How To Choose The Right Plastic Material?
Do you know how many types of plastic materials out there?
No idea? We neither. Actually there are thousands of different type plastic materials, serves so many kinds of industries, and exists everywhere in our daily life. Each of plastic materials has it’s own characteristics and chemical composition.
In 1988, the Society of the Plastics Industry(SPI) established a classification system to allow us to identify different types of plastic. You may find a number on the bottom of each plastic containers, that’s the SPI code.
7 Most common types plastic materials and SPI code
1. PET or PETE- Polyethylene Terephthalate
2. HDPE – High Density Polyethylene
3. PVC – Polyvinyl Chloride
4. LDPE – Low Density Polyethylene
5. PP – Polypropylene
6. PS – Polystyrene
7. Other
The Characteristics of the 6 types plastic materials
| Plastic Material |
Clarity | Rigidity | Chemical Resistance |
Impact Resistance |
Scratch Resistance |
Temperature Tolerance |
Food Contact |
Acceptable Recyclable Material |
FDA Compliance Capable |
| PET | High | Medium | Good | High | Semi | -40°F – 120° F | √ | √ | √ |
| HDPE | Medium | High | Good | Good | High | -100°F – 190° F | √ | √ | √ |
| PVC | Medium | Medium | Good | Good | Medium | -30°F – 140° F | √ | √ | √ |
| LDPE | Medium | Semi | Good | High | High | -100°F – 175° F | √ | √ | √ |
| PP | High | High | Good | Good | High | -0°F – 240° F | √ | √ | √ |
| PS | High | High | Semi | Low | Low | 30°F – 200° F | √ | √ | √ |
Plastic Materials Selection Considerations
PLEASE NOTE!
The inherent characteristics of plastic materials can be varied with different custom manufacturing process,such as alloyed with other plastic material types. If you have specific requirement on the plastic material, please take a finished sample plastic bottle or other container for a functional testing first before end-products filling in.
Common Use of the plastic materials
PET, which has strong ability on creating a barrier for liquid and gas, is extremely popular for food and drink packaging. For example, PET plastic bottles for water and beverage, jars for jam and butter, and other containers for detergent and cleaner. Find the PET bottles and containers>
HDPE, is widely used for both food and non-food products packaging, such as milk jugs, yogurt tubs, bottles for shampoo, laundry detergent and motor oil, plastic accessories like bottle caps,hard hats. See the HDPE bottles and containers>
PVC, is generally applied for plastic cling wraps,blister packaging for medication, outdoor furniture, plastic pipes, flooring,siding, etc.
LDPE, is less rigid and more transparent compared to HDPE. Therefore, LDPE is a good choice for use with squeeze bottles and food storage containers, also the beverages. Explore the LDPE bottles and containers>
PP, which has high resistance to heat, is excellent choice for bottle caps, takeout containers, ketchup bottles, medicine bottles, etc. Find the PP products>
PS, can be used for household supplies like tableware, foam cups, packaging pellets,etc.See the PS bottles and containers>
