ENGINEERING PLASTICS
A Reliable Solution even for Demanding Technical Applications
Engineering plastics are among the materials that play a key role in many industrial sectors – including mechanical engineering, the automotive industry, the petrochemical industry, the food industry, the pharmaceutical sector, and many others. Thanks to their properties, engineering plastics are used not only as SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCTS for machining and component manufacturing – such as blanks, bushings, and strips – but also as a reliable material for the PRODUCTION of flat and rotary seals. Their versatility, durability, and variability make them ideal for applications requiring high precision, chemical resistance, or mechanical load capacity.
Our company, AFINIS Group®, a leading manufacturer and supplier of flat and rotary seals in Slovakia, also offers a wide range of engineering plastics. Our selection includes rods, sheets, and tubes in shortly graduated sizes and with special properties to meet specific customer requirements. Within our product lines – AFINIS GASKET® for flat seal production and AFINIS EXPRESS® for rotary seals – we also offer CUSTOM-MADE SEALS from engineering plastics.
THREE MAIN MATERIAL GROUPS OF PLASTICS
Based on operational characteristics and application demands, we offer engineering plastics in three basic material groups. Thanks to our inventory management system, we can cover a wide range of the most in-demand materials, such as PTFE, POM, PEEK, and PE 1000, allowing customers to choose the material that exactly meets their needs. In our warehouse, you will find the necessary dimensions and quantities to meet your requirements. If a material is not in stock, we can supply it within a short lead time.
1. HIGH-TEMPERATURE PLASTICS
High-temperature plastics from AFINIS Group® meet the strictest criteria for specific customer demands in the production of high-quality products. Thanks to their high operating temperature and mechanical properties, they are ideal for the most demanding applications and working environments, as well as for the production of highly stressed components.
Offer of HIGH-TEMPERATURE PLASTICS
2. ENGINEERING PLASTICS
Engineering plastics from AFINIS Group® fall into the mid-range category of plastics in terms of temperature resistance. Their mechanical properties, along with thermal and chemical resistance, make them suitable for use in stressed components, even under conditions of operational humidity. They are most commonly used for manufacturing support and guide rings, bushings, oil seals, guide strips, and – thanks to their high UV stability – also for outdoor applications. These machinable types of plastic semi-finished products serve as base materials for producing a wide range of precise final parts and components. Engineering Plastics Offer.
3. STANDARD PLASTICS
As the name suggests, these types of plastics are widely available thanks to their good mechanical properties and, above all, their cost-effectiveness. They are commonly used across a broad range of applications due to their versatility and affordability.
Standard Plastics Offer.
What are ENGINEERING PLASTICS?
These are special plastic materials designed and developed specifically for technical and industrial applications. They are most commonly supplied in the form of rods, sheets, tubes, profiles, or foils, which are then used to manufacture components, seals, sliding elements, or structural parts. Different types of plastics are also produced in various modifications, often with additives that enhance specific desired properties.
Advantages of Engineering Plastics
- High mechanical strength and wear resistance
- Low weight compared to metals
- Chemical resistance – suitable even for aggressive environments
- Thermal stability – some plastics can operate at temperatures up to 300 °C
- Excellent sliding/friction properties (e.g., PTFE, PE-UHMW)
- Electrical properties – electrical insulation or electrostatic conductivity
- Great machinability – suitable for cutting, milling, welding, and more
- Low moisture absorption – important for sealing applications
Most Commonly Used Types of Engineering Plastics
- PA (Polyamide – Nylon) – strong and tough material, suitable for rotating parts
- POM (Polyoxymethylene) – excellent dimensional stability, low moisture absorption, precision machining, FDA certified, ideal for precision components
- PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) – used for complex parts, good dimensional stability, FDA approved
- PE (Polyethylene) – excellent sliding properties, low friction
- PTFE (Teflon) – extremely chemically resistant, ideal for aggressive media, FDA compliant
- PU (Polyurethane) – elastic, highly wear-resistant – ideal for seals and gaskets
- PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) – suitable for demanding high-temperature applications, very strong with excellent chemical resistance
- PVDF, PSU, PAI, PI, and other specialty plastics – for extreme-performance applications
Use of Engineering Plastics in Seal Manufacturing
Engineering plastics, thanks to their properties, are an ideal material for producing various types of seals and components.
1. SEAL MANUFACTURING
Engineering plastics are perfect materials for manufacturing flat and rotary seals, as well as seals for atypical and specialized applications, due to their specific properties. Their low moisture absorption ensures that seals do not absorb moisture or chemicals, which extends their service life and improves sealing performance. Excellent chemical and wear resistance guarantees reliability of seals even in demanding operating conditions. The thermal stability of these materials allows their use across a wide temperature range, while their outstanding sliding properties help minimize friction and wear of rotary seals. Additionally, engineering plastics enable precise machining and custom seal production tailored to specific requirements, making them a versatile and efficient solution for various applications.
2. COMPONENT MANUFACTURING
Thanks to their exceptional combination of properties, engineering plastics are also ideal for component manufacturing. They are lightweight yet mechanically strong and wear-resistant. Their chemical resistance ensures reliability even in aggressive environments where metal parts would quickly corrode. Moreover, they offer excellent sliding properties, low moisture absorption, and thermal stability, enabling their use in demanding operating conditions. Their machinability, ability to be precisely shaped, and the wide range of material options make engineering plastics a universal and efficient material for various types of components, such as bushings and bearings, gears, guides and rails, prototype parts milled or turned from semi-finished products, levers, cams, connectors, scrapers, stops, sliders, segments, and wheels and others.
CONCLUSION
Today, engineering plastics are an indispensable part of manufacturing across all industrial sectors. Thanks to their properties, they can replace metal parts, extend the service life of equipment, and provide reliable sealing even under demanding conditions. Custom processing—whether as semi-finished products or finished seals—allows solutions that precisely meet the technical requirements of customers.