Plastic Material Selection

[bkg73123]

Hello,

I am trying to find a resource that will help me select the appropriate plastic material for my application.
I have done web searches, but haven't found any guides or tools that address all my criteria.
I would really appreciate your input and direction.

My application criteria:
1. Has to be repeatably microwavable.(withstand 10min on high without deforming repeatably)
2. Must withstand boiling water without deforming repeatably.(212F)
3. Typical working temperature cycle is 170F repeatably with product usage at room temp.
4. Must be about the strength and rigidness of a plastic handheld scraper tool, but will not take a lot of
physical punishment (stresses) under normal product usage.
5. Must be suitable for plastic injection molding.
6. Must be as affordable (low cost)as possible (for mass production of commercial product).
7. Shouldn't give off any health hazards under the conditions listed above.

Thank you in advance for your help and guidance!

Sincerely,
B

 

[Demon3]

High temperature SAN might work (the kind that uses alphamethyl styrene instead of styrene). Regular SAN might deform at that temperature.

COC (Topas) would work but would be considerably more expensive.

Syndiotactic polystyrene would work (contact Tom Fiola at Idemitsu

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tom-fiola/14/253/429)

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting

http://www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars

http://www.plastictraining.com

 

[Pud]

I would have thought a homopolymer polypropylene would be ok. Electric kettles in the UK are available which are made of it - and they're boiled enough.

www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk

It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

 

[Demon3]

Pud's suggestion is best. Just make sure it has the right stabilizers to protect it from repeated heating. Your supplier should be able to advise.

Chris DeArmitt - PhD FRSC

Plastics & Materials Consulting

http://www.phantomplastics.com

Plastic Training Seminars

http://www.plastictraining.com

 

[bkg73123]

Thank you guys very much for the help!

-B

 

[HokieFan]

If the lower cost options do not work, you wold likely get a lot better performance form a high temp amorphous resins IE PEI (Ultem) Polysulfone or PES, type product. there are food grades available and all the amber colored food service trays (McDonalds, etc) I think are these type of products.