Common Polymers - Thermoplastics

Properties:

- High impact strength

- Good toughness with good strength

- Scratch resistant

- Lightweight

- Durable

Uses:

- Kitchen products, mobile phone cases, PC monitor cases, safety helmets, toys, some car parts & domestic telephones.

Properties:

- Tough

- Rigid

- Lightweight with good strength

- Transparent 

- Non flammable

Uses:

- Photographic film, handles for cutlery, cupboard door knobs, frames for glasses.

Properties:

- Hard

- Tough

- Resistant to wear with a low coefficient of friction

Uses:

- Bearings, gears, curtain rail fittings & clothing.

Properties:

- Food safe

- Tough

- Hard

- Durable

- Easily machined

Uses:

- Light units, illuminated signs, lenses for car lights

Properties:

- Lightweight

- Food safe

- Good impact resistance even at low temperatures

- Good chemical resistance

- Tough

- Flexible

Uses:

- Kitchen products (containers), medical equipment, string & rope.

Properties: 

- Good impact resistance

- Good strength & stiffness

- Lightweight 

- Good aesthetic qualities

- Can be coloured

- Low cost

Uses:

- Toys, refrigerator linings

Properties:

- Lightweight

- Rigid

- Colourless

- Low impact strength

Uses:

- Packaging, disposable cups/plates & containers

Properties:

- Floats

- Good sound & heat insulator

- Lightweight

- Low strength

Uses:

- Packaging, disposable cups, sound & heat insulation

Properties:

- Low density

- Lightweight

- Low stiffness

- Good chemical resistance

Uses:

- Detergent bottles, toys & carrier bags

Properties:

- High density

- Good stiffness

- Good chemical resistance

Uses:

- Crates, bottles, buckets & bowls

Properties:

- Tough

- Hard

- Rigid

- Lightweight

- Good chemical resistance

- Good resistance to weathering

- Can be coloured

Uses: 

- Pipes, guttering, bottles & window frames

Properties:

- Tough

- Hard

- Rigid

- Lightweight

- Good chemical resistance

- Good resistance to weathering

- Can be coloured

Uses:

- Credit cards, toys, pipes

Properties:

- Strong

- Lightweight

- Moderate chemical resistance

- Good gas & moisture barrier

- Impact resistance 

Uses:

- Fibres used to make a wide range of clothing, blow moulded bottles for beers & soft drinks, electrical plugs & sockets, audio & video tapes, insulation tapes

Properties:

- Tough

- Good chemical resistance

- Good heat resistance

- Expensive material

Uses:

- Very tough - Used for protective shields including safety glasses, helmets, hairdryer bodies, telephone parts, vandal proof street lights