Properties of Common Plastics
The below table is a handy guide for knowing the key properties of the most commonly used plastics in the modern laboratory: LDPE, HDPE, PP, PTFE, PC, & PMP. The table listed provides data on the key properties of temperature limits, flexibility, and strength.
Properties of Common Plastics
| Property | Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) | High Density Polyethyelene (HDPE) | Polypropylene (PP) | PTFE FEP | Polycarbonate (PC) | Polymethylpentene (PMP) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature Limit, °C | 80 | 120 | 135 | 205 | 135 | 175 |
| Specific Gravity | 0.92 | 0.95 | 0.9 | 2.15 | 1.2 | 0.83 |
| Tensile Strength, psi | 2000 | 4000 | 5000 | 3000 | 8000 | 4000 |
| Brittleness Temperature, °C | -100 | -100 | 0 | -270 | -135 | 20 |
| Water Absorption, % | <0.01 | <0.01 | <0.02 | <0.01 | 0.35 | <0.01 |
| Flexibility | excellent | rigid | rigid | excellent | rigid | rigid |
| Transparency | translucent | translucent | translucent | translucent | clear | clear |
(The above data is provided courtesy of Ace Glass, Inc.)