We offer a wide range of plastic materials and granulates for the manufacture of precision parts, housings and multi-component injection molded parts.
Our standard plastics include PE, PS, ABS and PP, which are characterized by high availability and a favorable price range. Technical plastics such as PA6, PET, PBT and PC, on the other hand, offer better mechanical properties and higher heat resistance. For special requirements that require high performance, we offer high-performance plastics such as PEI, PBI, PPS, PPE and LCP. These materials are characterized by their high temperature and chemical resistance and are therefore suitable for demanding applications.
We also offer reinforced or filled materials to meet specific needs. We obtain our granules from renowned suppliers such as Covestro, BASF, Albis and others to ensure the high quality and consistency of our products. If you need more information about our plastic materials, we are at your disposal.
Our engineers at N&H will be happy to advise you on selecting the right material for your requirements.
Standard plastics PE, PS, ABS, PP
Standard plastics or mass-produced plastics are thermoplastics that are produced very cheaply in large quantities and can be used in a variety of ways.
In addition to its excellent usability for various packaging solutions, polyethylene also offers impressive electrical insulation properties. These make it a preferred material for covering cables and for producing non-conductive components within the electrical industry.
In addition, it impresses with its excellent chemical resistance to a variety of acids, oils and bases, which makes it attractive for a wide range of applications. Polyethylene also impresses with its good sliding behavior and low wear, which underlines its longevity and reliability.
Another notable advantage of this plastic is its lower gas and water vapor permeability compared to other plastics. This contributes significantly to maintaining the shelf life and freshness of packaged goods. Although polyethylene floats on water, increasing its versatility, it can become brittle when exposed to direct sunlight, which is an aspect that should be considered when selecting the material for outdoor applications.
Regarding thermal properties, polyethylene begins to soften at temperatures above 80°C, with its heat resistance being around 45°C. These thermal limits are important for the processing and application of polyethylene products to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
Polystyrene, a transparent, amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic, is a popular standard plastic due to its cost-effectiveness and versatility. This material can be processed in two main forms: as a solid thermoplastic material or as foam, with foamed polystyrene sold under the well-known trade name Styrofoam.
One of the outstanding properties of polystyrene is its excellent resistance to aqueous alkalis and mineral acids, as well as its resistance to the effects of water. However, it should be noted that it tends to rot under the influence of UV radiation and also has limited heat resistance, with a maximum continuous use temperature of 70°C.
In its unmodified form, polystyrene has a low melting point and is characterized by its hardness, brittleness and sensitivity to impacts. It is also relatively permeable to oxygen and water vapor. To improve these properties and expand the range of applications, various polystyrene variants have been developed, including impact-resistant polystyrene (SB), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile polymers (SAN) and acrylonitrile-styrene-acryl ester -Polymers (ASA).
Polystyrene is also characterized by a low tendency to shrink or shrink, which enables the production of components with very fine contours, edges and smooth surfaces. This leads to components that fit as accurately as possible, which is particularly valued in the manufacturing industry.
It is widely used in the production of mass-produced items such as CD cases, flower trays or food packaging. In addition, switches and housings are also made from polystyrene in electrical engineering due to its good insulation properties.
In addition, polypropylene impresses with its impressive tensile strength, temperature resistance and surface hardness. These properties help polypropylene have exceptional resistance to fatigue, making it an ideal material for long-term applications.
It is important to mention that polypropylene can be used in a temperature range of 0 to +100°C. However, it should be noted that it becomes brittle comparatively quickly below 0°C, which should be taken into account for applications in cold environments.
Polypropylene is one of the most widely produced plastics in the world, which underlines its wide acceptance and applicability in various industries. It is used in a range of mass-produced applications including household appliances, toys, sporting goods, car interiors, medical devices and food packaging. In addition, polypropylene in the form of PP fibers is also used in home textiles and carpets, which shows its flexibility and adaptability to different needs and areas of use.
One of the outstanding features of ABS is its extraordinary resistance to oils, fats and high temperatures, which is largely achieved through the addition of acrylonitrile. In addition, ABS offers high rigidity, toughness and strength, complemented by excellent impact and scratch resistance. This combination makes ABS an ideal material for applications that require high resilience.
ABS can also be easily coated with other polymers or metals, which further increases its possible uses. However, it should be noted that ABS is considered to be normally flammable and produces dark smoke when burned, which can be harmful to health. The optimal long-term use temperature of this plastic is between 60°C and 80°C, which should be taken into account when using it.
ABS became known worldwide primarily through its use in children's play blocks. However, its versatility extends far beyond this to the production of consumer goods and technical applications in the automotive and electrical industries. There it is used in a variety of products, from molded parts and housings for computers and telephones to instrument panels in vehicles.
Technical plastics such as PA6, PET, PBT, PMMA, PC
Engineering plastics are thermoplastics and have better mechanical properties than standard plastics. They are therefore also suitable for technical applications and construction applications.
Its high transparency, with a light transmission of 89%, makes it an ideal material for optical components such as lenses, spectacle lenses, protective glazing and headlights. Additionally, polycarbonate can be colored in a variety of shades, increasing its design flexibility.
As an excellent electrical insulator, polycarbonate is also used in electrical components. It shows good resistance to many oils and dilute acids, but has limited resistance to bases, some chlorinated hydrocarbons and UV light.
In outdoor applications without a protective coating, polycarbonate can become brittle over time and its transparency may yellow. However, chemical and UV resistance can be improved by using suitable varnishes and stabilizers. In addition, polycarbonates are flammable, with the flame extinguishing once the ignition source is removed, and they meet fire class B2 according to DIN 4102.
Polycarbonate can be processed by all common thermoplastic molding processes, including injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, calendering and pressing. However, the high viscosity of the melt requires processing temperatures of over 240°C and high injection pressure, which in turn places increased demands on the tools. The constant temperature resistance of polycarbonate is between around -60°C and +110°C, with a short-term load capacity of up to +135°C.
As a polar plastic, polyamide 6 shows good resistance to diluted alkalis, fuels, alcohols, esters, ketones and oils, although it is susceptible to strong acids. Its operating temperature range extends from approximately -30 °C to +100 °C, which can be significantly expanded through modifications such as reinforcement with glass fibers in order to increase the continuous use temperature and thus the performance under thermal stress.
PA 6 plastic parts offer the advantage that they do not corrode and have a low weight. These properties make them an attractive alternative to metallic materials in many areas of application.
Typical areas of application include plain bearings, gears and rollers in mechanical engineering as well as in transport and conveyor technology. In addition, glass fiber reinforced polyamides are used in demanding environments such as the vehicle engine compartment due to their increased temperature resistance and mechanical strength.
In everyday use, we encounter PA 6 products in the form of dowels, cable ties and strings for musical instruments, underlining the versatility of this material. An important aspect of using PA 6 is its increased moisture absorption when stored in water, which must be taken into account when designing products used in humid environments.
PET is particularly known for its high mechanical strength and hardness. It also offers the advantage of being wrinkle-free, tear-resistant and weather-resistant while absorbing very little water. These properties make PET an ideal material for the production of hollow objects such as blow-molded bottles, as well as fibers (polyester), foils, films and adhesive tapes.
PBT, on the other hand, is often used as a construction material for technical applications such as plug connections and housing parts due to its more favorable processing properties in injection molding. It is characterized by greater importance in areas where robustness and precision are required.
Both types of polyester offer good resistance to many chemicals, oils, fats and alcohols. However, they are unstable to strong inorganic acids, halogenated hydrocarbons and ketones and react sensitively to very high temperatures by burning with a very sooty flame.
While their electrical insulating properties can be classified as mediocre compared to polycarbonates (PC), PET and PBT allow a wide range of application temperatures: semi-crystalline PET can be used permanently from -20 °C to +120 °C, with specific shapes such as PET-C , which have an application range of -20 to +120 °C, and PET-A, which ranges from -40 to +60 °C. PBT, on the other hand, is suitable for temperatures between -50 °C and +120 °C.
The main processes for producing molded parts from PET or PBT are injection molding and extrusion. The injection-stretch blow molding process is used specifically for the production of hollow plastic bodies or bottles, which makes optimal use of the outstanding properties of these materials and ensures high-quality end products.
PMMA is easily shaped and machined before it cures, and can be formed into various shapes through casting, extrusion, CNC milling and laser cutting. However, despite its strength and hardness, it is susceptible to scratches and can break under heavy load or impact. PMMA can withstand temperatures from -40 to +75 °C and even up to 100 °C for short periods, while it becomes malleable above 120 °C.
It shows high resistance to many chemical substances, including acids, alkalis of medium concentration and non-polar solvents.
At the chemical level, PMMA consists of methyl methacrylate monomers bonded through polymerization. This structure gives it its characteristic physical properties.
We use PMMA for example for Front cover made of acrylic glass >>
High performance plastics such as PPE, PEI, PBI, PPS, LCP
High-performance plastics are a subgroup of thermoplastics that differ from engineering plastics and standard plastics in particular in terms of their temperature resistance, chemical resistance and mechanical properties.
By combining it with polystyrene, the glass transition temperature and thus the properties of the material can be further adjusted, increasing the versatility of PPE in technical applications.
In addition to its impressive heat resistance, PPE has excellent electrical insulating properties and guarantees long-term dimensional stability. These features make it an ideal material for precise requirements in the electronics, household and automotive industries. The high dimensional stability and dimensional accuracy of PPE are particularly in demand where precise tolerances and long-term dimensional stability under the influence of heat are crucial.
The surface of PPE can be processed in many ways; It can be printed, hot-stamped, painted or metallized. These finishing options open up further application possibilities and allow the production of visually appealing and functionally specialized molded parts.
The use of PPE in the manufacture of molded parts for the electronics, household and automotive industries highlights its unparalleled ability to withstand high temperatures while providing precision and long-term performance. The combination of high thermal properties, electrical insulation, dimensional stability and the possibility of surface finishing makes PPE a preferred material for highly specialized technical applications.
PEI is characterized by its excellent electrical dielectric strength, as well as its resistance to hydrolysis and radiation, including UV and gamma rays. Furthermore, it offers excellent chemical resistance, especially against chlorine as well as caustic and acid-rich cleaning agents. These properties make PEI an exceptionally durable material in demanding environmental conditions.
With a service temperature that exceeds 200 °C for short periods and can be maintained at 170 °C for long periods, PEI is particularly suitable for applications that require high temperature resistance. The material's flame-retardant, low-smoke nature underlines its suitability for critical applications in the aerospace and electronics industries, where safety and performance are critical.
The combination of thermal resistance, mechanical properties and chemical resistance makes PEI a preferred material for demanding technical applications. It is particularly valuable in areas that require not only high performance but also reliability in extreme conditions, such as aerospace, electronics, automotive and other technically advanced fields.
