Materials for Fabrication
Polypropylene
General properties of the thermoplastic material include:
- Not a self supporting material. Requires structure to maintain form.
- Excellent chemical resistance properties. Call for specific information regarding your application.
- Continuous temperature rating up to 180 degrees F.
- Hot air weldable, but not solvent bondable.
- Common uses include rinse and etch housings for semiconductor, fume hoods and lab tables.
White Polypropylene (WPP)
- Normally used for the manufacture of components, baths, and tanks that are in contact with the process.
- White polypropylene material is available up to 1″ rod, and 1″ sheet.
Natural Polypropylene (NPP)
- Normally used for the manufacture of components, baths, and tanks that are in contact with the process.
- Natural polypropylene material is available up to 10″ rod, 6″ sheet, and tube.
Factory Mutual 4910 Polypropylene
- FM4910 material must be certified by Factory Mutual to be classified as an FM-4910 fire-safe material.
- Normally used for equipment exterior, and components that are not in contact with the process.
- White FM4910 material is commonly available up to 1″ thick, and 4’x8′ sheet.
- FM-4910 materials include CP-7d and FRP3.
- FM4910 Material is commonly used to reduce the fire load in semiconductor plants.
Black Polypropylene (BPP)
- Available in limited thickness and sheet size.
CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride)
- Normally used for high temperature (210 degrees F) tanks and components that are in contact with the process.
- Light grey chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) material is commonly available up to 1” thick, and 4’x8’ sheet.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
General properties of the material include:
- Self supporting material.
- Excellent chemical resistance properties. Call for specific information regarding your application.
- Continuous temperature rating up to 140 degrees F.
- Hot air weldable, and solvent bondable.
- Common uses include plastic exhaust hoods, self supporting plastic tanks, and plastic tank linings.
White Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Normally used as a cabinet exterior, and components that are in contact with the process.
- Available up to 8″ rod, 3″ sheet, hex rod, square bar, tube, and angle bar.
Gray Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Normally used for the manufacture of components, baths, and tanks that are in contact with the process.
- Available up to 8″ rod, 3″ sheet, hex rod, square bar, tube, and angle bar.
Clear Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Normally used for clear view panels in Plastic cabinet doors, etc….
- Commonly available up to 1/2″ thick, and 4’x8′ sheet.
Polyethylene
Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Not normally used as a material for construction of plastic process equipment.
- Material is commonly used for molded tanks, food storage containers, and laboratory equipment.
- Natural LDPE material is commonly available as thin sheet material.
High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Normally used as a material for construction of integral components.
- Material is commonly used for food contact applications.
- Natural material is available up to 10″ Rod, 6″ Sheet, and Tube.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW)
- Commonly used as plastic bearing and plastic wear pads, and machines easily.
- Material is commonly used for food contact applications, wear pads, and truck bed liners.
- Natural UHMW material is commonly available as Rod, Sheet, and Tube.
- Available as glass filled material for improved wear-resistance, and as a static dissipative material.
Acrylic
- Normally used for displays, windows, desiccator cabinets, and other general purpose cabinets.
- Material is weldable, and bondable.
- Commonly available in colored and clear material up to 1″ thick, and 5’x10′ sheet.
- Commonly available as Rod, Sheet, and Tube.
Polycarbonate
Clear Polycarbonate
- Normally used as a cabinet exterior, and components that are not in contact with the process.
- Clear polycarbonate material is commonly available as rod, sheet, and tube.
FM-4910 Material
Factory Mutual 4910 Material
FM-4910 designation is given to a material that passes the Factory Mutual test for fire propagation, and smoke density.
Materials that have been approved by Factory Mutual, and have been certified include:
- CP7-D Polypropylene
- PVC-C Polyvinylchloride
- PVDF
- Takiron PVC and CPVC
- Boltaron PVC
- Halar
- Others (as developed and available)
Teflon and Fluoropolymers
General properties of the fluoropolymers material include:
- Highest overall chemical resistance.
- Excellent chemical resistance properties. Call for specific information regarding your application.
- Common uses include machined components, and baths.
Polyfluoroethylene (PFA)
- The only weldable fluoropolymer material
- Material is available up to 4″ rod, 3/4″ sheet, tube and bar.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
- Machines exceptionally well.
- Material is available up to 8″ rod, and 3″ sheet.
HALAR
- Chemical resistance equivalent to PVDF.
- Halar has better microscopic surface smoothness than PVDF.
- Machines well, and is weldable.
- Material is available up to 5″ rod, and 2″ sheet.
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
General properties of the material include:
- Provides better chemical resistance than PVC, Polypropylene, or Polyethylene.
- Weldable, and heat bendable.
- Typical uses include process baths, quick dump tanks, valve bodies, high purity piping components, and machined components.
Other Thermoplastics
Other common thermoplastic materials used include:
- Nylon
- Delrin
- Acetal
- Ertalyte-PolyethyleneTerephthalate (PET)
- Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)
- Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polystyrene, Polyurethane, and Phenolics
Others are being created on a regular basis. Call for specific information regarding your application.