ABSTRACT
Plastic materials used in the design and manufacture of consumer, transportation, and aerospace products are made from synthetic polymers formulated to provide specific properties. These properties include:
High specific strength (strength-to-weight ratio) Retention of mechanical properties at elevated
temperatures Low creep Electrical properties (conductive or resistive) Chemical-resistance Thermal (conductive or resistive) Environmental-resistance
When a formulated plastic has one or more of these properties it is referred to as an engineering plastic because it provides the necessary chemical, electrical, and mechanical properties required of a material in an engineered design (Figure 6.1). Selecting the appropriate combination of these properties in the course of product development is the responsibility of the design engineer.
