• Low Friction – doesn’t heat up under high Friction
• Chemical Resistance – resistant to corrosion from chemicals
• Abrasion Resistance – useful for elastic and clothing applications

The advantages of nylon PAs include their toughness and high heat resistance. They also have high abrasion resistance, good fatigue resistance, and noise dampening properties. With its low coefficient of Friction, injected molded nylon is suitable for high Friction and wear applications.

Although nylon does not offer inherent flame resistance and can burn quickly, flame retardant versions are available. Similarly, although nylon can be degraded by sunlight, a UV stabilizer can be added to improve performance. In addition, the material offers poor resistance to strong acids and bases. Although it’s a strong plastic, it tends to absorb water. It’s not the ideal choice for marine applications.   

• Chemical Resistance – doesn’t react with most bases and acids
• Fatigue Resistance – retains its shape after a lot of bending and flexing
• Electrical Resistance – strong insulation properties
• Elasticity – can bend, flex and deform without actually breaking

Polypropylene plastics provide good chemical resistance and retain their shape after torsion or bending. PP also has a high melting point and won’t degrade when exposed to moisture or water. It is also recyclable up to four times. In addition, recycled PP can be combined with other plastic materials. This versatile material is sometimes referred to as the “steel” of plastics since PP can be tailored to so many different uses.

Injection molded polypropylene degrades with UV light and is extremely flammable. At temperatures above 100° C  (212° F), it dissolves into aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene, that are harmful to human health. Because it’s difficult to bond, PP is difficult to paint; however, pigments can be added to color the material.

• Impact Resistance – rubber-like formulations make ABS resilient to impact
• Surface hardness – high rigidity in certain formulations
• Uniform Shrinkage – good dimensional stability
• Machinability – easy to form after cooling

ABS is tough, relatively inexpensive, and provides good resistance to heat, oils, acids, and alkalis. Its styrene content imparts a shiny, attractive finish to injection molded parts, while its butadiene content delivers exceptional toughness, even at low temperatures.

Because ABS lacks strong resistance to sunlight or weather, it’s not a good choice for outdoor applications. ABS also generates significant smoke when it’s burned, provides poor resistance to high Friction, and lacks resistance to solvents such as water. 

• TPR is a blend of rubber and plastic polymers that combines the properties of both materials.
• It offers flexibility, resilience, and good grip, similar to traditional rubber, but can be processed using typical thermoplastic techniques such as injection molding.
• TPR is commonly used in applications where a soft, rubber-like material with the processing ease of thermoplastics is required, such as in grips, seals, footwear, and soft-touch components.