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Options: ABS | HMW/HDPE | PC/ABS | Other Materials

Materials Selection

Boat Dash Assembly
Boat Dash Assembly with decorative film ABS, soft touch painted ABS and painted ABS

The Materials Review Program at McClarin Plastics, Inc. is a structured format of inviting domestic and international material suppliers to meet with our Design Review Team and present the latest material product developments. These meetings occur at least once a quarter and improve our ability even further to find new product solutions for customers.

These sessions are a great opportunity to brainstorm about new applications for materials. We can explore what each material does, examine its pricing, and learn about other materials in the development pipeline.

The chart below gives an idea of what materials may be best for a particular project.

Materials Appearance/
Characteristics		 Plus Minus
PVC Glossy surface Dielectric properties, good cosmetics, chemical resistance, fire retardant Possible building code restrictions
ABS Medium gloss level Tough, hard, easily decorated, easily bonded Needs UV stabilization for outdoor use, needs additives for fire retardancy
Polyethylene Dull, slippery surface Impact resistance, chemical resistance, environmental stress crack resistance Difficult to paint or decorate, difficult to adhesive bond, flexibility
TPO Dull surface Impact resistance, several formulations available for specific applications Flexible, processing is tricky
Polycarbonate Good surface cosmetics High impact resistance, stiff Low abrasion resistance, crazes in contact with hydrocarbons
Acrylic Excellent cosmetics, high gloss Excellent transparency, good optical properties Low impact resistance