PVC is a linear or branched polymer with little or no cross-linking. It is a thermoplastic material, which flows easily when heated and can be moulded into a variety of shapes.
PVC comes in two basic forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. It can be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticisers, the most widely used being phthalates.
In this form, it is also used in plumbing, electrical cable insulation, imitation leather, signage, inflatable products, and many applications where it replaces rubber.
ABS plastics are used largely for mechanical purposes due to its impact resistance and toughness. ABS's light weight and ability to be injection moulded and extruded make it useful in manufacturing products such as automotive trim components, automotive bumpers, enclosures for electrical and electronic assemblies, joinery panels, and small kitchen appliances. Household and consumer goods are the major applications of ABS.
Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong, tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. Polycarbonate is a durable material. Although it has high impact-resistance, it has low scratch-resistance. They are easily worked, moulded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates find many applications.
Nylon 6 fibres are tough, possessing high tensile strength, as well as elasticity and lustre. They are wrinkleproof and highly resistant to abrasion and chemicals such as acids and alkalis. The fibres can absorb up to 2.4% of water, although this lowers tensile strength. is widely used for gears, fittings and bearings, in automotive industry for under-the-hood parts, and as a material for power tools housings.
HDPE is known for its large strength-to-density ratio. It is used in a variety of applications, ranging from fuel tanks in motor vehicles, bottle tanks and water pipes.
LDPE has weaker intermolecular forces than HDPE, its tensile strength is also lower, but its resilience is higher. LDPE is widely used for manufacturing various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing, plastic bags for computer components, and various moulded laboratory equipment.
PP is rugged and unusually resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids. Polypropylene is normally tough and flexible. This allows PP to be used as an engineering plastic, competing with materials such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Polypropylene is reasonably economical.
Polypropylene is most commonly used for plastic mouldings but also medical or laboratory equipment can be made from polypropylene because it withstands the heat in an autoclave. Its heat resistance also enables it to be used as the manufacturing material of consumer-grade kettles.
Barium ferrite (BaFe) is a highly magnetic material, with a high packing density, and is a metal oxide. It has found popularity recently with its use in fridge magnets etc.
