Materials
Moulding materials: plastics, rubbers and silicone
We process plastics, thermoplastic elastomers, rubbers and silicone. The material is chosen with the customer, based on the conditions of use of the component: temperatures, chemicals, mechanical stresses, standards.
16 materials
Plastics and thermoplastic elastomers
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Thermoplastic
PS Polystyrene
- Properties
- Transparent
- Rigid
- Brittle
- Lightweight
- Good dielectric properties
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH(C6H5)]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic
ABS Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene
- Properties
- High impact resistance
- Good chemical resistance
- Glossy surface
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH(CN)]x–[CH2–CH=CH–CH2]y–[CH2–CH(C6H5)]z–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic
PE Polyethylene
- Properties
- Low density (LDPE), medium density (MDPE), high density (HDPE)
- Moisture-resistant
- Good chemical resistance
- Flexible (LDPE), rigid (HDPE)
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH2]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic
PP Polypropylene
- Properties
- High chemical resistance
- Good fatigue resistance
- Low specific weight
- Good transparency (if isotactic)
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH(CH3)]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic
PC Polycarbonate
- Properties
- High impact resistance
- Optical transparency
- Good thermal and chemical resistance
- Repeat unit
- –[O–C6H4–C(CH3)2–C6H4–O–CO]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic Phthalate-free
PVC Phthalate-free polyvinyl chloride
- Properties
- Good chemical resistance
- Variable hardness (rigid or flexible)
- Good weather resistance
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CHCl]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) PFAS-free alternative
TPU Thermoplastic polyurethane
- Properties
- High elasticity
- Good abrasion resistance
- Resistant to oils and solvents
- Transparent
- Repeat unit
- –[O–R–O–CO–NH–R′–NH–CO]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
- Typical sectors
- FurnitureManufacturing and industrial machinery
- Further reading
-
Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) PFAS-free alternative
SBS / SEBS Styrenic thermoplastic elastomers (TPS)
- Properties
- High elasticity
- Good resistance to weathering and ozone (SEBS)
- Softness
- Good adhesion to various substrates
- Repeat unit
- S–EB–S: –[CH2–CH(C6H5)]n– · –[CH2–CH2]x–[CH2–CH(C2H5)]y–
- Process
- Injection moulding
- Typical sectors
- Parapharmaceutical and medicalLighting
- Further reading
-
Thermoplastic
POM Polyoxymethylene
- Properties
- High stiffness and hardness
- Low coefficient of friction
- Excellent fatigue resistance
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–O]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
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Thermoplastic PFAS-free alternative
PA 6 / PA 66 Polyamide
- Properties
- High mechanical strength
- Good wear and chemical resistance
- Good electrical insulation
- Rigid (PA 66 is more rigid than PA 6)
- Repeat unit
- PA 6: –[NH–(CH2)5–CO]n– · PA 66: –[NH–(CH2)6–NH–CO–(CH2)4–CO]n–
- Process
- Injection moulding
- Further reading
-
Thermoplastic
PEI Polyetherimide (e.g. ULTEM™)
- Properties
- High thermal resistance (up to 200 °C)
- Excellent mechanical properties
- Good chemical resistance
- Transparent
- Repeat unit
- C37H24N2O6 (unità ripetitiva)
- Process
- Injection moulding
- Further reading
Rubbers and silicone
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Vulcanised elastomer
NR Natural rubber
A vulcanised elastomer, not a thermoplastic.
- Properties
- Elastic
- Tensile-resistant
- Good insulating properties
- Waterproof
- Repeat unit
- cis-1,4-poliisoprene: –[CH2–C(CH3)=CH–CH2]n–
- Process
- Compression mouldingRubber-to-metal overmoulding
- Further reading
-
Vulcanised elastomer PFAS-free alternative
EPDM Ethylene propylene diene rubber
- Properties
- High resistance to weathering
- Good resistance to high and low temperatures
- Good insulating properties
- Low gas permeability
- Good elasticity
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH2]x–[CH2–CH(CH3)]y– + diene (es. ENB)
- Process
- Compression mouldingRubber-to-metal overmoulding
- Further reading
-
Vulcanised elastomer PFAS-free alternative
NBR Nitrile rubber (acrylonitrile butadiene)
- Properties
- High oil resistance
- Good fuel resistance
- Resistant to fats and hydrocarbons
- Good abrasion resistance
- High-temperature resistance
- Repeat unit
- –[CH2–CH=CH–CH2]x–[CH2–CH(CN)]y–
- Process
- Compression mouldingRubber-to-metal overmoulding
- Further reading
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Vulcanised elastomer PFAS-free alternative
VMQ Silicone
- Properties
- High resistance to high temperatures
- Good resistance to low temperatures
- Excellent weather resistance
- Outstanding resistance to UV rays and ozone
- Good elasticity
- Non-toxic and biocompatible
- Repeat unit
- PDMS: –[Si(CH3)2–O]n–
- Process
- Compression moulding
- Typical sectors
- Parapharmaceutical and medical
- Further reading
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Vulcanised elastomer
Special compounds Oil- and fuel-resistant compounds
- Properties
- High oil resistance
- High fuel resistance
- Good abrasion resistance
- Good chemical resistance to hydrocarbons
- Low gas permeability
- Good elasticity
- Process
- Compression mouldingRubber-to-metal overmoulding
The graphics show the repeat unit of the polymer (simplified structural formula).
Sustainable materials
Material choices that reduce the impact of a component, with the necessary documentation.
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PFAS alternatives
Components moulded in PFAS-free alternative materials, with the related technical documentation, for companies that require them from their suppliers.
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Phthalate-free PVC
PVC formulated without phthalate plasticisers.
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Recyclable materials and regrind
Thermoplastics are recyclable: production scrap is reground and fed back into the process, where the material allows.
Comparison table
| Material | Family | Process | Indicative service temperature | Sectors | Sustainability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PS | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −20 … +70 °C | – | – |
| ABS | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −40 … +80 °C | – | – |
| PE | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −50 … +80 °C | – | – |
| PP | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −10 … +100 °C | – | – |
| PC | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −40 … +115 °C | – | – |
| PVC | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −10 … +60 °C | – | Phthalate-free |
| TPU | Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Injection moulding | −40 … +80 °C | Furniture, Manufacturing and industrial machinery | PFAS-free alternative |
| SBS / SEBS | Thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) | Injection moulding | −50 … +100 °C (SEBS); SBS up to +60 °C | Parapharmaceutical and medical, Lighting | PFAS-free alternative |
| POM | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −40 … +100 °C | – | – |
| PA 6 / PA 66 | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −40 … +100 °C (PA 66 up to +120 °C) | – | PFAS-free alternative |
| PEI | Thermoplastic | Injection moulding | −40 … +170 °C (peaks up to +200 °C) | – | – |
| NR | Vulcanised elastomer | Compression moulding, Rubber-to-metal overmoulding | −50 … +70 °C | – | – |
| EPDM | Vulcanised elastomer | Compression moulding, Rubber-to-metal overmoulding | −40 … +130 °C | – | PFAS-free alternative |
| NBR | Vulcanised elastomer | Compression moulding, Rubber-to-metal overmoulding | −30 … +100 °C | – | PFAS-free alternative |
| VMQ | Vulcanised elastomer | Compression moulding | −60 … +200 °C | Parapharmaceutical and medical | PFAS-free alternative |
| Special compounds | Vulcanised elastomer | Compression moulding, Rubber-to-metal overmoulding | Depends on the compound | – | – |
Indicative continuous service temperatures for the most common grades: the exact value depends on the grade and formulation and should be checked on the data sheet of the chosen material.