When it comes to plastic materials you have many different choices; that’s why Tamshell can be trusted to work with your company every step of the way to make sure you have the material that works best for your application. We work with all of the major plastic manufactures and distributors to assure our customers that we can provide them with the highest quality materials. On a daily basis Tamshell machines parts from materials such as Teflon®, Delrin®, Nylon, UHMW, PEEK®, Torlon®, Vespel®, Ultem®, Rulon®, Polycarbonate and many others. Please review our list of materials to get a better understanding of the materials that Tamshell works with on a daily basis.

To help better understand polymers and their applications, they are broken up into four major polymer groups, Amorphous, Semi-Crystalline, Imidized and Thermo set. Each material within these groups share certain similar characteristics.

Amorphous materials such as Ultem®, Radel® and Polycarbonate are typically structural materials that posses a high resistance to steam and can operate in moderate to high temperatures, but are susceptible to stress cracking. Most Amorphous materials posses excellent insulating characteristics; making them a good choice for electronic applications.

Semi-Crystalline materials like Nylon, PTFE and PEEK® can be used for both structural and bearing and wear applications. Semi-Crystalline can withstand moderate to high temperatures, are highly chemical resistant and are less susceptible to cracking or chipping, unlike Amorphous materials. Semi-Crystalline materials have the broadest range of use and can be used in many of applications.

Imidized materials are the ultimate high temperature materials. Polymers such as Vespel® and Torlon® can reach higher operating temperatures then any other materials before softening or breaking down. Imidized materials can be used for structural or bearing and wear applications and posses good chemical resistance. Because of the high cost of these materials they are generally only used in extreme conditions.

Thermo set materials such as G-10 and G-11 are resin layered materials. Different strengthening materials can be layered into the resin, such as canvas, cloth or paper to add strength to the material. These materials are extremely rigid and are used for structural applications. Thermo set materials also posses good insulating properties making them a good choice for electronic applications.

With all the different types of materials available today, making the right decision in plastics is essential when trying to maximize the life expectancy of a part while keeping within your budget. At Tamshell we work with our customers to make sure that the right material is being utilized and that the design is within the boundaries of the materials characteristics. Please click the Selecting Materials section to the left for basic guidelines on how to choose a material for an application.

Please contact us with any new or existing projects that you may have.