Injection Molding Materials | Netproto
Plastic injection molding materials backed by NetProto's active material list
NetProto maintains hundreds of active injection molding material grades across commodity, engineering, elastomeric, filled, flame-retardant, transparent, and specialty families. Choose resin by how the part must perform, not only by material name.
Injection Molding Material Selection Guide
Choose the Right Material for Injection Molding
Selecting the appropriate material is crucial for performance, durability, and manufacturability. NetProto guides you to make informed decisions based on real-world applications.
| Material family | NetProto examples | When customers choose it | Design and quote notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Chimei PA-757, PA-747R, PA-758 clear; SABIC Cycolac; BASF Terluran; flame-retardant ABS options. | Balanced cost, toughness, and cosmetic appearance for housings, covers, brackets, and general molded parts. | Review heat, UV, flame-retardant, and cosmetic requirements. Exact grade matters. |
| PC / Polycarbonate | Bayer PC 2805, Chimei PC-110/PC-122, plus transparent and specialty PC grades. | Impact resistance, dimensional stability, clear or translucent applications, protective covers, and stronger housings | Confirm optical, finish, and stress-cracking expectations. PC may need careful processing and DFM review |
| PP / Polypropylene | PP 3307, Total HJ730L, PP-R0 508, glass-filled PP options. | Chemical resistance, fatigue resistance, flexible features, living hinges, caps, containers, and lower-cost molded parts. | PP has higher shrinkage and can be vulnerable to UV without the right grade or additives. |
| PA / Nylon | PA6, PA66, DuPont Zytel, BASF Ultramid, LANXESS Durethan, glass-filled and carbon-filled grades. | Wear resistance, mechanical strength, clips, gears, brackets, and functional mechanical parts. | Moisture absorption can affect dimensions and properties. Filled grades may increase tooling and molding risk. |
| POM / Acetal | Celanese Celcon, DuPont Delrin, and low-friction POM grades. | Precision mechanical components, low-friction features, bearings, gears, sliders, and dimensional stability. | Good for moving contact surfaces, but grade and molding conditions should be reviewed carefully. |
| PC/ABS | Bayblend FR3010, Bayblend T65/T85, Chimei PC-345/PC-365, and flame-retardant blends. | Combines ABS processability/cosmetics with PC strength and heat performance. | Common for enclosures, electronics housings, and flame-retardant applications. |
| PE / HDPE / LDPE / LLDPE | HDPE Sabic M80064, DOW 25455N, LDPE, and LLDPE grades. | Moisture resistance, chemical resistance, flexible packaging-like behavior, caps, and containers. | Not usually first choice for high heat or tight cosmetic requirements. Shrinkage and stiffness should be reviewed. |
| PMMA / Acrylic | Chimei ACRYREX, Plexiglas, and clear PMMA grades. | Clear cosmetic parts, light pipes, display windows, and applications where optical clarity matters. | More brittle than PC. Confirm impact requirements and cosmetic standards before tooling. |
| TPE / TPU / rubber-like | TPE, TPU, TPR, EPDM, NBR, and rubber-durometer options depending on process fit. | Soft-touch features, grips, seals, flexible components, and durometer-driven applications. | Durometer, bonding, shrinkage, and tooling approach must be reviewed. |
| PBT, PVC, ASA, LCP, PPS and specialty grade | PBT Crastin/Valox, PVC flexible grades, ASA KIBILAC/Geloy, LCP Vectra, and high-performance options. | Higher heat, weatherability, electrical, chemical, dimensional, or specialty performance needs. | May affect cost, lead time, MOQ, tooling risk, and processing window. Confirm exact grade availability. |
Selecting Plastic Injection Molding Materials
Steps to Select Injection Molding Materials
Follow these steps to choose the right plastic injection molding material based on performance requirements, material attributes, and exact grade confirmation.
- 1
Define Performance Requirements
Identify the conditions the part must withstand, including load, impact, temperature, chemicals, moisture, UV exposure, fatigue, wear, cosmetics, and regulatory requirements.
- 2
Filter by Material Attributes
Utilize NetProto's material records to select attributes like high impact resistance, gloss level, transparency, flow rate, flame retardancy, temperature tolerance, UV resistance, and food-grade compliance.
- 3
Confirm Exact Material Grade
Ensure the material grade is specified in your quote request, avoiding reliance on broad family names to prevent any ambiguity in material selection.
Selecting Plastic Injection Molding Materials
Guidance for Selecting Plastic Injection Molding Materials
Utilize our comprehensive materials guidance to identify the optimal resin for your project. Connect your choices to our quoting process for precise evaluations.