Listed here is a selection of the extrusion materials frequently used by our customers. To ensure availability of critical materials and to meet timely delivery requirements, UPC maintains its own on-site inventories of many of the most common materials.
Follow the links for additional details on each compound:
ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadine-Styrene)
This material is a terpolymer of acrylonitrile, butadine and styrene. Usual compositions are about half styrene with the balance divided between butadiene and acrylonitrile. Considerable variation is possible. Many blends with other materials such as poly vinyl chloride, polycarbonates and polysulfones have been developed and are the most common class of plastics used in electroplated metal coatings for decorative hardware.
ADVANTAGES:
- Good impact resistance with toughness and rigidity
- Metal coatings have excellent adhesion to ABS
- Formed by conventional thermoplastic methods
- A light-weight plastic
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Poor solvent resistance
- Low dielectric strength
- Only low elongations available
- Low continuous service temperature
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Automotive hardware, appliance cases, pipe, plated items.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
Acrylic
Most acrylics are polymers of methyl methacrylate (PMMA). Acrylic can be optically clear or cloudy, as in the case of impact modified acrylics.
ADVANTAGES:
- Excellent optical clarity
- Excellent weatherability and resistance to sunlight
- Rigid, with good impact strength
- Excellent dimensional stability and low mould shrinkage
- Stretch forming increases bi-axial toughness
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Poor solvent resistance; attacked especially by ketones, esters, chlorocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons, freons
- Subject to stress cracking
- Combustible
- Continuous service temperature limited to about 200 F degrees
- Flexible grades unavailable
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Transparent items such as lenses, automotive trim, household items, light fixtures, decorator items signage and point of purchase display
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
EVA (Ethylene-vinyl Acetate)
This copolymer resin can be used in adhesives, sealants and coatings. It is the basis of many hot melt adhesives when blended with a petroleum wax and a resin tackifier. Also, it imparts plastic-like properties that enable wax to compete effectively with high-quality polymeric coatings. Flexibility, resilience, toughness and transparency increase with increasing vinyl acetate content.
ADVANTAGES:
- Flexible even at low temperatures
- Resilient
- Tough at low and moderate temperatures
- Crack resistant
- May be processed by conventional thermoplastic techniques or by conventional rubber processing techniques
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Sensitive to heat in handling & shipping
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Footwear components, flexible hose, automobile bumpers, toys and athletic goods, moulded automotive parts, flexible packaging, films.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
Flexible PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Unmodified polyvinylchloride is a very rigid thermoplastic. Flexibility can be increased over a wide range by adding varying amounts of several plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate. A frequent method of processing PVC involves the suspension of solid particles of the polymer in an appropriate plasticizer. This suspension, a “plastisol,” is then heated resulting in a homogenous system which becomes a flexible solid upon cooling. Usage of PVC has grown steadily since its introduction in the early 1930s to become a very widely used plastic in a myriad of uses from films and mouldings to extruded pipe. PVC has excellent resistance to water and aqueous solutions, but it is attacked severely by stronger solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters and chlorinated solvents. Recently discovered health hazards due to extended exposure to the vinyl chloride monomer have resulted in strict production controls. Several alloys and copolymers are possible with PVC, including styrene and acrylonitrile. See also polyvinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride.
ADVANTAGES:
- Processed by thermoplastic methods
- Wide range of flexibility possible with varying levels of plasticizer
- Plastisol processing possible
- Non-flammable
- Dimensional stability
- Comparatively low cost
- Good resistance to weathering
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Attacked by several solvent types
- Limited thermal capability
- Thermal decomposition evolves HCI
- Stained by sulphur compounds
- Higher density than many plastics
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Pipe, extruded wire covering, toys, bottles, door and window components, film and fabric coatings.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
After its experimental preparation in the 1930s, the application in high frequency radar cables during World War II, gave impetus to its commercial production. This thermoplastic is available in a range of flexibilities depending on the production process. High density materials are the most rigid. The polymer can be formed by a wide variety of thermoplastic processing methods and is particularly useful where moisture resistance and low cost are required. Polyethylene is limited by a rather low temperature capability (200-250 F) but is manufactured in billions of pounds per year.
Vinyl acetate can be copolymerized with ethylene. The resulting product has improved transparency over homopolymerized polyethylene because of a reduction of crystallinity in the copolymer.
ADVANTAGES:
- Low cost
- Impact resistant from -40 C to 90 C
- Moisture resistance
- Good chemical resistance
- Food grades available
- Readily processed by all thermoplastic methods
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- High thermal expansion
- Poor weathering resistance
- Subject to stress cracking
- Difficult to bond
- Flammable
- Poor temperature capability
Note: In general, high density grades of polyethylene have densities up to 0.97 g/cm^. Low density grades are as low as 0.91 g/cm^. Typically, the high-density material is more linear and consequently more crystalline. As might be expected, this higher crystallinity permits use at temperatures up to 130 C with somewhat better creep resistance below that temperature. Low density polyethylene has less stiffness than the high density type. Blends of the two types are common.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Toys, utensils, films, bottles, pipe and processing equipment. Wire and cable insulations.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
After its experimental preparation in the 1930s, the application in high frequency radar cables during World War II, gave impetus to its commercial production. This thermoplastic is available in a range of flexibilities depending on the production process. High density materials are the most rigid. The polymer can be formed by a wide variety of thermoplastic processing methods and is particularly useful where moisture resistance and low cost are required. Polyethylene is limited by a rather low temperature capability (200-250 F) but is manufactured in billions of pounds per year.
Vinyl acetate can be copolymerized with ethylene. The resulting product has improved transparency over homopolymerized polyethylene because of a reduction of crystallinity in the copolymer.
ADVANTAGES:
- Low cost
- Impact resistant from -40 C to 90 C
- Moisture resistance
- Good chemical resistance
- Food grades available
- Readily processed by all thermoplastic methods
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- High thermal expansion
- Poor weathering resistance
- Subject to stress cracking
- Difficult to bond
- Flammable
- Poor temperature capability
Note: In general, high density grades of polyethylene have densities up to 0.97 g/cm^. Low density grades are as low as 0.91 g/cm^. Typically, the high-density material is more linear and consequently more crystalline. As might be expected, this higher crystallinity permits use at temperatures up to 130 C degrees with somewhat better creep resistance below that temperature. Low density polyethylene has less stiffness than the high density type. Blends of the two types are common.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Toys, utensils, films, bottles, pipe and processing equipment. Wire and cable insulations.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
PC (Polycarbonate)
PC (Polycarbonate)
Although some structural variations are possible, the most common system is formed by reaction of bispenol A and phosgene. Its applications are almost always those which take advantage of its unique high impact strength. Recently, additional interest has resulted because of its low flammability. Some studies are currently underway to further improve this characteristic.
ADVANTAGES:
- High impact strength
- Low flammability
- Thermoplastic processing methods
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Subject to stress cracking
- Fairly high processing temperatures required (550 F)
- Degrades upon extended residence time in processing equipment
- Solvent resistance is only fair
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Windows, helmets, instrument cases and mechanical goods
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
This polyolefin is readily formed by polymerizing propylene with suitable catalysts, generally aluminum alkyl and titanium tetrachloride. Polypropylene properties vary according to molecular weight, method of production, and the copolymers involved. Generally polypropylene has demonstrated certain advantages in improved strength, stiffness and higher temperature capability over polyethylene. Polypropylene has been very successfully applied to the forming of fibers due to its good specific strength which is why it is the single largest use of polypropylene. Polypropylene also happens to be one of the lightest plastics available with a density of 0.905 g/cm².
ADVANTAGES:
- Homopolymer
- Processability, Good
- Food Contact Acceptable
- Stiffness, Good
- Impact Resistance, Good
- Copolymer
- Flow, High
- Impact Resistance, High
- Chemically Coupled
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Degraded by UV
- Flammable, but retarded grades available
- Attacked by chlorinated solvents and aromatics
- Difficult to bond
- Several metals accelerate oxidative degrading
- Low temperature impact strength is poor
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
- Automotive Applications
- Household Goods
- Film
- Containers
- Appliances
- Packaging
- Electrical/Electronic Applications
- Industrial Applications
- General Purpose
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
PU (Polyurethane)
Polyurethanes were developed in Germany during World War II. Principal applications are in coatings, elastomers and foams. The elastomers have excellent abrasion resistance but high hysteresis; the associated heat build-up has limited their use in applications such as tires. Rigid polyurethane foams have become widely used as insulation materials because of their combination of low heat transfer and good cost effectiveness. Use as insulation and other applications are restricted by an upper temperature capability of about 250 F. Polyurethanes do not survive well in direct sunlight or in contact with most organic solvents. Two types are common: polyester based and polyether based, with these backbone structures actually comprising a significant part of a so-called polyurethane resin.
ADVANTAGES:
- High abrasion resistance
- Good low temperature capability
- Wide molecular structural variability
- Ambient curing possible
- Comparatively low cost
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Poor thermal capability
- Poor weatherability
- Attacked by most solvents
- Utilize toxic isocyanates
- Flammable
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Load-bearing rollers and wheels, acoustic damping materials, sporting goods, seals and gaskets. Very high usage in rigid and flexible foams, coatings, potting and encapsulation.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
Rigid PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Unmodified polyvinylchloride is a very rigid thermoplastic. Flexibility can be increased over a wide range by adding varying amounts of several plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate. A frequent method of processing PVC involves the suspension of solid particles of the polymer in an appropriate plasticizer. This suspension, a “plastisol,” is then heated resulting in a homogenous system which becomes a flexible solid upon cooling. Usage of PVC has grown steadily since its introduction in the early 1930s to become a very widely used plastic in a myriad of uses from films and mouldings to extruded pipe. PVC has excellent resistance to water and aqueous solutions, but it is attacked severely by stronger solvents such as aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, esters and chlorinated solvents. Recently discovered health hazards due to extended exposure to the vinyl chloride monomer have resulted in strict production controls. Several alloys and copolymers are possible with PVC, including styrene and acrylonitrile. See also polyvinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride.
ADVANTAGES:
- Processed by thermoplastic methods
- Wide range of flexibility possible with varying levels of plasticizer
- Plastisol processing possible
- Non-flammable
- Dimensional stability
- Comparatively low cost
- Good resistance to weathering
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Attacked by several solvent types
- Limited thermal capability
- Thermal decomposition evolves HCI
- Stained by sulphur compounds
- Higher density than many plastics
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Pipe, extruded wire covering, toys, bottles, door and window components, film and fabric coatings.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
TPE (Thermoplastic elastomers)
United Plastic Components Inc. is one of the largest extruders of Santoprene™ branded TPV material in Canada!
ADVANTAGES:
- Weather Resistance, Good,
- Ozone Resistant,
- Processability, Good,
- Chemical Resistance, Good
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Automotive Applications, Sporting Goods, Gaskets Weather stripping, seals, glazing boots for window seals, commercial glazing gaskets, expansion joints and gaskets.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
TPV (Thermal Plastic Vulcanite)
United Plastic Components Inc. is one of the largest extruders of Santoprene™ branded TPV material in Canada!
ADVANTAGES:
- Fatigue Resistance
- Dimensionally stable
- Resistance to compression set
- Heat ageing stability
- Low temperature flexibility
- Excellent U.V. and ozone stability
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Weather stripping, seals, glazing boots for window seals, commercial glazing gaskets, expansion joints and gaskets.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
Styrene
Typical applications include thin walled packages, pipe mouldings for construction industry and signage.
ADVANTAGES:
- Good electrical properties
- Excellent Flexural characteristics
- FDA compliance
DISADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS:
- Generally poor weatherability & low impact
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Thin walled packages, pipe mouldings for construction industry, signage.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
TPO (Thermal Plastic Olefin)
Thermal Plastic Olefin is a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer plastic material with a medium high melt flow, 650 MPa flexural modulus and low CLTE. Paintable thermoplastic elastomeric olefin (TEO) resin has an exceptional combination of stiffness, impact resistance and dimensional stability. It was designed primarily for automotive exterior ornamentation applications requiring low thermal expansion characteristics and a moderate degree of flexibility.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS:
Automotive applications.
Visit the IDES database for detailed specifications.
