STANDARD PLASTICS
HDPE
High Density Polyethylene is a general engineering material particularly suited to building fluid storage tanks, vessels and custom shaped tanks found in marine applications. HDPE is also well suited to packers, washers and components that are not under excessive load and wear pressures.
HDPE is available in rod, sheet and pipe in natural, black and coloured grades.
Attributes
o Weldable
o Bendable
o Good chemical resistance
o Temperature -50 to 80 degrees C
o Food contact natural grades
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a general engineering material particularly suited to building fluid storage tanks, vessels and custom shaped tanks where the chemical resistance where temperature resistance is required at higher temperatures. PP is also well suited to packers, washers, fume cupboards, hoods and electroplating tanks.
Attributes
o Weldable
o Bendable
o Good chemical resistance
o Good toughness and impact resistance
o Temperature 0 to 100 degrees C
o Food contact natural grades
PMMA - Acrylic
Acrylic is a crystalline material with excellent optical properties. Cast acrylic is typically used for technical components where strength and hardness are needed such as sight glasses and manifolds. Extruded acrylic is typically used for point of sale displays and applications where colour tints are required such as machine frames. Acrylic is available in rod, sheet and tube in natural and many colour tints.
Attributes
o Can be glued
o Bendable
o Optical properties
o High strength
o Temperature -40 to 100 degrees C
o Food contact natural grades
PVC
PVC-U is another good general engineering plastic with high strength and rigidity along with a good chemical resistance especially to acids and salts. PVC is used for mechanical parts, tanks and vessels, fume cupboards and hoods, laboratory bench tops and components in precipitators. PVC is available in rod and sheet in light and dark grey depending on the thickness.
Attributes
o Can be glued
o Weldable
o Bendable
o High strength
o UV resistant
o Temperature 0 to 60 degrees C
CPVC
CPVC has a higher chlorine content than PVC-U which gives it a better heat tolerance which enables it to operate above 60 degrees C whilst maintaining its chemical resistant. CPVC is used in the chemical processing industry where temperatures above 60 degrees C are expected such as precipitator parts, couplings, pipe flanges, scrubber linings, tanks and vessels. CPVC has limited availability in rod and sheet.
Attributes
o Can be glued
o Weldable
o Bendable
o High strength
o UV resistant
o Temperature 0 to 90 degrees C