Monday, 5 May 2025

4 Tips for Effective Polymer Material Selection

Hello and welcome to a new post and today I present to you 4 tips for effective polymer material selection. In the realm of plastic product development and engineering, the selection of the appropriate polymer material stands as a pivotal decision, directly influencing the functionality, durability, cost-effectiveness, and overall success of the final product. 

Navigating the vast landscape of available plastics and their diverse properties can feel like traversing a complex terrain. To ensure optimal outcomes, a structured and thoughtful approach is paramount. This guide illuminates four essential tips that will empower engineers and designers to make informed and effective polymer material selections, laying the groundwork for robust and reliable applications.

Let us geht started!

1. Requirement Analysis

  • Map out the true part functions, load cases, and material requirements.
  • Consider industry standards for properties like flammability, thermal, and electrical characteristics.
  • Include qualitative properties such as haptic perception and optical qualities.
  • Address legal aspects, manufacturing processes (e.g., injection molding, extrusion), and expected costs.
  • Prioritize requirements and summarize them in a worksheet or product requirement document.

2. Questioning

  • Ask relevant questions related to the requirements, such as:
    • End-use conditions (indoor/outdoor).
    • Temperature requirements (minimum, maximum, continuous use).
    • Chemical exposure (splash resistance or full submersion).
    • Mechanical exposure (load cases, repeatable or static loads).
  • These questions help in understanding the requirements better.
  • A more detailed list can be found here (incl. download): Material Selection Requirements Checklist

3. Resin Neutral Approach

  • Challenge the use of established materials by exploring other material opportunities.
  • Question the reasons behind choosing specific resins and whether they truly meet the requirements.
  • Encourage re-evaluation of legacy materials and consider alternatives.

4. Decision Making Tools

  • Use tools like decision matrix analysis to rank pre-selected materials based on their properties and requirement fulfillment.
  • A detailed explanation can be found here
  • These tools provide documentation and help understand decisions made by others.

Conclusion

Mastering the art of polymer material selection is an ongoing process of learning and refinement. By diligently applying these four tips – thorough requirement analysis, insightful questioning, maintaining a resin-neutral perspective, and leveraging decision-making tools – you can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your material choices. Embracing this structured approach not only leads to better performing and more cost-efficient products but also fosters a deeper understanding of material science and engineering principles within your team. Ultimately, the thoughtful and informed selection of polymers is a cornerstone of innovation and a key driver in creating successful and sustainable solutions for a wide range of applications.

Ready to begin your journey to Polymer Mastery? Take the Polymer Material Selection scorecard today and discover your POMS score!

Polymer Material Selection scorecard

Also, you can get familiar with the 6 essential polymer material selection skills here. 

My post on 10+ key considerations for selecting the optimal polymer material can help to kickstart your material selection journey too. 

Thanks for reading and #findoutaboutplastics

Greetings

Literature: 

[1] https://www.polymermaterialselection.com/plastic-selection-tools

[2] https://www.findoutaboutplastics.com/2025/03/become-master-in-polymer-material.html

[3] https://www.herwigjuster.com/polymer-consulting


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