Ask A Scientist , top bar
Office of DOE Science Education Department of Energy Office of Science
image 1
image 2
image 3
image 4
Hardest Plastic

Welcome Teachers and Students


Visit Our Archives
How to Ask a Question
Ask A Question
Question of the Week
Our Expert Scientists

About Ask A Scientist
Referencing NEWTON BBS Articles
Frequently Asked Questions

Hardest Plastic


name         Brittany
status       student
grade        9-12
location     NY

Question -   What is the hardest plastic made?
--------------------------------------
Hi Brittany

This is a good question, but one that may not be easily answered
because a particular type of plastic may be formulated with different
additives and still be called the same thing. For example, glass
fibers are often put into polymers to make the material harder, more
durable and dimensionally more stable.
In general, polymer hardness is measured on the Rockwell or Shore
scale, and the higher the number, the harder the material. I checked
polyetherimide (known as PEI) with 30% glass fiber and found a
Rockwell M hardness of 95-125 and a Shore D harness of 95-99. These
values are about as high as polymers get. Polybenzimidazole and
polyamide-imide are in the same neighborhood. The designation M or D
specifies the way the test is performed.

Robert Froehlich
====================================================================

image 5
image 6
image 7
image 8
image 9
image 10
image 11

 

We provide a means to have questions answered that are not going to be easily found on the web or within common references.

 

Return to NEWTON's HOME PAGE

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator, at Argonne's Division of Educational Programs

NEWTON BBS AND ASK A SCIENTIST Division of Educational Programs

Building DEP/223 9700 S. Cass Ave. Argonne, Illinois 60439-4845 USA

Last Update: February 2006