Five Lightweight And High-strength Plastics

Preface

In the field of modern materials science, lightweight and high strength plastics exude a unique and critical appeal. They have become an important support for many industries with their excellent properties. With properties such as excellent strength, rigidity and good wear resistance, these plastics play an irreplaceable role in mechanical engineering, aerospace and electronics. Here is an introduction to five such plastics.

Polyoxymethylene (POM)

Known as "race steel", POM has excellent strength and rigidity, comparable to some metals. It has excellent abrasion resistance and good self-lubricating properties, and is very useful in the field of mechanical transmission, often used in the manufacture of gears, sliders and other parts. At the same time, paraformaldehyde also has excellent dimensional stability and fatigue resistance, and can maintain stable performance under long-term repeated stress conditions.

In the automotive manufacturing industry, paraformaldehyde is also a commonly used material for parts such as door locks and handles. However, it is sensitive to gaps and is prone to breakage when gaps exist. Moreover, the processing temperature range of paraformaldehyde is relatively narrow, which requires a high level of processing technology.

Nylon (PA)

Nylon is an important class of thermoplastics. It has high strength and good abrasion resistance, while the toughness and elasticity is also more considerable. Nylon is commonly used in the production of various types of mechanical parts, such as gears, bearings, etc., because of its ability to withstand large loads and friction. In the textile field, nylon fibers are also widely used in the production of clothing, ropes and so on. Nylon has good chemical resistance and can be used in some acidic and alkaline environments.

The properties of different types of nylon vary. For example, Nylon 6 has good flow properties and is suitable for injection molding, while Nylon 66 is stronger and is more suitable for high-strength application scenarios. The disadvantages of nylon are that it is highly absorbent and its performance may deteriorate in wet environments, and its resistance to high temperatures is relatively limited.

Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)

Polyphenylene sulfide is a high-performance specialty engineering plastic. It has very high heat resistance and can be used for a long time in high temperature environments above 200°C. At the same time, PPS is resistant to chemicals. At the same time, PPS has strong chemical resistance, good flame retardancy and excellent electrical insulation.

This makes it important in the aerospace, electrical and electronic, chemical and other fields, such as the manufacture of high-temperature electronic components, chemical piping and so on. Polyphenylene sulfide has high strength and rigidity, but its toughness is relatively weak. During processing, polyphenylene sulfide may have problems such as slow crystallization, which need to be solved by adopting proper processing techniques and conditions.

Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)

Polyether ether ketone is an extremely good plastic. It has very high strength and rigidity, as well as excellent high temperature resistance and chemical resistance. Polyether ether ketone is used in a wide range of high-end applications in aerospace, medical devices, electronics and other fields, such as in the manufacture of aircraft parts and artificial joints.

It also has outstanding fatigue and abrasion resistance and can operate reliably for long periods of time under harsh conditions. However, the relatively high cost of polyether ether ketone limits its wider application to some extent.

Polyimide (PI)

Polyimide exhibits a remarkable combination of properties. It is not only strong, but also resistant to high temperatures up to 400 ° C or more, even in extreme environments can remain stable. Polyimide is an excellent electrical insulator and has important uses in electronics.

At the same time, its radiation resistance is also very strong, suitable for use in some special environments. In the aerospace field, polyimide is commonly used to manufacture high-temperature components. Its disadvantages are mainly that it is difficult to process and has a high cost.

Summarize

These five kinds of lightweight high-strength plastics each have unique properties and application areas, and have made important contributions to the development of modern science and technology and industry. With the continuous progress of technology, their application prospects will be broader.