Anyone in 'plastics'?

[LimaDelta]

Is there a PVC-type material which is suitable as a stainless steel replacement, in terms of strength in tension/compression, stiffness, hardness, shear strength, machinability, thermal stability, chemical resistance etc?

[LimaDelta]

hidetheelephants said:

What's the component doing?

Various components doing various things but in general being crushed, twisted and bent.

[LimaDelta]

Ean218 said:

If you want all those properties in a cheap thermoplastic the answer is definitely no.

However if we knew more about the part shape and end use there may well be something suitable.

Nobody said cheap...

[LimaDelta]

dudleybloke said:

What grade of stainless are you trying to replace?

410, or as near as is manageable.

I realise a direct replacement is not possible, And I do not want to copy all of the attributes of the steel - for instance the lower electrical and thermal conductivity of the plastics are an advantage in this application. As are the increased resistance to corrosion or chemical attacks.

A reduction in strength is a necessary trade-off in this case.

I think something like Duratron PBI is looking like the best bet but I have a meeting arranged this month with some experts in engineering plastics who can hopefully advise on something suitable.