Thermoplastic materials include ABS, Acetal, Acrylic, Polyarylate, CPVC, Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), HDPE, Polypropylene, Nylon and Glass filled Nylon, Polyester (PBT, PET) , Poly ether ether ketone (PEEK), Polycarbonate , Polystyrene, Polyetherimide (Ultem) Polyurethane, Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE). Thermoplastic materials are the plastic that we see in everyday life in phones to kitchen utensils. They make up a large volume of consumer products, industrial, and electronic components.
Thermoplastic elastomers include: Santoprene, Kraton, Estane, Pellethane, Hytrel, Sarlink, Polytrope, Elastollan , Dynaflex. Thermoplastic elastomers differ slightly from thermoplastics. The thermoplastic elastomers have properties that are similar to thermoset (rubber) elastomers. These are a combination of rubber and thermoplastic materials to make a more elastic type of plastic material. These materials have grown in popularity and are used for everything from tool grips to shampoo bottles. These materials have replaced rubber in many instances as a cost effective solution for improving the grip on pens, tools, surgical instruments and have added color identity and slip resistance to a variety of components.
Although Thermoplastic elastomers and thermoplastics have replaced rubber in many instances, they cannot replace the resistance to chemical, high temperature, or extreme low temp environments that rubber offers. Da/Pro NE offers injection molding and overmolding of thermoplastics and thermoplastic elastomer components and high temperature plastic molding of thermoplastics.