This guide contains all the materials available at Xometry for injection moulding services.
Short Overview of Injection Moulding Materials at Xometry
| Material | Main Characteristics |
| ABS | Tough, strong and resistant to impact and scratches |
| Acrylic | Hard, resistant to weather and chemicals. |
| Delrin (Acetal, POM) | Durable, strong and resistant to wear, creep and warp |
| HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) | Lightweight, strong, ductile and suitable for use in heavy construction |
| LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) | Flexible, lightweight, translucent and resistant to stress |
| PA 6 (Nylon 6) | Tough, resistant to wear and chemicals. Suitable for components that move and slide |
| PA 66 (Nylon 6/6) | Stiff, resistant to wear and hydrocarbons, suitable for high strength applications |
| PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate) | Resistant to abrasion and creep with low moisture absorption |
| PC (Polycarbonate) | Transparent, durable and shatter resistant, suitable for applications that require transparent and strong materials |
| PC – ABS | Stiff, resistant to heat and has high impact strength |
| PC – PBT | Tough and dimensionally stable, suitable for applications that require corrosion resistance |
| PEEK | Hard, stiff and resistant to chemicals and fatigue |
| PEI (Ultem) | Hard and strong with low moisture absorption |
| PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) | Rigid, flame retardant and resistant to heat and creep. Suitable for use in engine components |
| PLA (Polylactic Acid) | Low glass transition temperature |
| PPE – PS | Ductile, resistant to impact and strong |
| PPS (Polyphenylene sulphide) | Rigid, brittle, resistant to UV light and chemicals. Suitable for automotive parts |
| PSU (Polysulfone) | Thermally stable, resistant to chemicals and strong |
| PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) | Resistant to weathering, chemicals, corrosion and shock |
| PE (Polyethylene) | Resistant to chemicals, impermeable and exhibits good electrical insulation properties |
| PP (Polypropylene) | Impressive impact strength, elastic and resistant to moisture |
| PS (Polystyrene) | Transparent, hard and brittle. Suitable for household items |
| TPE (Elastomer) | Strong, tear and abrasion resistant |
| TPV (Thermoplastic vulcanisate) | Durable, lightweight and highly resistant to specific solvents |
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
This is a thermoplastic material widely known for its high resistance to impact and toughness. In addition, it has good scratch resistance and rigidity as well as a low melting point. With a high strength – to – weight ratio, it is well suitable for injection molding. It is used in the manufacturing, automotive and marine industries.
Acrylic (PMMA)
This material is the most common form of clear, moldable thermoplastic, often used in place of glass due to its higher resistance. It has good weather and chemical resistance with adequate surface hardness. Acrylic has easy moldability and can be formed into various shapes and sizes. It is used for transparent applications such as windows, frames etc.
Download Spec Sheet for Acrylic
Delrin (Acetal, POM)
This material is an easy resin for molding. It has a relatively high tensile strength as well as high resistance to wear, creep and warp. It is generally durable and tough with low moisture absorption. Furthermore, it is resistant to chemicals such as hydrocarbons and solvents. It is used for a wide range of industrial and mechanical parts such as pumps, valves, bearings, fittings etc.
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
This material is light in weight with high strength. It is resistant to chemicals and heat, impermeable and has good electrical insulation. It is highly ductile and is impact resistant. This material works well in both hot and cold temperatures. It is ideal for use in heavy construction, plumbing, agriculture and medical products.
LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene)
This is the most flexible member of the polyethylene family. It offers good resistance to stress and pliability with good strength and toughness. It is lightweight and translucent. It is commonly used in food containers, toys, industrial parts and medical products.
PA 6 (Nylon 6)
The fibers are tough but retain high tensile strength and elasticity. It is extremely resistant to wear and has low friction with good electrical insulation. In addition, it has excellent chemical resistance. It is ideal for components that move and slide such as bearings, gears, electronic connectors.
PA 66 (Nylon 6/6)
This is the most common variant of nylon used for engineering applications. It has a high melting temperature. However, it has a relatively low impact strength. It is stiff and resistant to wear and hydrocarbons. It is used in applications that require high strength, ductility and chemical resistance.
PBT (Polybutylene terephthalate)
This material has excellent resistance to abrasion and creep. It has a low coefficient of friction and a low moisture absorption. PBT is chemically resistant to strong and weak acids. It is used in gears, bushings and bearings.
Polycarbonate
This is a naturally transparent plastic with high strength and durability on impact. It is shatter resistant and heat resistant. It has high stiffness and high viscosity. PC is generally easy to work with and is used in applications that require transparent and strong materials such as eyeglass lenses.
PC – ABS
This material blends the ease of processing of ABS with the high strength and mechanical properties of PC. It has a high impact strength, good heat resistance, high stiffness and dimensional stability. It is typically applied in the automotive and electronic industry for parts such as glove boxes, TV frames, panels, keypads.
Download Spec Sheet for PC ABS
PC – PBT
This material has high toughness, dimensional stability and good resistance to heat and chemicals. Furthermore, it has good impact resistance and stiffness. It is used in gear cases, automotive bumpers, and other applications that require chemical and corrosion resistance.
Download Spec Sheet for PC PBT
PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)
PEEK is hard, stiff and has high strength. It maintains its chemical resistance at elevated temperatures. In addition, it has excellent resistance to fatigue, stress – crack, high-pressure water and steam. It is used in the production of components such as tubes, bearings, seals, valves, electric insulation and even medical implants.
PEI (Ultem)
With a strong environmental resistance, this material is highly stiff and stable. It is rigid and retains its strength at high temperatures. It is resistant to heat and creep and has excellent electrical properties. It is flame retardant. It is typically used in engine components, temperature sensors, electronics and medical devices.
PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)
This material has a melting point of 270°C; hence, molding is done at a high temperature. It is a hard material with low moisture absorption. It has good resistance to chemicals as well as good strength and stiffness. It is used for production of capacitors, recording tapes, bottles and electrical components.
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
This polymer is derived from renewable sources and is biodegradable. It can easily be melted and shaped without losing its mechanical properties. It has a melting point of 130°C. Its mechanical properties lie between those of polystyrene and PET. However, its low glass transition temperature makes it unsuitable for use in holding hot liquid. It is commonly used in plastic films, bottles and medical devices.
PPE – PS
This polymer is a blend of polyphenylene ether and polystyrene. It is highly ductile and exhibits good resistance to impact and good surface appearance. It has low moisture absorption and is dimensionally stable. Its tensile strength ranges from 30 – 80MPa at room temperature. It is typically used for valve components, water pumps and medical devices.
PPS (Polyphenylene sulphide)
This material has excellent strength of 80MPa and is highly rigid. It is resistant to high temperature, UV light, chemicals and creep. It is dimensionally stable and has good electrical insulation properties. It is also fire resistant. However, it is brittle. It is applied in the production of automotive parts such as fuel injection systems, switches, and electronic devices such as hair dryer grills, valves for steam iron.
PSU (Polysulfone)
This is a transparent material. It is tough and rigid with good thermal stability and resistance to chemicals. It has high strength and can operate at high temperatures of 160C. It has good electrical insulation properties and dimensional stability. It is used for automotive parts, medical components, electrical insulators and appliances.
PVC (Polyvinyl chloride)
This is the third most synthesized thermoplastic material. It is resistant to weathering, chemicals, corrosion and shock. It has good resistance to abrasion and good insulation properties. Furthermore, it is tough, lightweight and fire retardant. It is commonly used for pipes, window frames, bottles, electrical distribution boxes etc.
Polyethylene
This material has good strength – to – ratio. It is resistant to chemicals, impermeable and exhibits good electrical insulation properties. Furthermore, it is highly ductile, possesses good impact resistance and can work well in both hot and cold temperatures. It is widely used for packaging agricultural products, production of plumbing products and medical equipment.
Polypropylene (PP)
Polypropylene has excellent resistance to moisture and chemicals, impressive impact strength and good elasticity. It is a tough material with resistance to fatigue as well as electrical insulation. It is widely used in both domestic and industrial applications.
Polystyrene (PS)
This is a transparent, amorphous thermoplastic. It is hard, brittle, rigid and resistant to gamma radiation. It has good electrical properties and is easy to mold. Its tensile strength is about 34MPa. However, it has poor resistance to chemicals and UV light. Its transparent nature makes it suitable for a variety of household items, toys, containers etc.
TPE (Elastomer)
This material exhibits excellent resistance to flexural fatigue. It has high impact strength, excellent chemical resistance, good resistance to tear and abrasion. In addition, it possesses good electrical properties. It is used in grips and handles, seals, plugs, power and hand tool components, wires and cables.
TPV (Thermoplastic vulcanisate)
This thermoplastic has extreme durability and is highly resistant to some solvents. It is lightweight and exhibits good resistance to weathering and environment. It is used in gaskets, bumpers, automobile plugs.