Engineering plastic

Engineering plastics are a group of <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastic</a> materials that have better mechanical or thermal properties than the more widely used <a href="/facts/Commodity_plastics/PjIymzSm">commodity plastics</a> (such as <a href="/facts/Polystyrene/dfIVntty">polystyrene</a>, <a href="/facts/Polyvinyl_chloride/9VkegJvr">polyvinyl chloride</a>, <a href="/facts/Polypropylene/HM9PvoCz">polypropylene</a> and <a href="/facts/Polyethylene/LaaAf4cn">polyethylene</a>). 
Engineering plastics are more expensive than standard plastics, therefore they are produced in lower quantities and tend to be used for smaller objects or low-volume applications (such as mechanical parts), rather than for bulk and high-volume ends (like containers and packaging). Engineering plastics have a higher heat resistance than standard plastics and are continuously usable at temperatures up to about 150 °C (300 °F).
The term usually refers to <a href="/facts/Thermoplastic/5KJB8dwN">thermoplastic</a> materials rather than <a href="/facts/Thermoset/EagnsydT">thermosetting</a> ones. Examples of engineering plastics include <a href="/facts/Polyamide/8AmQgTFa">polyamides</a> (PA, nylons), used for <a href="/facts/Ski/5wD7CfLa">skis</a> and <a href="/facts/Ski_boot/LRW0N6tf">ski boots</a>; <a href="/facts/Polycarbonate/QU8sH1c6">polycarbonates</a> (PC), used in <a href="/facts/Motorcycle_helmet/NEeR67bW">motorcycle helmets</a> and <a href="/facts/Optical_disc/vjVDB1GH">optical discs</a>; and <a href="/facts/Poly(methyl_methacrylate)/CnCRBo5F">poly(methyl methacrylate)</a> (PMMA, major brand names acrylic glass and plexiglass), used e.g. for taillights and protective shields. The currently most-consumed engineering plastic is <a href="/facts/Acrylonitrile_butadiene_styrene/WrksnpMv">acrylonitrile butadiene styrene</a> (ABS), used for e.g. <a href="/facts/Car_bumper/gvMM9MHH">car bumpers</a>, <a href="/facts/Dashboard/c6tQA6Dz">dashboard</a> trim and <a href="/facts/Lego/NW95SLjY">Lego</a> bricks.
<a href="/facts/Engineering/RFVg8H3I">Engineering</a> plastics have gradually replaced traditional engineering materials such as metal, glass or ceramics in many applications. Besides equalling or surpassing them in strength, weight, and other properties, engineering plastics are much easier to manufacture, especially in complicated shapes. Across all different product types, more than 22 million tonnes of engineering plastics were consumed worldwide in 2020.

Engineering plastic open-in-new

Engineering plastic