Physical Properties of Plastics

Reprinted with permission of Nalge Nunc International

Table Scrolls Horizontally

Resin
Max use
temp
(°F/°C)
Brittleness
temp
(°F/°C)
Transparency
Sterilization
Specific
gravity
(g/mL)
Flexibility
Permeability (approximate
cc-mm/m2-24hr-Br
Water
absorption
(%)
Autoclave
Gas
Dry
heat
Radiation*
Disinfectants
N2
O2
CO2
ECTFE, ETFE
302/150
-157/-105
Translucent
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
1.70
Rigid
—
—
—
<0.03
FEP
401/205
-454/-270
Translucent
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
2.15
Excel
4960
11,625
34,100
<0.01
HDPE
248/120
-148/-100
Translucent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
0.95
Rigid
651
2868
8990
<0.01
LDPE
176/80
-148/-100
Translucent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
0.92
Excel
2790
7750
41,850
<0.01
NYL
194/90
32/0
Translucent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
1.13
Rigid
—
—
—
1.30
PPCO
250/121
-40/-40
Translucent
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
0.90
Mod
698
3100
10,075
<0.02
PC
275/135
-211/-135
Transparent
Yes**
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
1.20
Rigid
755
4650
16,663
0.35
PETG
158/70
<-40/<-40
Transparent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
1.27
Mod
155
388
1240
0.15
PFA
482/250
-454/-270
Translucent
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
2.15
Excel
4511
13,656
35,030
<0.03
PK
220
-40
Opaque
Yes
Yes
—
Yes
Some
1.24
Rigid
—
3.1
25
0.45
PMMA
122/50
—
Transparent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Some
1.20
Rigid
—
—
310
0.35
PMP
347/175
68/20
Transparent
Yes
Yes
Yes**
No
Yes
0.83
Rigid
17,050
69,750
—
0.01
PP
275/135
32/0
Translucent
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
0.90
Rigid
744
3720
12,400
<0.02
PS
194/90
68/20
Transparent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Some
1.05
Rigid
853
4650
17,825
0.05
PSF
329/165
-148/-100
Transparent
Yes
Yes
Yes**
Yes
Yes
1.24
Rigid
853
4650
10,850
0.30
PTFE
500/260
-450/-267
Translucent
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
2.15
Rigid
—
—
—
0.01
PUR
180/82
-94/-70
Transparent
Yes**tt
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
1.20
Excel
—
1162-5068
6975-25,575
0.03
PVC
158/70
-22/-30
Transparent
No**ttt
Yes
No
No
Yes
1.34
Rigid
31-310
62
62
0.15-0.75
PVDF
230/110
-80/-62
Translucent
No
Yes
No
No
Yes
1.75
Rigid
140
217
7828
0.05
TPE
250/121
—
Opaque
Yes
Yes
No
—
Some
1.20
Excel
481-2248
1317-10,013
13,950-133,827
<0.01
XLPE
212/100
-180/-118
Translucent
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
0.93
Rigid
—
—
—
<0.01
*Radiation—gamma irradiation at 2.5 mrad with unstabilized plastic.
**Sterilizing reduces mechanical strength. Do not use PC vessels for vacuum applications if they have been autoclaved.
ttPUR tubing is not autoclavable.
tttSome PVC tubing may be autoclaved; see specific product information.
Halar—Reg TM Allied Corp.
Kynar—Reg TM Elf Atochem North America
Tefzel—Reg TM E. I. Du Pont de Nemours & Co.
TPX—Reg TM Mitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.