Plastics / Resins

Material Selection Tips for New Resin Trends & Technology - Part 1

2 min read

Updated: 05/04/2018

The plastics industry has been experiencing rapid growth since 2015. In that time, there have been numerous improvements to the materials, technology, and processes used, benefiting both manufacturers and consumers alike. The development of stronger, more lightweight plastics and thermoplastics has been one of the driving forces of growth, along with the use of recycled plastics and greener processes.

To further explain the growing demand for plastics, let’s look at a few key trends and advancements with specific types of plastic materials and resins:

Thermoplastics

High-performance thermoplastics (HPTPs) and engineering-grade thermoplastics (ETPs) have seen many improvements in strength, quality, and durability over the past few years, sparking an increased demand in numerous markets as a viable replacement for more costly, higher-weight metals. Likewise, HPTPs and ETPs offer more design flexibility for OEMs, which can often help shorten development time.

From the medical industry to aerospace, automotive, and military applications, many of today’s critical-use products require high-performance materials, and heat resistant thermoplastics have proven to be an ideal choice. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK), for example, is a linear thermoplastic that’s processed at a temperature range of 350-420° C, and offers incredible chemical resistance and mechanical strength.

While properties vary from one particular resin to another, below are some common advantages and disadvantages of many thermoplastics.

Common Thermoplastic Advantages:

Energy efficient manufacturing and processing
High volume, low cost production
Design precision
Suitable lightweight replacement for metal
Can be remelted, remolded, and recycled
High strength and shrink-resistant
Can provide shorter molding cycles
Heat sealable and heat resistant
Easily colored by dyes, leading to a variety of molding options.

Common Thermoplastic Disadvantages:

Can melt if exposed to extremely high temperatures
Susceptible to creeping and deformation under long-term pressure or stress
Costly tooling

Common Applications for Thermoplastics

Thermoplastic materials are often used in injection molded plastic parts for simple and complex applications, such as:

Commercial washers, seals, and valves
Impact-resistant device housings and cases
Overmolded soft-touch grips
Food-safe applications including milk jugs, bottle caps and bottle cap closure liners, and baby bottles
Critical-use applications including vehicle panels and components, and airplane windows

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) Thermoset Resins

Not to be confused with a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), LSR has also seen increased use across many applications and industries. Its resistance to high temperatures rivals that of thermoplastics, while offering high tear strength, chemical resistance, and biocompatibility. It’s ideal for use in medical devices and implants, as well as for consumer applications like electronics and appliances.

Common LSR Advantages:

More resistant to high temperatures than thermoplastics
Highly flexible design
Thick and thin wall construction capabilities
High tear strength and chemical resistance
Resistant to deformation, biocompatible and superior compression set

Common LSR Disadvantages:

Inability to be re-molded after curing
Potential to burn if heated after curing
Lengthy curing period
More difficult to surface finish
Hard to handle liquid material
Non-recyclable, bulky or thick in appearance

Common LSR Applications:

LSR is often used in parts for:

Circuit board and wire harness materials
Electronic interfaces on device keyboards or touchpads
Medical implants
Gaskets in consumer appliances
O-rings, coverings, stoppers, and other plastic parts exposed to harsh chemicals and high heat in vehicles and machinery

With manufacturers constantly looking for ways to lower the cost of production and reduce the weight of their final product, plastics technology will continue to advance as manufacturers incorporate new materials into more of their designs. The options are virtually limitless for OEMs today—and can provide numerous advantages to applications.

Want to learn more about the material selection trends impacting manufacturers today? Stay tuned for Part 2 next week here on the Kaysun blog.

Resin Selection for Industrial Applications

About the Author: Heather Kinzel Heather Kinzel is Director of Purchasing at Kaysun Corporation. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration of Operations Management, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. She is also a Certified Purchasing Manager (CPM) through the Institute for Supply Management. Heather brings deep insight into material sourcing, supply chain strategy, and risk mitigation so that the right materials arrive on time and at the right cost, which is especially critical in plastics, resins, and injection-molded component supply chains.

Her work bridges supplier partnerships, internal demand forecasting, and global material trends. She drives initiatives that strengthen resilience, support Kaysun’s reshoring efforts, and align material selection with performance and cost goals.