Ensinger
Solutions To Today's Engineering Problems - Part 3
Parts machined from engineering plastics can replace steel, malleable iron, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, rubber and urethane in machinery.
Ensinger offers a wide selection of engineering plastics in rod and slab shapes. Parts machined from these plastics can replace steel, malleable iron, aluminum, brass, stainless steel, rubber and urethane in machinery and plant process equipment.
Compared with the materials they replace, these parts can offer:
- Noise reduction
- Low / no maintenance
- No process contamination -- no lubrication required
- Increased process equipment reliability
- Increased plan productivity -- lighter parts can be moved more rapidly
- Cost savings -- low machining costs and short lead time
Machining plastic is a good choice for:
- Large or thick section parts that can be molded
- Intricate or close-tolerance parts
- Small quantity applications
- Prototype parts to test a design concept
- Short lead time
Manufacturers are using engineering polymers today, instead of metal, to gain important competitive advantages. Selecting the best material for a specific use from Ensinger's full line of engineering polymers isn't difficult. All you need is some general information about operating conditions, such as temperature extremes, and impact loading. With these facts in hand, you can match your intended use with the drawing below and determine which of Ensinger's materials is most likely to give you the best performance. Your local Laird Plastics representatives are always ready to provide additional recommendations and engineering data as needed.

- 16. Application: Pneumatic Cylinder
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Material Replaced: Steel, Aluminum
Material used: DELRIN®
Benefits:- Increased reliability -- dent resistant plastic
- Flexibility -- tailored sizes can be machined out of plastic, limited selection in metal
- Cost savings
- Weight savings
- 17. Application: Safety Window
-
Material Replaced: Tempered Glass
Material Used: TECANAT™
Benefits:- Less maintenance -- ease of installing (routing holes, drilling, etc.) as compared to glass
- Meets OSHA safety standards -- increased protection due to much better impact strength
- 18. Application: Holding Bearing For Conveyer Chain
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Material Replaced: Steel, Bronze
Material used: DELRIN®
Benefits:- Ease of machining -- time and cost savings
- Lower maintenance -- corrosion resistant plastic replaces corrosion prone steel
- Light weight
- 19. Application: Wear Guide
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Material Replaced: UHMW
Material Used: DELRIN®
Benefits:- Improved heat resistance
- Low friction
- Wear resistance

- 20. Application: Pneumatic Cylinder
-
Material Replaced: Steel, Aluminum
Material used: DELRIN®
Benefits:- Increased reliability -- dent resistant plastic
- Flexibility -- tailored sizes can be machined out of plastic, limited selection in metal
- Cost savings
- Weight savings
- 21. Application: Conveyer Rollers
-
Material Replaced: Steel, Aluminum, Rubber
Material Used: TACAMID™ 6/6 Nylon
Benefits:- Lower maintenance -- more durability and scratch resistant
- Less noise
PRODUCT PROFILES
TECAMID™ Nylon
The industrial standard for machined plastic. High strength and toughness combined with high temperature properties and excellent resistance to grease, oil and solvents.
Primary Applications:
- Gears
- Seals
- Wear plates
- Timing screws
- Washers
- Bushings
- Bearings
Grades Available:
- Tecamid™ 6/6 -- standard grade
- Tecamid™ 6/12 -- low moisture absorption
- Tecamid™ ST801
- Tecamid™ 6/6 MDS -- low surface friction, enhanced lubricity
Chemical Resistance
- Aliphatic, Aromatic Hydrocarbons -- excellent (fuels, oils, solvents)
- Organic compounds -- excellent (ketones, esters, aldehydes)
- Partially halogenated hydrocarbons -- good to poor (methylene chloride, chloroform)
Physical Properties:
Service Temperature 250°F
Coefficient of friction:
- Tecamid™ 6/6 on Tecamid&trade 6/6 -- Static-0.36, Dynamic-0.11
- Tecamid™ 6/6 on steel -- Static-0.31, Dynamic-0.17
Other Physical Properties:
- High wear resistance
- High tensile strength
- FDA approved grades
TECANAT™
TECANAT™ GF20
An unfilled machine grade polycarbonate. GF20 is a 20% glass filled polycarbonate. It has very high impact strength, and excellent clarity and tensile properties.
Primary Applications:
- Rollers
- Handles
- Protective windows
- Down hole oil well parts
- Computer printer heads
- High impact applications
Grades Available:
- Tecanat™ -- Unfilled
- Tecanat™ GF20 20% Glass
- High tensile grade
Chemical Resistance
- Water, Mineral acids and organic acids -- good
- Aliphatic hydrocarbons -- excellent (alcohols and ethers)
- Aromatic hydrocarbons -- fair
- Chlorinated hydrocarbons -- poor
- Strong Alkaline solutions -- poor
Physical Properties:
Service Temperature 250°F
Brittleness Temperature 200°F
Impact Strength:
- Izod Impact-15 ft-lbs/in
- Dynatup Impact-47 ft-lbs.
Other Physical Properties:
- Clarity
- Tensile strength
- Electrical properties
DELRIN® is a registered trademark of the DuPont Company.