Despite their mechanical and chemical differences, plastics can be divided into different classes. For example, there are thermoplastics that can be deformed when heated, or elastomers that can be permanently cold-formed. The most popular plastics in the Sattler-SCM range include:
- Polycarbonate (PC),
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS),
- Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE),
- Polyamide (PA),
- polyoxymethylene (POM) and
- Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
PC is often used for glazing due to its properties.
Polycarbonate (PC) is a crystal-clear and highly scratch-resistant plastic that is very well suited for durable glazing. Double-skin sheets can be used to create light-flooded and weather-resistant roofing. Its good formability makes polycarbonate indispensable in the automotive industry for the construction of modern shaped headlights.
ABS is characterized by high mechanical and thermal resistance
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) is not only suitable for manufacturing the well-known building blocks of a Danish toy manufacturer. Its high resistance to fats and oils and its temperature resistance make ABS an ideal material for household items and molded parts in mechanical engineering.
Thermoplastic elastomers can be processed very well
Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) are special plastics that combine the properties of conventional elastomers with those of classic thermoplastics. When TPEs are heated, they can be permanently molded into a new shape. This makes it possible, for example, to produce very individually shaped and high-quality sealing elements.
Polyamide is one of the most popular plastics
Polyamides (PA) are plastics with a high resistance to greases, mineral oils and fuels. For this reason, it is impossible to imagine the automotive industry without PA, where it is used to manufacture hoses and fuel lines. But engine covers and oil pans are also frequently made from polyamides.
The special properties of POM can be put to good use in precision engineering
Polyoxymethylenes (POM) are very dimensionally stable and abrasion-resistant plastics. This makes them particularly suitable for the manufacture of precision components such as gears, chains or slip clutches. POM can also be machined better than most other plastics using metal-cutting techniques.
The high transparency of PMMA can be used for a variety of applications.
PMMA is also known as acrylic glass and is used in architecture and aquarium construction to create highly translucent and boldly curved fronts. By means of special surface coatings, PMMA acquires a scratch resistance similar to that of polycarbonate.
