There is a huge demand for engineering plastics in mission-critical applications such as defense, medical, and aerospace among others. This is because these thermoplastics are designed to be robust, undergo heating, cooling, fabrication, and more to form various parts and components in final products. Engineering resins are more powerful than commodity resins as they are specially engineered to get the best properties, such as wide operating temperature ranges, high impact resistance as well as mechanical strength, chemical and corrosion resistance, and so on. Engineering plastics market was valued at $107.2 billion in 2022. According to research reports, it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6% and reach $140.9 billion by 2027. This post discusses some common engineering plastics used in industrial applications and their characteristics in brief.
Common Types of Engineering Resins
Here are some commonly used versatile engineered resins that are robust and versatile.
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS): Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, also referred to as ABS, offers excellent strength, structural stability, and surface finish. The material is robust and chemical resistant with exceptional dimensional stability.
- Polycarbonate (PC): Polycarbonate is versatile and offers excellent dimensional stability in extreme cold and hot temperatures without melting or undergoing wear. These resins experience minimal degradation and hence are often preferred over various other plastic resins such as acrylic and PMMA.
- Polyamide (Nylon): These are transparent thermoplastic materials that offer structural stability and resistance to high-temperatures, chemicals, and more.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET): PET is a transparent, lightweight, semi-crystalline, thermoplastic. It offers water resistance, high strength to weight ratio, and high impact resistance.
- Polysulfone / Polyether Sulfone: Polysulfones are part of the sulfonyl group, which offers dimensional stability. These resins are durable even at high temperatures and may be used as polycarbonate replacements. These resins are reinforced with glass fibers for improving their tensile strength. These plastic resins are suited for extrusion, injection molding, and other fabrication and machining techniques.
Significance of Engineering Plastics in Various Industrial Applications
These thermally resistant plastics find applications in several industrial applications because of their properties.
- Automotive: In the automotive industry, engineering plastics such as polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and polyamide (PA) are employed in various applications. Some of the application areas are engine components, fuel systems, electrical connectors, and interior components. They offer excellent chemical and impact resistance.
- Oil & Gas: In this industry, engineering plastics like PEEK, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) are used in downhole drilling tools, seals, and components as they can withstand high pressures and temperatures. These materials offer excellent resistance to corrosion, abrasion, and chemical exposure.
- Electronics: Engineering plastics play a crucial role in electronic devices and components owing to their electrical insulation properties, flame retardancy, and dimensional stability. Materials such as polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) find applications in circuit boards, connectors, housings and enclosures, and more.
- Industrial Equipment: Engineering plastics find use in various industrial equipment and machinery as they are wear resistant, and can withstand harsh operating conditions. Some of the application in machine gears, bearings, seals, and other components.
- Sports and Leisure: Engineering plastics like ABS are used for producing various durable sporting applications from rackets to jet skis and so on. These plastics are durable, lightweight, resilient, and possess several high-performance properties.
If you are an OEM offering engineered plastic parts or components to industrial clients, you must source premium quality plastic resins with the best chemical properties. This is applicable whether you use virgin or regrind plastic resins. However, ensure you source these resins from a certified and trustworthy supplier. Mid Continent Plastics is one of the leading engineering plastics resins suppliers in Chicago that offers these resins in various volume sizes and has a market presence for more than thirty years.