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Materials for Fabrication

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.

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