Choosing the right plastic

ABS might be a better choice depending on market. I think the Europeans frown on chlorinated plastics.

I'm tempted to think that ABS is a bit too slippery for plug bodies

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The manufacture said the one in the picture is made from ABS, but they want to use PVC.

And you didn't ask them why?

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I told them that I want mine to be durable and to look like a high quality product.

Then they send me this picture and said that this was made from PVC.

PVC produces a better looking product than ABS?

It can, depending on the specific composition; I would guess than ABS is also much harder than what's shown in the pictures.

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PVC is quite a lot denser than ABS. So parts are noticeably heavier. It also requires stainless tooling and injection moulding machines with nimonic barrel and screw assemblies. (It gives off HCl when processed) There are companies which mould it but they are not plentiful.
PVC is inherently flame retardent but ABS can be had in FR grades. There's always a PC/ABS blend as well.
Visually they'd all look the same. Finish depends on what the tool is.




Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It is their substitute for achievement.

I agree with Pud. Processing and mold quality are more important than the material. You can make any plastic look really good, or really bad. Just a thought, but he may have an ulterior motive for pushing PVC. Maybe he knows PVC molders are few and far between and figures it will be harder for you to pull the tool and go somewhere else. Maybe he bought a lot of material for a job and the customer left and he's looking to use it up. Maybe he's molding lots of small parts with long runners and he's sitting on a mountain of regrind he wants to use. I guess this sounds cynical, but Ive had it all happen to me.

Rick Fischer
Principal Engineer
Argonne National Laboratory

Rick: I couldn't possibly comment....


Politicians like to panic, they need activity. It is their substitute for achievement.

As u said that the part needs a good feel, my choose is ABS.