List of factors to be considered in selecting polymeric materials
Mechanical Type and magnitude of normal service stresses
Loading pattern and time under load
Fatigue resistance
Allowable deflections
Overloads and abuse; impact resistance
Thermal Normal range of operating temperatures
Maximum and minimum service temperatures
Environmental Solvent and vapor attack
Reactions with acids,alkalis water,etc,
Water absorption effects
Ultraviolet light exposure and weathering; oxidation
Erosion by sand,rain,etc,
Attack by fungi,bacteria,or Insects
Electrical Resistivity
Dielectric loss
Antistatic properties
Tracking resistance
Flammability
Toxicity of additives or degradation products
Appearance Transparency
Surface finish
Color matching and color retention
General Tolerances and dimensional stability
Weight factors
Space limitations
Expected service life
Acceptance codes and specifications
Environmental acceptability
Leaching of additives
Permeability to vapors and gases
Wear resistance
Manufacturing Choice of process
Method of assembly
Finishing and decoration
Quality control and inspection
Economics Materials costs
Cost of capital plant,moulds,and processing machines
Speed of production
Number of moldings/units required
Operating costs of component,including maintenance and fuel
consumption