Heat-Resistant Plastics: Types, Uses, and Advantages

When we are talking about plastic, this synthetic material has been developing since it was invented in the 19th century. One of the most widely used innovations in various industries is heat-resistant plastic.

This plastic is an advanced product since it combines resistance to heat, mechanical pressure, and corrosion. Then, what are the types and what is their role in the industry? Find the answer below.

What Are Heat-Resistant Plastics?

Heat-resistant plastics can bear continuous operational or usage temperatures of up to 150°C. These plastics can also resist temperatures of up to 250°C in short-term exposure.

This heat-resistant property can be developed by augmenting additives, such as glass and carbon fibers, to prevent it from melting, losing its function, and changing shape during high-temperature exposure. The additives also improve other properties, such as strength, rigidity, and dimensional stability.

Heat-resistant plastics can have specific temperature characteristics, such as Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT), Glass Transition Temperature (Tg), and Continuous Use Temperature (CUT).

The HDT indicates that the plastic can bend under certain pressures. The Tg indicates the temperature at which the plastic ceases to be as hard as glass and becomes softer or more flexible.

Lastly, the CUT is the highest temperature a plastic can withstand over the long term without suffering damage or losing its strength.

Why Must You Choose Heat-Resistant Plastics?

There are several reasons why heat-resistant plastics are more preferred in various industries than metal, though both can withstand high temperatures excellently. Here are the reasons:

Corrosion-resistant: Some types of plastic are more resistant to corrosion than metals, especially when exposed to certain chemicals. This property is important for manufacturing heat- and corrosion-resistant products.
Lightweight: This plastic is lighter than metal, making it suitable for industries that require durable yet efficient products, such as the automotive components industry.
Insulating properties: Heat-resistant plastic serves as an effective insulator against both electricity and heat, making it highly suitable for use in sensitive electronic devices that can be disrupted by conductivity.
Flexible: Heat-resistant plastic can be shaped using a variety of methods to produce a wide range of products. The most common methods are injection molding and 3D printing.
Easy to sterilize: This property is important for medical products that must be sterilized repeatedly. Heat-resistant plastic can withstand high-temperature steam from the sterilization process without losing its functionality.

Types of Heat-Resistant Plastics

In general, heat-resistant plastics are divided into two types: amorphous and semicrystalline. Both have a primary difference in melting point. For instance, amorphous heat-resistant plastic usually does not have a certain melting point but slowly softens when the temperature rises. Below are types of heat-resistant plastics specifically:

1. Polyetherimide (PEI)

PEI is an amorphous plastic with a CUT of around 170°C. PEI has high tensile strength and dielectric properties. It is usually utilized in the aerospace industry to craft cabin interiors.

2. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

PTFE is easily found in kitchenware like frying pans. You might be familiar with PTFE as Teflon. PTFE can withstand temperatures of around 260°C without degrading. Also, this semicrystalline plastic is non-stick, resistant to various chemicals, and does not react with metal.

3. Polyether Ether Ketone (PEEK)

PEEK is a thermoplastic that can be reused up to 260°C. This plastic is popular for its excellent strength and rigidity. Moreover, this semicrystalline plastic is resistant to significant pressure.

You can find PEEK in the automotive, aerospace, and biomedical industries, where its products must withstand high heat and mechanical stress.

4. Polyamide-Imide (PAI)

Polyamide-imide can withstand temperatures up to 260°C. This thermoplastic offers excellent strength and rigidity in high temperatures. Furthermore, this amorphous plastic is wear-resistant, making it suitable for harsh conditions. PAI is commonly used to manufacture products subjected to high operational loads, such as gears and mechanical components.

5. Polybenzimidazole (PBI)

PBI is a heat-resistant thermoset that can withstand temperatures up to 260 °C for extended periods without degrading.

This type of plastic is resistant to most chemicals; has good thermal and electrical insulation properties, high mechanical strength, and wear resistance; and has good biocompatibility. PBI is commonly used to manufacture components in the oil and gas, electronics, and chemical industries.

Explore High-Quality Plastic Raw Material from Chandra Asri Group

Heat-resistant plastics are the right choice for products that must function in challenging environmental conditions. That is why this type of plastic is often used in various industries, ranging from the chemical, automotive, and aviation industries to the medical field.

However, there are also several types of heat-resistant plastics used for household products, such as polypropylene and HDPE. Both have fairly good heat resistance, making them suitable for food containers, cleaning product bottles, jerry cans, and packaging.

Regarding polypropylene and HDPE, Chandra Asri Group, a provider of energy, infrastructure, and chemical solutions, produces high-quality polypropylene under the Trilene® brand and HDPE under the Asrene® brand.

Our industrial chemicals undergo rigorous monitoring and testing before packaging, ensuring their quality is beyond doubt. Furthermore, our polyolefin products are certified halal by the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI).

Then, our Singapore-based subsidiary, Aster, also supplies high-quality HDPE and other chemical raw materials for use by various industries around the world.

So, do not hesitate to entrust your company’s plastic building block needs to Chandra Asri Group and Aster, #YourGrowthPartner!