The Most Versatile Types of Plastic and Their Uses

When you need a custom part manufactured, there are so many different types of plastics at your disposal. No matter what properties you’re looking for, you’ll be able to find plastic that fits the bill. That’s why we wanted to take a moment to discuss the most versatile types of plastic and there uses. When we’re done, hopefully you’ll have a sense of what plastic you want for your parts.

HDPE and LDPE

You can’t get through a day without interacting with HDPE or LDPE. The acronym stands for high-density polyethylene and low-density polyethylene, respectively, and each type of polyethylene has its own unique properties. For example, HDPE is impact resistant and chemical resistant, making it perfect for large chemical tanks.

On the other hand, LDPE has far greater flexibility, which makes it perfect for many food and beverage containers. Not many people who hear “nylon” think durability, but that wasn’t the case during World War II. The military made gear like parachutes with nylon thanks to its light weight and waterproof features. Today, there are still several great commercial uses for nylon, but the most common application is in clothing like pantyhose.

Polypropylene

When you need a material that doesn’t react to acid, polypropylene is the best choice. Many cleaning solutions come in polypropylene bottles and containers. In addition, polypropylene has great electrical resistances, which makes it a perfect choice for an insulating material.

Nylon

Not many people who hear “nylon” think durability, but that wasn’t the case during World War II. The military made gear like parachutes with nylon thanks to its lightweight and waterproof features. Today, there are still several great commercial uses for nylon, but the most common application is in clothing like pantyhose.

Silicone Rubber

Silicone is well known for its ability to handle extremely high and low temperatures, meaning that it’s great in ovens and refrigerators—perfect for cooking accessories! As if that wasn’t enough of a reason to use it in the kitchen, silicone rubber also works great with resistance to water, oil, and chemicals.

Now that you know the most versatile types of plastic and their uses, find a plastic injection molding company that can work with the materials you need and get custom parts to your exact specifications.