Engineering Plastics: A Guide to Acetal, Nylon, Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP) and PEEK

At Simply Plastics, we go beyond everyday plastics by offering a comprehensive range of engineering plastics. These high-performance materials are perfect for demanding industrial, mechanical, and commercial applications. This guide will introduce you to our selection of engineering plastics, their key features, common uses, and a useful comparison table to help you choose the best solution for your next project.

What are engineering plastics?

Engineering plastics are a group of materials designed to perform where traditional plastics and metals, fall short. These high-performance plastics can often replace metal in machine parts thanks to their excellent strength, stiffness, and resistance to wear, heat, and chemicals. They’re widely used in engineering and industrial applications where durability and reliability are essential.

In this guide, we will cover the engineering plastics we supply:

• Acetal Copolymer
• Nylon
• Polyethylene (PE)
• Polypropylene (PP)
• PEEK

What is Acetal Copolymer (POM-C)?

Acetal, also known as Polyoxymethylene Copolymer (POM-C), is a low-friction, wear-resistant plastic ideal for precision machining. Due to its low moisture absorption, it maintains its shape and accuracy even in humid environments.

Common uses:

• Seals and gaskets
• Food processing equipment
• Marine equipment
• Medical instruments
• Filling machinery components

We offer acetal copolymer in both sheet and rod form, available in natural, black, and blue (food grade) finishes.

What is Nylon 6 (Polyamide)?

Nylon 6 (or Polyamide 6) is is a versatile, high-strength engineering plastic known for its excellent wear resistance, low friction, and durability. Ideal for industrial and mechanical applications, it offers outstanding toughness and chemical resistance.

Nylon 6 Cast

Nylon 6 Cast is produced through a casting process that gives it higher strength, hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability compared to extruded Nylon 6, making it ideal for heavy-duty, high-load applications.

Nylon 6 Extruded

Nylon 6 Extruded, manufactured by melting and shaping, is slightly softer, more flexible, and easier to machine then Nylon 6 Cast, making it better suited for smaller, detailed parts or where impact resistance is needed.

Common uses for Nylon 6 Extruded and Cast:

• Gears and sprockets
• Bushes
• Bearings
• Machined parts

What is Nylon Cast LFX Oilon?

LFX Oilon Nylon 6 is a self-lubricating, wear-resistant cast nylon with low friction, which is in an oil-filled green colour. It's an ideal choice for high-load, high-speed applications like bearings, gears, and wear pads, where reduced friction, improved performance and lower maintenance costs are important. Nylon Cast LFX Oilon is commonly used for conveyor parts.

We supply Nylon in both extruded and cast forms, available in sheet and rod options in natural and black finishes and Nylon LFX Oilon sheet and rod.

What is Polyethylene (PE)?

Polyethylene is a durable, versatile engineering plastic renowned for its high impact strength, excellent chemical resistance and low moisture absorption. It is ideal for a wide range of industrial and mechanical applications, as it offers exceptional wear resistance and is highly machinable.

PE300

High-density Polyethylene (HDPE) or PE300 is a durable, lightweight material suitable for general-purpose applications like cutting boards and tanks.

Common uses:

• Food processing
• Automative
• Leisure
• Food industry (tank fabrications)
• Boat construction
• Medical applications
• Water pumps
• Landfill applications

PE500

High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (HMWPE) or PE500 has a higher molecular weight, offering better wear resistance and impact strength, making it ideal for more demanding environments and heavy-duty wear components.

Common uses:

• Food chopping boards
• Leisure equipment
• Conveyor components
• Dairy industry
• Ice rinks

We offer HDPE300 (High Density Polyethylene or HDPE) and PE500 (High Molecular Weight Polyethylene or HMWPE) in sheet and rod forms in a range of colours.

What is Polypropylene (PP)?

Polypropylene is a lightweight, rigid, and highly chemical-resistant plastic, making it ideal for industrial and commercial applications. It offers excellent impact strength, low moisture absorption, and durability. We supply Polypropylene Copolymer (PPC) and Polypropylene Homopolymer (PPH) in sheet and rod form, in a range of colours, including leather grain and pinseal finishes.

PPC (Polypropylene Copolymer)

Polypropylene Copolymer Sheet (PPC) contains a mix of propylene and ethylene, making it tougher, more impact-resistant and better suited for lower temperature applications compared to PPH.

Common uses:

• Chemical tanks
• Protective cladding
• Advertising and signage
• Packaging
• Dairy boards
• Vehicle linings
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Agricultural feeders

PPH (Polypropylene Homopolymer)

PPH is a harder, stronger and more rigid material, offering better chemical resistance and higher temperature tolerance, but it can be more brittle than PPC. It also offers better chemical resistance and high-temperature tolerance.

Common uses:

• Pumps
• Valves
• Gaskets

What is PEEK (Polyetheretherketone)?

PEEK is a premium-grade engineering plastic that performs exceptionally well in high-temperature and high-stress environments. It combines mechanical strength, chemical resistance and flame retardance, making it suitable for demanding industrial and aerospace applications.

Common uses:

• Bearing, seals and o-rings
• Pump, compressor and piston parts
• Valves
• Aerospace and automotive parts
• Medical devices
• Oil and gas industry

We supply PEEK sheet and rods.

Engineering Plastics Comparison

To help you make an informed decision, here's a quick comparison of the key features of each material:

If you need further help choosing the right material, please email us at info@simplyplastics.com or call 01206 638056.

Why Order Engineering Plastics from Simply Plastics?

At Simply Plastics, we don’t just offer high-quality materials; we provide precision-cut plastics backed by outstanding customer service. With over 30 years of expertise in CNC plastic fabrication, we’re committed to delivering top-tier solutions for your project needs. From custom parts to off-the-shelf products, we ensure the highest standards of quality and precision.

Our engineering plastics range includes Acetal, Nylon, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and PEEK in sheet and rod forms, in various colours and finishes, ensuring you get the perfect material for your specific needs.