Industry guide / Industrial materials
Plastics and Rubber
Choose a base polymer for the intended part and operating environment, then compare modifiers under the same forming, mixing or cure conditions.
Process guide
Resin processing, rubber reinforcement and durability
Explore 6 processes and 42 distinct materials. Choose a process to compare candidates, operating conditions and trial methods.
Which base material fits this component?
Establish the conditions
Start with the part, forming process, operating temperature, required hardness and fluid exposure.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Prepare specimens with the same processing and conditioning history. Compare service properties only after recording the exact grade, specimen dimensions and test conditions.
Flexible PVC stiffens in the cold or shows plasticizer migration
Establish the conditions
Check compatibility with the resin, migration, volatility and end-use restrictions.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Keep PVC and the other additives constant while testing hardness, cold flexibility, volatile loss and migration. Evaluate the heat stabiliser separately under the intended thermal history.
How can reinforcement, dispersion and processability be balanced?
Establish the conditions
Compare particle size, structure, surface treatment and dispersion against the mechanical requirements of the part.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Use the same polymer and filler loading. Compare dispersion, mechanical performance and processing viscosity; match the coupling agent to the actual filler surface.
The compound scorches early or the cure window is narrow
Establish the conditions
Use one rubber compound to compare scorch time, cure rate and properties after cure.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Keep the base rubber, filler and mixing temperature constant. Record the cure curve and scorch behaviour, then compare mechanical properties on equivalent test pieces.
The component fails aging or flammability tests
Establish the conditions
Identify which function the additive serves. Check compatibility, surface migration and the relevant ageing or fire test.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Test oxidation, ozone, lubrication and flame retardancy separately. Record part thickness, ageing or test conditions and property retention for the relevant formulation.
Outdoor exposure reduces impact resistance
Establish the conditions
Define the polymer, wall thickness, outdoor exposure and target impact resistance.
Materials and their roles
Trial and comparison. Use an exposure cycle suitable for the part and environment. For impact modification, test impact strength, appearance and processing window separately.
Documentation and purchasing
Prepare for a technical discussion
Share your current material or specification, process conditions, trial acceptance criteria, estimated quantity and destination. For regulated uses, identify the finished product and intended market.