Material Selection

Material selection is an orderly process by which engineers can systematically and quickly eliminate unsuitable materials and identify the one or a small number of materials which are the most suitable. In general, suitable materials should meet many basic criteria, including effective manufacturability, performance, reliability, non-degradability, and more.

Selecting the right plastic material for a specific application is critical to the success of your project. Please contact our technical sales and engineering staff if you have a need. They are ready to select the right candidate material for your project to meet your specific requirements.

The Importance of Material Selection

The importance of material selection is mainly as follows:

01

Different plastic materials have different mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical properties. Selecting the right plastic material ensures that the product meets the desired functional requirements and performance criteria. For example, medical devices require biocompatible plastics, while plastics used in automotive components must be durable, heat resistant and have good impact strength.

02

The driving forces in manufacturing are efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The choice of plastic material greatly affects production costs. Over-specification can lead to unnecessary expenditure, while poor performance can lead to product recalls and increased maintenance or replacement costs. Choosing the right material ensures optimum utilization of resources.

03

From consumer products to industrial machinery, durability and longevity are prerequisites for success. The ability of plastic materials to withstand extreme conditions, UV radiation, chemicals and temperature changes is critical to ensuring product integrity. A well-selected plastic material resists degradation and maintains its structural and functional properties, thus enhancing the product's reliability and minimizing maintenance costs.

04

The choice of plastic material can determine characteristics such as texture and color of a product. This flexibility is critical for industries such as consumer electronics and fashion accessories. By selecting the right plastic, manufacturers can create products that resonate with consumers on both functional and visual levels.

Our Material Selection Process

Our material selection service mainly follows the following five steps:

(i) Specify the performance parameters of the design and translate them into the required material properties, such as mechanical and thermal properties, taking into account the cost and availability of the material.

(ii) Identify manufacturing considerations such as quantity/batch size; size, weight and complexity of the part; required dimensional and geometric accuracy, required surface finish, any quality requirements, and overall manufacturability of the material.

(iii) Make a list of candidate materials from the largest possible database of materials deemed suitable for the application.

(iv) Evaluate the candidate materials in more detail. Compare each material based on product performance, cost, availability, and manufacturability, and ultimately select a material.

(v) Develop design data or a design specification for the selected material.

Our Advantages

Experienced

Alfa Chemistry's technical team consists of experienced experts who support you not only in selecting the right material, but also in further processing.

Customer-Centric

Alfa Chemistry has always been customer-centered. Clear communication, efficient collaboration and sincere service contribute to a partnership characterized by trust.

Confidentiality

In the business world, maintaining confidentiality is necessary to comply with ethical and legal regulations. We will keep the customer-entrusted project confidential and can sign confidentiality agreements if necessary.