Material selection is one of the fundamental aspects that will determine the success or failure of a product. There is no perfect material; they all have inherent strengths and weaknesses. The key in successful material selection is appropriately balancing these attributes. With so many choices available today regarding plastic materials, it is imperative that anyone involved in product design understand resin properties and how they will affect end product performance as well as part design and manufacturability.
This presentation will address some of the considerations that need to be made when selecting a plastic resin, and outline the challenges and benefits of selecting an appropriate material. It will also will introduce a systematic process that will optimize the plastics material selection process.