Thermoplastics
Thermoplastics PE–PEEK/PTFE — semi-finished stock and CNC parts for mechanical, food and chemical applications.
Thermoplastics are among the most versatile engineering materials in modern mechanical engineering, food processing and the chemical industry. Unlike thermosets, thermoplastics can be repeatedly softened and reshaped by heating — this opens up a broad spectrum of processing options from extrusion and injection moulding to machining from semi-finished stock.
SENN supplies standard thermoplastics such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PA (polyamide) and PET (polyethylene terephthalate) for general industrial applications as well as high-performance thermoplastics: PEEK (polyether ether ketone) for temperatures up to 260 °C, PTFE (Teflon®) with the lowest friction coefficient of any solid, PC (polycarbonate) with 250 times the impact strength of glass, and PMMA with 92 % light transmission.
Our semi-finished product range includes sheets, rods, tubes, bushings, films and profiles — optionally in food-contact grades compliant with FDA and EU Regulation 10/2011. As a full-service provider, we also handle machining: sawing, milling, turning, drilling, welding and bending on modern CNC equipment. Whether single parts or small batches — SENN manufactures precision parts to drawing with tight tolerances directly from our facility.
Thanks to in-house plastics machining, there is no need to coordinate between material supplier and contract manufacturer. You receive raw material and finished part from a single source, with short lead times and personal technical advice.
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High-Performance vs. Standard Thermoplastics
Thermoplastics can be broadly divided into two performance classes. Standard thermoplastics such as PE, PP, PA and PET cover the majority of industrial applications: they offer a balanced combination of mechanical properties, chemical resistance and cost-effectiveness. High-performance thermoplastics such as PEEK, PTFE, PC and PMMA are used where extreme temperatures, aggressive media, high mechanical loads or special optical requirements are involved. The choice of the right material depends on operating temperature, medium, mechanical stress and regulatory requirements (FDA, EU 10/2011) — our technical advisory team supports you in material selection.
Standard Thermoplastics
Standard thermoplastics form the backbone of industrial plastics engineering. They are characterised by good availability, competitive pricing and a wide range of semi-finished product forms.
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PE — Polyethylene
Polyethylene is one of the most widely used plastics in tank and apparatus construction. With a density of just 0.93–0.97 g/cm³, PE is one of the lightest engineering thermoplastics. The material is resistant to most acids, alkalis and solvents and is suitable for operating temperatures from –50 to +80 °C (PE-HD). PE can be excellently machined, welded and thermoformed.
Key properties:
- Excellent chemical resistance to acids, alkalis, alcohols
- Very good sliding and wear properties (especially PE-UHMW)
- FDA-compliant and EU 10/2011-approved for food contact
- High impact strength even at low temperatures
- Moisture-insensitive, no water absorption
Typical applications: Tanks, tank linings, cutting boards, conveyor troughs, sliding guides, bumper blocks
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, tubes, welding rods
Types: PE-HD (PE 300), PE-HMW (PE 500), PE-UHMW (PE 1000)
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PP — Polypropylene
Polypropylene at 0.91 g/cm³ is the lightest engineering thermoplastic, combining low density with high stiffness and good fatigue resistance. PP is resistant to dilute acids and alkalis, has a continuous service temperature of up to +100 °C and can be readily welded — making it the first choice in chemical apparatus construction.
Key properties:
- Lowest density of all engineering thermoplastics
- High flexural fatigue resistance (living hinges)
- Good weldability (hot gas, extrusion welding)
- Resistant to most inorganic chemicals
- FDA-compliant grades for food and pharmaceutical applications available
Typical applications: Pump housings, ventilation ducts, electroplating tanks, welded containers, valve bodies
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, welding rods, tubes
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PA — Polyamide (Nylon)
Polyamide is one of the oldest and most proven engineering plastics. The material is distinguished by high strength, good toughness and excellent sliding properties. Depending on the type (PA 6, PA 66, PA 12), stiffness, melting point and moisture absorption vary. PA is self-lubricating and is therefore preferred for slide bearings, gears and guide elements. Operating temperatures range from 80 to 150 °C depending on the type.
Key properties:
- High mechanical strength and stiffness
- Self-lubricating surface — ideal for sliding applications
- Good wear resistance and abrasion resistance
- Resistant to oils, greases and many solvents
- Moisture absorption affects dimensional stability — consider in design
Typical applications: Gears, slide bearings, bushings, guide rails, scrapers, cable pulleys
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, tubes, bushings, finished parts
Types: PA 6 (cast/extrusion grade), PA 66, PA 12, PA 6 G (cast, dimensionally stable)
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PET — Polyethylene Terephthalate
PET combines high stiffness with excellent dimensional stability and very low moisture absorption — properties that make it superior to PA in many precision applications. The material has a continuous service temperature of around 100 °C, is creep-resistant and exhibits good electrical insulation properties. PET can be precisely machined and delivers excellent surface finishes.
Key properties:
- Outstanding dimensional stability (minimal moisture absorption)
- High stiffness and creep resistance
- Good chemical resistance to dilute acids and solvents
- Food-contact compliant (FDA, EU 10/2011)
- Good machinability with tight tolerances
Typical applications: Precision parts, insulators, pump components, guide strips, food packaging machinery
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, bushings
High-Performance Thermoplastics
When standard plastics reach their limits — whether due to temperature, chemical exposure or mechanical requirements — high-performance thermoplastics come into play. These materials replace metals and ceramics in many applications at significantly lower weight.
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PEEK — Polyether Ether Ketone
PEEK ranks among the highest-performing thermoplastics available. With a continuous service temperature of 260 °C, outstanding chemical resistance and high mechanical strength, PEEK replaces metallic materials in many applications. The material is sterilisable (autoclave, steam, gamma radiation), physiologically safe and radiation-resistant — making it the first choice in medical technology and the semiconductor industry.
Key properties:
- Continuous service temperature up to 260 °C (short-term up to 310 °C)
- Chemically inert against virtually all industrial media
- Sterilisable (autoclave, ethylene oxide, gamma radiation)
- Outstanding mechanical strength and creep resistance
- Inherently flame-retardant (UL 94 V-0), low smoke emission
Typical applications: Implants, semiconductor wafer carriers, compressor valves, seals in the oil/gas industry, bearing bushings in high-temperature environments
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, tubes, finished parts to drawing
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PTFE — Teflon®
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) has the lowest friction coefficient of any solid and is chemically almost completely inert. The operating temperature range of –200 to +260 °C is unmatched among thermoplastics. PTFE is non-stick, physiologically safe and an excellent electrical insulator. The pronounced cold flow tendency (creep under sustained load) must be considered in design.
Key properties:
- Lowest friction coefficient of any solid (µ ≈ 0.04)
- Chemically inert against virtually all acids, alkalis and solvents
- Extreme temperature range: –200 to +260 °C
- Non-stick surface, non-wettable
- FDA-compliant and EU 10/2011-approved
Typical applications: Seals, slide bearings, reactor linings, valve seats, insulators in high-frequency engineering, piston rings
Supply forms: Sheets, rods, tubes, films, bushings, sealing rings
Types: PTFE natural, PTFE glass-fibre filled, PTFE carbon filled, PTFE bronze filled
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PC — Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate offers an impact strength approximately 250 times higher than glass — at significantly lower weight. The transparent material is self-extinguishing (UL 94 V-2), suitable for use from –40 to +135 °C and can be cold bent, drilled and milled. PC is available in clear, tinted and opal white versions.
Key properties:
- 250 times the impact strength of glass
- Transparent with good optical clarity
- Self-extinguishing, flame-retardant (UL 94 V-2)
- Good heat deflection resistance up to +135 °C
- UV-stabilised versions for outdoor applications available
Typical applications: Machine guard screens, safety glazing, LED covers, electronics housings, sight windows in process plants
Supply forms: Sheets (solid and multiwall), rods, tubes
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PMMA — Polymethyl Methacrylate
PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) achieves 92 % light transmission — higher optical clarity than conventional glass. The material is UV-resistant, weather-resistant and can be excellently thermoformed, polished and bonded. PMMA is lighter than glass and does not shatter into sharp fragments — however, scratch sensitivity is higher.
Key properties:
- 92 % light transmission — optically clearer than glass
- UV-resistant and weather-resistant for decades
- Easily thermoformable (bending, deep drawing)
- Simple to bond and polish
- Half the weight of glass with comparable stiffness
Typical applications: Display panels, machine covers, light fixtures, signs and lettering, display cases, aquariums
Supply forms: Sheets (extruded and cast), rods, tubes, blocks
Supply Forms
SENN supplies thermoplastics as semi-finished products from stock and as CNC-machined finished parts to your drawing:
- Sheets — standard formats and cut-to-size, thicknesses from 1 mm to 200 mm depending on material
- Rods — diameters from 6 mm to 500 mm, as bar stock or cut to length
- Tubes and bushings — standard dimensions and custom sizes
- Films and thin sheets — from 0.1 mm thickness (PTFE, PE, PP)
- Profiles — angles, U-profiles, special cross-sections
- Welding rods — for PP and PE, round and triangular
Finished parts to drawing: Our CNC machining capabilities include milling, turning, drilling, sawing, thread cutting, welding and bending. We manufacture single parts, prototypes and small batches with documented dimensional inspection. Tolerances to DIN ISO 2768-m or tighter on request.
Industries and Applications
Our thermoplastics are used across numerous industries:
- Mechanical engineering — slide bearings, guide elements, gears, scrapers, bumpers
- Food and pharmaceutical industry — FDA/EU-compliant cutting boards, conveyor belts, containers, dosing elements
- Chemical and electroplating engineering — tanks, tank linings, pipelines, valves, pump components in PP, PE, PVDF and PTFE
- Medical technology — PEEK implants, sterilisable housings, instrument handles
- Semiconductor industry — PEEK wafer carriers, PTFE wet-chemistry components, antistatic variants
- Electrical and electronics engineering — insulators, housings, cable guides, RF-transparent covers
- Architecture and signage — PMMA glazing, PC roofing, illuminated signs
Advice and Quotation
Contact usNeed semi-finished products, cut-to-size pieces or CNC-machined parts in thermoplastics? Our technical team advises you on material selection, provides quotations for standard material and custom parts, and supports your project from drawing review through to delivery.
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PE — Polyethylene