Materials
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California Plastics provides a wide range of engineering, specialty, and commodity thermoplastics, as well as additives, color concentrates, and custom compounds from industry leading manufacturers.
Flexible & Rigid PVC
Polyvinyl chloride is produced by the polymerization of the vinyl chloride monomer. Commonly used in pipes and hoses throughout different industries. PVC compounds are all around us, and they come in a variety of shapes and sizes – not to mention that they also come in a variety of hardness.
The main distinction between flexible and rigid is that rigid PVC compounds have little to no plasticizer added to them, compared to flexible PVC compounds. The PVC resin becomes more flexible thanks to this plasticizer, making it supple and soft in comparison. These “rubbery” qualities can be found in items like garden hosepipes. Rigid PVC compounds contain little plasticizer, which helps them maintain their hardness.
Rigid compounds are better suited for exterior protective uses, such as wall claddings, fascia boards and water drainage pipes. Flexible compounds can provide different uses, such as the material used to make medical blood bags, gumboots or even coasters for your summer drinks.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate polymers are used to produce a variety of materials and are particularly useful when impact resistance and/or transparency are a product requirement. Plastic lenses for eyewear, medical devices, automotive parts, protective gear, greenhouses, digital disks (CDs, DVDs, and Blu-ray), and outdoor lighting fixtures are all frequently made of PC. Additionally, polycarbonate has excellent heat resistance and can be combined with materials that are flame resistant without significantly degrading the material. Engineering plastics, like polycarbonate, are used for stronger, more capable materials, like impact-resistant “glass-like” surfaces.
ABS
Is a common thermoplastic polymer typically used for injection molding applications. This engineering plastic is popular due to its low production cost and the ease of use. ABS plastic has sought after properties like impact resistance, structural strength and stiffness, chemical resistance, excellent high and low temperature performance, great electrical insulation and it’s easy to pain and glue.
These physical characteristics of ABS plastic are acquired during the initial creation process. Styrene and acrylonitrile are polymerized in the presence of polybutadiene, which causes chemical “chains” to bind and attract one another to strengthen ABS. In comparison to pure polystyrene, this mixture of materials and plastics gives ABS superior hardness, gloss, toughness, and resistance properties.
Nylons
Is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer commonly used in injection molding applications. It’s a versatile, durable, and flexible material often used as a more affordable alternative to other materials. Nylon has a high melting point due to its chemical makeup, making it a great replacement for metal parts in high-temperature settings like car engines and other high-friction machinery. Nylon plastic melts down and can be remolded or recycled because, like other thermoplastic materials, it does not burn at its melting point. Additionally, nylon resists heating up quickly when used in high friction applications.
Typically, nylon is combined with other materials to enhance a variety of properties. For instance, adding glass fibers to nylon increases its tensile strength while decreasing its flexibility and brittleness.
Polyethylene
Is the most commonly produced plastic material. It is a polymer, primarily used for packaging which accounts for 34% of the total plastic market. Polyethylene comes in a variety of forms, and each one is best used for a particular set of applications. High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) is typically much more crystalline and used in completely different applications than Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) (LDPE). For instance, LDPE is frequently utilized in plastic packaging, such as plastic wrap and grocery bags. Contrarily, HDPE is frequently used in the construction industry (for example, in its use in the fabrication of drain pipes). High-performance uses for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW) include medical equipment and bulletproof clothing.
Based on how the plastic reacts to heat, PE is categorized as a “thermoplastic” (as opposed to a “thermoset”). When a thermoplastic material reaches its melting point, it turns liquid (110-130 degrees Celsius in the case of LDPE and HDPE respectively). The ability of thermoplastics to be heated to their melting point, cooled, and then reheated repeatedly without noticeably degrading is a useful property. Thermoplastics, such as polyethylene, liquefy as opposed to burning, making it simple to injection mold and then recycle them.
Polypropylene
Also known as polypropene, it is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications such as plastic packaging, plastic parts for machinery and equipment and even fibres and textiles. It has a well-deserved reputation for toughness and durability thanks to its excellent fatigue resistance and elasticity. Additionally, polypropylene has excellent insulation qualities, making it safe to use for the plastic casing of cables and electrical goods. In its fiber form, polypropylene can be used for a much wider range of products than just tote bags, such as ropes, twine, tape, carpets, upholstered furniture, clothing, and camping gear. It works particularly well for the marine industry because of its waterproof qualities. Polypropylene is also widely used in the automotive industry, including for battery casings, trays and drink holders, bumpers, interior accents, instrument panels, and door trims.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene is a synthetic polymer made from monomers of the aromatic hydrocarbon styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. Polystyrene is used to create a wide range of goods, including appliances, electronics, car parts, toys, gardening tools, and more, when combined with different colorants, additives, or plastics.
It is frequently used in products that require clarity, such as food packaging and laboratory equipment, as it is a hard, solid plastic.
Extruded polystyrene (XPS) or expanded polystyrene (EPS), two foam materials made from polystyrene that are prized for their insulating and cushioning qualities.
Food packaging contains ingredients that, in very small quantities, “migrate” to foods or beverages. The amount of substances that may migrate is strictly regulated by the FDA, including polystyrene, in food packaging materials.
PET
Polyethylene terephthalate, is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods. Your house almost certainly contains many products made from PET. It’s frequently used for water bottles, shampoo containers, soda bottles, and plastic cups. Many fabric products also use PET in the form of polyester. It has an excellent level of wear resistance compared to other plastics. The plastic’s chemicals do not leak into the fluid or food stored within it – making it one of the most important products for food storage.
It is commonly used in bottles and other plastic containers. This includes soda bottles, bakery products, water bottles, peanut butter jars and even in frozen foods packaging. It is used to hold cosmetics. Since it is easy to mold, manufacturers can create very specific shapes for a variety of cosmetic products. It is commonly used for the storage of chemicals, including household cleaners.
