Users have the option to consider the environmental aspects of the materials being used.
Materials will typically be selected on criteria such as strength and functionality of the finished part. Once these primary considerations have been met, environmental factors can help finalize material selection.
Energy usage indicator
The Energy usage indicator is a relative assessment of the energy requirements of the molding phase of a part, based on the material selected. The result of this assessment is a relative value derived from the injection pressure and cooling time predictions for a suite of typical geometries and thicknessess using the material's recommended conditions and processing inputs determined by an optimization calculation.
These results were standardized and an Energy usage indicator value was applied.
It is expected that existing polymer Energy usage indicator ratings will change as more environmentally efficient polymers are developed.
| Energy usage indicator | Value |
|---|---|
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Least energy required for the production of a part |
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Most energy required for the production of a part |
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Not available |
- Legacy material data from a personal database or a previous study may not include environmental information. Reload the material from the current database to view these parameters.
- The calculations for a small number of materials cannot return an injection pressure or cooling time for all the geometries tested.
Resin identification code
This code identifies the resin family to which the material belongs.
| Icon | Plastic family |
|---|---|
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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PETE) |
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High density polyethylene (HDPE) |
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Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) |
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Low density polyethylene (LDPE) |
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Polypropylene (PP) |
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Polystyrene (PS) |
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Other. Incudes any resin not specifically listed. This category also includes all materials that are blends or contain fillers. |
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Undetermined, for example, legacy data |