10 Most widely used plastic resins for injection molding process
Plastic injection molding is a manufacturing process that has been popular over the years. It involves melting plastic resins and injecting the molten material into a mold, which is then cooled and solidified to produce a finished product. With hundreds of different plastic resins available on the market, choosing the right one for your application can be overwhelming. However, it doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most commonly used plastic resins for injection molding, their unique properties, advantages, and disadvantages.
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
ABS is a popular plastic resin in the world of injection molding. It has superior properties such as toughness, impact resistance, heat resistance, durability, and strength, making it a great choice for multiple industries. Its lightweight and strength make it an excellent choice for the automotive industry. ABS is a perfect fit for applications that require toughness, as it combines the strengths of both acrylonitrile and styrene polymers. It can be easily molded into desirable shapes and offers glossy effects with a superior finish quality. ABS plastics are commonly used in appliances, computer parts, housing equipment, sports and musical instruments, medical devices, helmets, toys, electronics, automobiles, and more.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
LDPE is one of the most flexible types of plastic resins available. It is widely used for its superior moisture resistance properties, chemical resistance, impact strength, as well as cost-effectiveness. LDPE is used in a wide range of applications, including household goods, medical products, electrical wirings, computer components, food industry (like juice boxes), toys, agricultural products, furniture, compost bins, and more. However, LDPE has low-temperature resistance and is not suitable for high-temperature environments.
HDPE has a higher impact resistance, moisture resistance, heat resistance, tensile strength, and ductility compared to LDPE. Additionally, HDPE is a food-grade plastic and is a preferred resin when it comes to food packaging materials. HDPE is used in applications that require more strength, rigidity, and heat resistance, such as kitchenware, refrigerator shelves, plastic bags, plastic containers, water bottles, and more. HDPE is not only inexpensive to start with, but it is also 100% recyclable, making it a highly cost-efficient plastic resin.
- Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonates are extremely hard and strong plastics that provide high impact resistance. Additionally, PC plastic resins are transparent and amorphous and are used in applications where transparency and strength are required together. PC plastic resins are commonly used to manufacture bulletproof glass. Other uses of PC are in the manufacture of eyeglasses, lenses, medical devices, mobile phones, DVDs, and car parts.
- Polyamide (Nylon)
Polyamide or Nylon is a plastic resin that finds usage in a large range of sectors. This plastic resin comes with superior properties such as toughness, chemical and electrical resistance, wear resistance, as well as stability. Nylon polymers offer resistance to rugged environments that bring in abrasion, high impact, or chemical contacts. Polyamide or Nylon plastic resin is used largely in the production of medical parts, automotive industry, sports gear, and other industrial tools and equipment.
- High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS)
HIPS resin offers good dimensional stability, impact resistance, and customizable surfaces, which are easy to decorate. Applications that require printing, use of glues, and decoration parts use HIPS. Applications like display boards, garden equipment, packaging material, TV parts, toys.
- POLYPROPYLENE (PP)
PP is a widely used plastic resin globally, prized for its excellent chemical and electrical resistance, hardness, high melting point, stress resistance, and elasticity. It is also valued for its insulating properties.
To customize the plastic resin and add strength, various fillers and additives are used, giving it the nickname “the steel of the plastics.”
PP is used in a diverse range of applications, such as electrical equipment, household appliances, automotive industry, packaging materials, and construction purposes. Its popularity in the food and beverage industry is due to its non-leaching and food-safe properties.
It is also used in combination with other plastics to create a range of products, including kitchen and tableware, toys, medical components, and washing machine buckets.
- ACRYLIC (PMMA)
Acrylic, also known as PMMA, is a widely used plastic resin that is often used as a substitute for glass. Its properties of transparency, chemical resistance, hardness, impact resistance, and dimensional stability make it a popular choice for a wide range of applications that use plastic injection molding.
Acrylic is also a low-cost plastic resin that is easily available. It is used to make windows, car screens, picture frames, beauty products, paints, and eye lenses.
- POLYETHERETHERKETONE (PEEK)
PEEK is a high-performance plastic that offers exceptional resistance to harsh chemicals and thermal and aqueous degradation. Its strength and robust properties make it suitable for various applications, including piston parts, compressor plates, and pumps.
PEEK’s chemical resistance properties also make it a good choice for use in liquid chromatography columns and other parts used in chemical processing industries. It is widely used in the automotive industry, aerospace, and even in medical implants.
- ACETAL/ POLYOXYMETHYLENE (POM)
Acetal, also known as polyoxymethylene, is popular for its outstanding properties such as hardness, wear resistance, chemical resistance, and good colorization properties. It also has low moisture absorption and good heat distortion properties.
Acetal is a great choice for applications where dimensional stability and friction resistance are required. It is widely used in the food and beverage industries, as well as in the automotive industries, household appliances, and plastic gears.
Acetal’s properties of minimizing friction make it an excellent choice for point of contact applications such as guitar picks, buckles, pumps, and valve parts.
- THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANE (TPU)
TPU is an elastic plastic resin that is ideal for products requiring rubber-like elasticity. Its high tensile strength and ability to withstand high temperatures make it suitable for cable insulations, electrical tools, and sports gear.
Choosing the right plastic resin for a part using plastic injection molding is crucial for optimal performance and can save time and money during the manufacturing process. It is essential to understand that different applications have varying material needs when it comes to injection molded plastics. The wide range of plastic resins available provides endless opportunities for plastic molding designs.
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