Melet Plastics Inc.

Design Resource Center

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Notable for its flexibility, chemical and impact resistance, and low cost. It lacks heat resistance and doesn’t have great dimensional accuracy, but these are not required in applications like food containers, detergent bottles, vehicle fuel tanks, and water and gas pipes, all applications in which HDPE is used.

Polypropylene (PP)
Not as tough as HDPE, but it is less brittle. It can also
withstand more heat, allowing it to be sterilized for medical and laboratory use. It is sometimes used as a less
expensive substitute for engineering plastics like ABS and PET.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene(ABS)
Boasts excellent impact resistance, moderate strength, and
good cosmetic appearance. It has poor resistance to heat and is somewhat more expensive than PP or HDPE, but is useful in applications like golf-club heads, protective
headgear, and LEGO® blocks.

Polycarbonate (PC)
Has excellent strength and impact resistance across a range of temperatures. It is available in a visually clear grade.
It is not very resistant to chemicals and is moderate to high in cost. Its strength and clarity make it suitable
for eyeglass lenses and as a glass replacement in applications like automotive headlights. Some grades
are also used in medical applications. PC/ABS blend combines the strength and impact resistance of polycarbonate with the cosmetics, and processibility of
ABS to offer a moderately priced resin suitable for a variety of applications, including automotive parts and electronic housings.

Acetal (polyoxymethylene -- POM)
Boasts high strength and lubricity making it suitable for bearings and the stylii used on PDAs. It is highly resistant to hydrocarbons and organic solvents. It is sometimes used as a metal replacement and has recently been used in the manufacture of musical instruments, replacing both metal and wood.

Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)
Tough and flexible in its unfilled form and can be strengthened significantly with the use of glass fill. It shrinks little, but can warp significantly with glass fill. It has excellent electrical properties and is used as an insulator.

Nylon (PA66)
Strong and resistant to chemicals except strong acids
and bases. It flows well, making it useful for molding thin part geometries. Nylon is subject to warping, is moderate to high in price, but wears well and is used in a variety of applications including auto and machine parts.

30% Glass-filled Nylon (PA66 30%GF)
Shares many of nylon’s characteristics, but has almost twice the strength. It lacks some of nylon’s non-lubricated wear properties and can be abrasive to other materials.

Melet Resin Selection Guide