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Bayblend is a brand name of Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, for a blend based on PC + ABS. This polymer blend combines the advantages of PC and ABS. Particularly noteworthy are its high heat deflection temperature, between that of ABS and PC, high impact and notched impact strength, rigidity and dimensional stability. It is mainly used for automotive parts and housing components. For housings subject to particularly high mechanical stress, Bayblend is reinforced with 20% short glass fibers. The embedded glass fibers give the blend a very good combination of rigidity and impact strength.

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are becoming increasingly important as sustainable alternatives to fossil-based thermoplastics. A distinction is made between bio-based plastics, whose raw materials come from renewable sources but are not necessarily biodegradable, and biodegradable plastics, which degrade under defined conditions but are not necessarily bio-based.

Polylactide (PLA): PLA is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic based on lactic acid, which is derived from starch or sugar. PLA can be processed by conventional injection molding and offers good transparency and low density. Limitations include its limited heat deflection temperature (HDT approx. 55–60 °C for standard grades) and moderate impact strength. PLA is compostable under industrial composting conditions (EN 13432). Applications: Medical technology, such as resorbable implants, packaging and disposable items.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA): PHAs are biopolyesters synthesized by microorganisms as intracellular carbon storage materials. They are fully biodegradable, including in marine environments and in soil. Depending on their composition, PHAs offer a broad range of properties, from brittle to flexible. Processing by injection molding is possible, but requires careful process management.

For Gindele as a medical technology supplier, PLA-based materials are particularly relevant for resorbable or disposable components, as sustainability requirements and regulatory standards such as MDR and FDA are increasingly converging in this field.

Delrin is a brand name of DuPont for the material group polyacetal (POM). It is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic characterized by high strength, hardness, stiffness, and low friction coefficients. It is commonly used in mechanical and electrical engineering applications.

Durethan is a brand name of Lanxess for the polyamide (PA) material group. It is a semi-crystalline plastic characterized by a combination of properties ideally suited for technical applications. High mechanical strength and stiffness are combined with good electrical insulation properties, high heat distortion and chemical resistance, excellent sliding and emergency running properties, wear resistance, and effective damping of noise and vibrations. In addition, it offers excellent processability.

Elastomers are dimensionally stable yet elastically deformable plastics. After being subjected to stress, they return to their original shape. We use thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). Unlike conventional elastomers, TPEs are not covalently cross-linked but have intermolecular bonding points in certain regions. This makes them melt-processable and easier to handle than traditional elastomers. Production waste can be remelted and reused. TPEs also share many properties with thermoplastics.

Hostaform is a brand name of Ticona for the polyacetal (POM) material group. It offers an excellent combination of wear resistance, fatigue strength, impact strength, and creep resistance, along with outstanding resistance to moisture, solvents, and strong alkalis. It is commonly used in mechanical engineering, household applications, and electrical engineering.

Lexan is a brand name of SABIC (Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation) for the material polycarbonate (PC). The brand name was transferred from GE Plastics to SABIC in 2007. Lexan is naturally water-clear and transparent, has high impact strength and high heat resistance, is flame-retardant and UV-resistant. It is used for optical lenses, light guides and housings.

For thin-walled precision parts that must withstand high thermal loads, many designers and processors rely on liquid crystal polymers (LCP).
Liquid crystal polymers are highly crystalline, inherently flame-retardant, thermotropic (melt-oriented) thermoplastics. They are processed in a similar way to conventional semi-crystalline thermoplastics. However, unlike semi-crystalline plastics, liquid crystal polymers retain their high degree of molecular order even in the molten state, distinguishing them from semi-crystalline thermoplastics. The melt therefore behaves like a crystalline liquid. (Source: Ticona)

Makrolon is a brand name of Covestro, formerly Bayer MaterialScience, for the material polycarbonate (PC). It is naturally water-clear and transparent, has high impact strength and high heat resistance, is flame-retardant and UV-resistant. It is used for optical lenses, light guides and housings.

Polyamides, alongside ABS and PP compounds, rank among the leading material groups. In mechanical engineering and precision engineering, polyamide is even the undisputed leader among polymers. PA is characterized by high mechanical strength, rigidity and thermal resistance. In addition, polyamides offer good toughness at low temperatures, favorable sliding friction behavior and easy processing. Due to their excellent properties, they have become indispensable in almost all areas of technology, as high-quality electrical insulating materials, for machine elements and for many special applications.

Polybutylene terephthalate is a thermoplastic material. PBT is characterized by high stiffness and strength, excellent dimensional stability under heat, low moisture absorption, and good resistance to many chemicals. In addition, it offers outstanding weather resistance and excellent thermal aging properties. Its characteristics include high dimensional stability, good sliding properties, wear resistance, and high strength. PBT is commonly used for connectors and housings.

VICTREX PEEK polymer is an aromatic, semi-crystalline thermoplastic belonging to the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family. It offers excellent electrical and mechanical properties, high strength and stiffness, outstanding chemical resistance, high radiation resistance, inherent flame retardancy, and favorable sliding and wear characteristics. One drawback is its relatively high cost. PEEK is widely used in the automotive, electronics, and medical industries. It is available under the trade name Victrex.

Polyetherimide (PEI) is an amorphous high-performance thermoplastic from the polyimide group. It is characterized by an excellent combination of mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical properties.

Key properties:

• High heat deflection temperature (HDT/A up to approx. 217 °C)
• Inherent flame retardancy without halogen-containing additives (UL 94 V-0)
• Excellent mechanical strength and rigidity, even at elevated temperatures
• Good chemical resistance to acids, alkalis and organic solvents
• Low moisture absorption
• Resistance to ionizing radiation (gamma, X-ray)
• Sterilizable by hot steam (autoclave), ethylene oxide (ETO) and gamma radiation

Due to its sterilizability and biocompatible properties, PEI is frequently used in medical technology for reusable sterilization containers, surgical instruments and components for imaging systems.

Further application areas include aerospace, electronics and the automotive industry.

Trade name: Ultem® (SABIC).

PPS is a high-temperature thermoplastic with a melting point of 285 °C, offering an excellent combination of thermal, mechanical, and chemical resistance.

• High strength, even at elevated temperatures
• High dimensional stability
• Excellent heat resistance
• Good electrical properties
• High chemical resistance
• Low interfacial diffusion
• Inherently flame retardant
• Tendency toward brittle fracture behavior

PPS is commonly used in automotive engineering, electronic components, and household appliances.

Polypropylene (abbreviated PP, sometimes also referred to as polypropene) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic and belongs to the group of polyolefins. Polypropylenes are predominantly isotactic and very similar to polyethylenes, but compensate for many of their disadvantages. They are stiffer and harder, making them the hardest polyolefin polymers, and they retain these properties even at elevated temperatures.

PP exhibits the following properties:

• Moderate strength, stiffness, and impact resistance
• Low density
• Excellent chemical resistance
• Outstanding fatigue resistance (up to 10 million flex cycles)
• Good resistance to stress cracking (better than PE)
• However, poor performance at low temperatures

It is widely used in mechanical engineering, automotive, construction, and electrical industries.

Polysulfone is an amorphous high-temperature thermoplastic with a broad property profile that makes it ideal for demanding technical applications.

Key properties:

• High heat deflection temperature (HDT up to approx. 174 °C)
• Good hydrolysis resistance and resistance to aqueous acids and alkalis
• Sterilizable by autoclave (steam), ethylene oxide and gamma radiation
• High transparency with a slight yellowish inherent color
• Good electrical insulation properties
• Low tendency to creep

Injection molding is carried out at melt temperatures of approx. 330–390 °C.

Due to its resistance to hydrolysis and sterilization, PSU is a proven material in medical technology, for example for sterilization containers, medical housings and filter membranes, as well as in water treatment and food technology.

Trade names: Udel® (Solvay), Ultrason® S (BASF).

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer with a unique property profile. Due to its molecular structure, a carbon chain completely surrounded by fluorine, PTFE has extremely low surface energy and therefore excellent non-stick and sliding properties.

Key properties:

• Very low coefficient of friction (μ ≈ 0.04–0.10)
• Wide operating temperature range: −200 to +260 °C
• Excellent chemical resistance to almost all chemicals except alkali metals
• Physiological safety and FDA compliance
• Very good electrical insulation properties

Due to its very high melting point of approx. 327 °C and its high melt viscosity, PTFE cannot be processed by conventional injection molding.

In injection molding technology, PTFE is therefore often used as an additive, for example as PTFE powder, in other thermoplastics such as PA, POM or PEEK to improve sliding properties and wear resistance.

For plain bearings, seals and coatings, PTFE is processed by sintering or extrusion.

Trade name: Teflon® (Chemours).

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer with a very good balance of chemical resistance, mechanical strength and thermal stability. Compared with PTFE, PVDF can be processed well by injection molding and extrusion, making it particularly suitable for precision injection-molded parts.

Key properties:

• High chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, halogens and organic solvents
• Good mechanical strength and abrasion resistance
• Operating temperature range: approx. −40 to +150 °C, briefly up to 160 °C
• Piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties, usable in special applications
• Inherently flame-retardant (UL 94 V-0)
• Physiologically safe, suitable for food and pharmaceutical contact
• Good UV and weather resistance
• Resistant to ionizing radiation

Processing by injection molding: Melt temperature approx. 220–260 °C; mold temperature control at approx. 60–100 °C is recommended. PVDF has a relatively low melt viscosity and can achieve precise wall thicknesses and tight tolerances.

Applications: Medical technology (tubes, connectors, housings for fluid handling, membranes), chemical and process industry (pumps, valves, containers), semiconductor manufacturing (high-purity fluid systems), electrical engineering (cable insulation, piezoelectric sensors).

Trade names: Kynar® (Arkema), Solef® (Solvay).

Ryton is a brand name of Solvay Specialty Polymers, formerly Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, for the high-performance plastic polyphenylene sulfide (PPS). For further information, see the PPS entry.

Styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) is a transparent and rigid plastic. It offers high clarity with a light transmission of over 90% at a thickness of 1 mm. When colored, the material becomes opaque. SAN is similar to polystyrene (PS) in structure and properties, but provides higher strength, improved temperature resistance, better scratch resistance, and enhanced chemical resistance. In assembly, SAN components are typically fastened using screws, as the material is not suitable for snap-fit designs. SAN is commonly used for light guides, optical components, and reflectors.

Ultradur is a brand name of BASF for the material polybutylene terephthalate (PBT, PBTP). It is used as a material for high-quality, highly stressed technical parts in many industrial sectors. For further information, see the Polybutylene Terephthalate entry.

Ultramid is a brand name of BASF for the polyamide (PA) material group. PA is mainly used in the automotive industry and in the electrical industry. For further information, see the Polyamide entry.

Victrex is a brand name for the high-performance thermoplastic PEEK. See the entry for PEEK for further information.