If you know the importance of prototyping before manufacturing, you must be looking for a heat-resistant plastic. Injection molding requires plastic that isn’t damaged with extensive heat and pressure.
That’s why you must learn about the top 5 heat-resistant plastics you can choose from depending on your requirement and purpose.
From 2014-2022 the US’s market value of heat-resistant polymers increased from $2,275-$3,797. The increase demonstrates an increase in the use of these plastics.
But why heat-resistant plastic?
As the name suggests, these materials can experience more heat without losing their chemical composition. Apart from being heat-resistant, these materials are also resistant to chemicals and corrosion.
The best part?
Heat-resistant plastics can insulate heat, and electricity, making these plastics even more suitable.
Now, move from number one to five and uncover the five types of high-temperature plastic.
1. Polyetherimide (PEI)
For almost 35 years, polyetherimide has been the most common part of various manufacturing industries because of its qualities. Manufacturers and companies use the branded name for PEI, that’s ULTEM. Needless to say, it is highly heat resistant.
You cannot melt polyetherimide at temperatures lower than 219 degrees centigrade. It’s stronger than thermoplastics as it can pass through countless solvents.
Yet every plastic does have a solvent that affects it. In the case of polyetherimide, the polar chlorinated solvents work on this one of the top 5 heat-resistant plastics.
Advantages of ULTEM:
- A better choice for manufacturers when dealing with coolants and fuels.
- Useful for places where thermoplastics fail to do the work.
- Have an exponentially high melting point making it useful for various industries.
Disadvantages of ULTEM:
- Because of their high-end properties, polyetherimides are commonly expensive. You may need help to afford to manufacture your product.
Applications of Polyetherimide
- Multiple medical equipments are supposed to be reused every day after sterilization. These equipment are usually manufactured using polyetherimides. They are highly resistant to most of the solvents used for sterilization. That’s why instrument trays and other dental devices are manufactured with them.
- Most electrical appliances get heated when used for a long. This means a plastic that can resist this heat should be used. Because of their high insulation and electrical properties, polyetherimides are used in electrical appliances.
- The automotive lighting needs are fulfilled with polyetherimides. Light bulb sockets, headlights, and similar lighting components are manufactured with polyetherimides.
- Some equipment requires metal replacement because of multiple reasons. Polyetherimides serve e a good solution for matter replacement because of their high creep resistance.
- Because of their high flexibility and performance, this plastic is used mostly in multiple household goods. From cooking utensils to microwave bowls, you can get everything in polyetherimides.
2. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK)
If you are looking for a type of plastic that can work as a metal replacement, then there is no better choice than polyether ether ketone.
They possess countless properties, like high heat resistance, and do not break easily. The melting point for polyether ether ketone is more than 371 degrees centigrades.
Isn’t it an amazingly high temperature?
Of course, it is, making it usable for different industries like car transmissions and designing the exterior parts of an airplane.
Advantages of PEEK:
- This plastic can easily be used in extremely difficult environments.
- They possess good tensile strength.
- A good choice to be used in injection molding machining.
- It easily fits with CNC machining needs.
Disadvantages of PEEK:
- Gets damaged by UV light and other acids.
Applications of PEEK
- Electronic devices need fasteners that are heat and electric insulators. PEEK serves this purpose at its best by helping the manufacturers of electronic devices.
- Different automobile components, like engine parts, are designed and manufactured with polyether ether ketones. The high resistance and unbreakable tendency increase the use of plastic in automotive products.
- Polyether ether ketone is considered best for tubing because of its chemical inertness. Most chemical laboratories and industries prefer to use this material for storing their chemicals. It can help the fluid flow or store inside it without contaminating the fluid.
- Extensive use in motors because of its halogen-free constitution that makes it useful for dielectric applications.
- Machinery and products that must be protected from being corroded in aqueous environments are sprayed with PEEK. The ability of this plastic to keep the dampness away from it helps to protect the inner products and components of machinery.
- Electric circuits that require low-intensity outputs prefer to use PEEK. The reason is the insulating properties of this one of the top 5 heat-resistant plastics.
3. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
PTFE; IS ANOTHER SOFT YET HIGHLY HEAT-RESISTED PLASTIC OFFERING A LOW FRICTION. Plastic with high resistance has higher friction, creating many issues and hurdles in its use. But PTFE is an exceptional case with high flexural strength and an appropriate resistance to weather.
Its use in multiple electrical components demonstrates its ability to be a good insulator of electricity in almost all environments. Very few solvents apply to this plastic because of its complete inertness to chemicals.
PTFE works in places where plastic is required, yet there is no tolerance to friction and chemical inertness. With 327 degrees centigrade, it has the highest melting point compared to other thermoplastics, and that’s why it is highly used where thermally stable plastics are required.
Advantages of PTFE:
- It best resistance to weather, making it a good outdoor choice.
- Provides high electric insulation in even rainy season and all weathers.
- Complimentary flexural strength
Disadvantages of PTFE:
- Less reliable as compared to most plastics at room temperature.
- It cannot provide extra resistance to radiation and creep.
- Produce toxic fumes when heated.
Applications of PTFE
- Multiple machinery and utensils used in the kitchen are given a non-stick and heat-resistant coating using PTFE. These include MICROWAVE OVENS, BLENDERS, NON-STICK PANS, AND A LOT MORE.
- As an electrical insulator, the construction industry uses plastic to protect electrical wiring. As PTFE is resistant to temperature, chemicals, and water, it is a good choice in construction.
- They are highly used in chemical manufacturing because they can safely transport dangerous chemicals. It can withstand harsh chemicals inside it when used in the form of containers. PTFE is highly inert, which means it keeps the chemical fresh and real inside it.
- Solar panels are manufactured using PTFE because of their temperature resistance of up to 370 degrees centigrade. Another thing is the UV res it provides, which is essential for a solar panel to protect it from wearing.
- PTFE has a medical-grade quality which means it can be used safely for manufacturing medical products. These can include ligament replacements to cardiovascular grafts. Testing equipment like forceps and catheters used almost daily in hospitals are also manufactured using this plastic.
4. Polybenzimidazole (PBI)
Out of all the engineering thermoplastics available, PBI is the best one. As they are considered fibers, it’s difficult to tell their melting point.
It can provide continuous service up to temperatures of 398 degrees centigrades in an inert environment. In comparison, other environments have different bearing points.
For using this material for manufacturing often, diamond cutting tools are used. These tools are highly expensive, making manufacturing products with PBI costly.
Advantages of PBI:
- PBI is the most heat-resistant material and is highly sustainable and reliable.
- One of the extremely heat-resistant plastics. You will not find any other of its type in the market.
- PBI falls in the type of fibers with no melting point. Thus it never burns or sticks to other components affecting them.
Disadvantages of PBI:
- With less flexibility, it gets difficult to manufacture products using PBI plastic.
- Usually more expensive than many other types of plastics available in the market.
- Have an extensively higher sensitivity which sometimes makes it less used.
Applications of PB
- Instruments manufactured for the medical industry need to have chemical-resistant plastic in them. This plastic provides good resistance to keeping chemical inertness, making it FDA-approved for medical equipment. That’s why PBI is widely used in the medical industry.
- The electrical industry’s circuit boards and semiconductor parts are manufactured extensively using PBI. For dealing with high temperatures with electrical components, PBI is highly reliable. The best thing is the flexibility of this plastic required for keeping the design. Yet it does not affect the temperature and corrosion-resisting properties of it.
- There are countless applications of PBI in automobiles. It includes producing multiple components, including short seals, o-rings, and gaskets. It is highly water repellent making it best for the wiper blades of the automotive. It has to keep the water droplets away from the front screen while driving in the rainy season.
- Transporting chemicals always remains a very difficult task. The container where chemicals are transported must be chemically inert to prevent any corrosion or mixing of its particles into the liquid chemical. PBI is the right choice when looking for such a plastic container.
- The food safety grades of PBI are a good choice for manufacturing multiple foods and beverage-containing boxes. Additionally, cookware is also manufactured using PBI. It’s because it fulfills the purpose of high resistance to heat.
5. Polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD)
It’s the only custom engineer thermoset polymer used for resistance against heat and corrosion. It also provides stiffness and impact strength for advanced features and applications. pDCPD effectively makes blending the thermoset possible, which increases its flexibility and performance characteristics.
You can expect a heat deflection temperature of more than 120 degrees centigrade.
It comes with high versatility and no weight limitations. This means that you can use this plastic for variable wall thicknesses and stiffness of the moles without affecting or slowing down the production process.
Out of all the four types we have discussed before, this one is particularly new material. It has provided high functionality in chemical processes in septic tanks and other corrosion-resistant places.
Advantages of pDCPD:
- You can find three types of resistance capabilities in this single heat-resistant plastic.
- There are no limitations on part size which means a quick production process.
- Gives an exceptional performance maintaining the flexibility of the molds.
Disadvantages of pDCPD:
- Because of its newness to the market, it has fewer applications.
Applications of pDCPD
- pDCPD gets utilized in various industries, including construction and automotive. The stiffness and high strength it provides are incomparable to other thermoset plastics. Yet, it’s one of the unique heat-resistant plastics resistant to UV chemicals, heat, and friction.
- Jet engines are highly professional and need a specific kind of heat-resistant plastic. With a high temperature bearing capacity of 550 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s usable for jets.
- As it helps to stop corrosion, it’s used in environments where high dampness is expected. A coating of pDCPC on the parts of the specific machinery or product helps to keep it safe from corrosion.
- Due to its ability to provide low friction, this plastic is amazingly lightweight and used for achieving the hardest designs.
- This plastic can easily make multiple designs of electrical components in the electric industry that are otherwise impossible.
General Applications of Heat Resistant Plastics
A high-temperature plastic that can bear almost anything gives you the best results. Many products you are using in your home come from resisting plastics, and you can turn this plastic into almost any prototype using a plastic mold.
Where are heat-resistant plastics most used? Check out.
- Automotive and aerospace industries require heat-resistant plastics for various applications. Plastic that can easily bear the extensive heat and shock is widely used in both these industries. These vehicles produce a lot of heat and jumps, which need to be controlled while driving.
- Industries, where electrical products are manufactured need highly insulating materials. As we already discussed, high-temperature plastic is a good insulator of electricity. That’s why they are good emission-proof and heat-bearing materials in the electrical industries.
- Sterilization is the most important part of the medical equipment industry. So resistant plastics help save millions of people’s lives by sterilizing medical tools.
- How can we forget about the nuclear energy industry, where extensive heat is an everyday thing? Thermoplastics help with designing different components for the products of this industry.
- The chemical industry requires huge furnaces, pipes, and more. Heat-resistant plastics are generally utilized in this industry to ensure the life and heat resistibility of the components.
FAQs
Kemal’s Custom Plastic Injection Molding Services
Selecting the most heat-resistant material is crucial when dealing with procedures involving plastic and heat. Before you choose one from the list mentioned above, make sure you know the following:
- Why you need heat-resistant plastic
- The maximum temperature from which you’ll pass the plastic
- and the product you are making.
Need help to choose the material? Whether your purpose is thermoforming or injection molding, getting help from an expert is a good option.
Kemel, a master in prototyping, guides the customers regarding material selection. With 28+ years of serving above 2000 companies, Kemal has got you covered too.
We have a friendly team to work with you and help you grow better.
Don’t waste any more time. Come to us, and we’ll take your needs to your destination together.
