good. Large array of board pressures.	-	Jigs for semiconductors and electronic components

Advantages of using MISUMI

You can choose from 13 different materials and various grades of those
You can order from 1 pc. with custom dimensions in millimeters
6 types of finishing (some finishing methods may not be available depending on the material)