Prototyping materials play a pivotal role in the product development process, serving as the foundation upon which ideas are transformed into tangible prototypes. These materials are carefully selected to align with specific design requirements, functionality, and testing needs during the iterative stages of product development. From exploring concepts to validating designs, prototyping materials enable engineers and designers to visualize, test, and refine their ideas before moving into full-scale production.
ABS
With good comprehensive properties, it has high impact toughness and good mechanical properties, excellent heat resistance, oil resistance, chemical stability, and stable dimensions. It also has good electrical performance.
Application
Used for general structural or wear-resistant force transmission parts and corrosion-resistant equipment.
PC
It has outstanding impact toughness and creep resistance, with very high heat resistance and good cold resistance, reaching a brittle temperature of -100°C. It has bending and tensile strength equivalent to nylon, as well as a higher elongation and elastic modulus. However, its fatigue strength is lower than nylon 66, and it has low water absorption and minimal shrinkage, with good dimensional stability. Its wear resistance is equivalent to nylon, and it has some corrosion resistance. The drawback is that it requires high molding conditions.
Application
Can be used for various gears, worm gears, racks, cams, bearings, arbors, pulleys, transmission chains, nuts, washers, pump impellers, lampshades, containers, housings, covers, etc.
POM (Derlin)
Polyoxymethylene is derived from formaldehyde polymerization. It is a high-density, highly crystalline thermoplastic engineering plastic. It has good physical, mechanical, and chemical properties, especially outstanding friction resistance. It is precisely because of these exceptional chemical and physical properties, which are comparable to steel but lighter in weight, that it is referred to as “super steel”!
Application
Particularly suitable for making gears and bearings. It is also used for pipeline components (pipe valves, pump casings) due to its high temperature resistance.
PMMA (Acrylic)
Polymethyl methacrylate is a rigid, hard, colorless and transparent material, with a density of 1.18-1.19g/cm3, a relatively small refractive index of about 1.49, light transmittance of 93%, and haze not greater than 2%. It is a high-quality organic transparent material.
Application
Used in aircraft as cockpit canopies, windshields, and chord windows. It is also used as windshields and windows for jeeps, skylights for large buildings, screens for televisions and radars, protective covers for instruments and equipment, outer casings for telecommunication instruments, and optical lenses on telescopes and cameras.
PA (Nylon)
It has high strength, particularly tensile and impact strength. It has good heat resistance, capable of withstanding high-temperature environments. Generally, its heat resistance can reach 100°C to 150°C, and special grades can even exceed 200°C. However, it has high water absorption, leading to poor dimensional stability.
Application
Widely used in the manufacturing of mechanical, automotive, chemical, and electrical device parts, such as gears, rollers, pulleys, shafts, impellers in pump housings, fan blades, high-pressure sealing rings, valve seats, gaskets, bushings, various handles, support brackets, and wire coatings.
PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate)
Mechanical properties: high strength, fatigue resistance, dimensional stability, minimal creep even under high temperature conditions, and minimal change under high-temperature conditions, heat aging resistance: the UL temperature index reaches 120-140°C (excellent long-term outdoor aging resistance), solvent resistance: no stress cracking, water stability: PBT is prone to decomposition when exposed to water, so cautious usage is recommended in high-temperature and high-humidity environments.
Application
Electronics and electrical appliances: connectors, switch components, household appliances, accessory parts, small motor covers (for heat resistance, flame retardancy, electrical insulation, and molding processability).
PEEK (Polyether Ether Ketone)
PEEK, a high-temperature resistant polymer, has a high glass transition temperature (Tg=143°C) and melting point (Tm=334°C), with a high load thermal deformation temperature of up to 316°C, a long-term operating temperature of 260°C, and an instantaneous use temperature of up to 300°C.
Mechanical properties: PEEK has both rigidity and flexibility, especially outstanding fatigue resistance under alternating stress, which can be compared to alloy materials.
Application
PEEK is widely used in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, electronics, electrical, medical, and food processing industries.
PP (Polypropylene)
Polypropylene has outstanding rigidity, good high-temperature (90°C) stress relaxation resistance, and good heat resistance, capable of use at temperatures above 100°C without deformation when not under external force, and is stable in many media except for concentrated sulfuric acid and concentrated nitric acid. It is almost non-absorbent, has poor high-frequency electrical properties, is easy to mold but has high shrinkage, becomes brittle at low temperatures, and has low wear resistance.
Application
Used for general structural components, corrosion-resistant chemical equipment, and heat-resistant electrical insulating components.
PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide)
PPS is characterized by high rigidity, high strength, high-temperature resistance, and dimensional stability, excellent electrical performance, insulation, flame resistance (UL94 V-0), good toughness, impact resistance, resistance to chemical corrosion, good flowability, low flash, high gloss, and ease of processing. It has long-term heat resistance of over 162°C and a heat deflection temperature of over 264°C, making it an excellent engineering plastic with comprehensive performance.
Application
Commonly used in the manufacturing of PPS pipes, PPS sheets, and other materials, widely applied in construction and home appliances.
Aluminum
Aluminum alloy has the characteristics of low density, excellent mechanical properties, good processing performance, non-toxic, recyclable, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and excellent corrosion resistance.
Application
It is widely used in the marine industry, chemical industry, aerospace, metal packaging, transportation, and other fields.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is an alloy material primarily composed of iron, chromium, nickel, and other elements, with the addition of elements such as molybdenum, titanium, niobium, and thorium. It has excellent corrosion resistance, mechanical properties, and good workability.
Application
Used in automotive components, electronics, aerospace, marine, and other fields, with broad application prospects.
Titanium Alloy
Titanium alloy is an alloy composed primarily of titanium with the addition of other elements. Titanium alloy materials are known for being lightweight, strong, with low elasticity, and resistant to high temperatures and corrosion.
Application
- Aerospace: Due to its high corrosion resistance and strength, titanium alloys are widely used in the aerospace industry.
- Medical Industry: Titanium alloy has excellent biocompatibility and can be used for implants in the human body.
- Automotive: Titanium alloys have high strength and lightweight properties, which can help reduce the weight of vehicles and improve their performance.
- Maritime Industry: Titanium alloys can be used for ship hulls due to their corrosion resistance and impact resistance, thus extending the lifespan of the vessels.
Brass
Brass has excellent machinability, a relatively low melting point, good flowability, and excellent electrical conductivity. It also has good corrosion resistance.
Application
In the electrical and electronic industries, such as electrical appliances, switches, wires, and other electrical equipment, brass is used as a conductor and insulator material, significantly improving the performance and safety of the equipment. Brass is also widely used in the automotive industry, for applications such as railway brake systems, switches, cylinders, and other transmission components.
