Engineering resins are a category of polymers typically used in more demanding applications than commodity resins. They typically have properties that offer higher performance such heat, chemical, and impact strength resistance which makes them well suited to replacement of metals and other materials in a wide range of electrical/electronic, automotive, aerospace, medical, and industrial applications. They include volume engineering resins ABS, PC, and nylons 6 and 66, as well as PBT, PEEK, PPO, PPS, higher-temperature nylons such as PPAs (polyphthalamides), POM, and LCPs.
Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 27: Liquid-Crystal Polymers
Liquid-crystal polymers debuted in the mid-1980s, but the history of the chemistry associated with this class of materials actually starts a century earlier.
Engineering Resins: Essential Reading
Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials, Part 26: High-Performance Thermoplastics
The majority of the polymers that today we rely on for outstanding performance — such as polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone and PPS — were introduced in the period between 1965 and 1985. Here’s how they entered your toolbox of engineering of materials.
How Do You Like Your Acetal: Homopolymer or Copolymer?
Acetal materials have been a commercial option for more than 50 years.
PBT and PET Polyester: The Difference Crystallinity Makes
To properly understand the differences in performance between PET and PBT we need to compare apples to apples—the semi-crystalline forms of each polymer.
Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials: Polyphenylene Oxide Blends
PPO was a promising new high-performance thermoplastic, but it could be made useful only by mixing it with a humble commodity resin.
Tracing the History of Polymeric Materials: Polyphenylene Oxide
Behind the scenes of the discovery of PPO.
FAQ: Engineering Resins
Lower mold temperatures and the associated faster cooling rates produce higher levels of internal stress in the molded part. This arises in part because of the more rapid development of the frozen layer as the material flows into the mold. This can result in flow lines that are visual evidence of impeded flow. It also produces a higher degree of retained orientation in the more rapidly cooled layers at the exterior surface.