Lightness and processing

Lightness and processing

Reduce weight, increase performance: The advantage of lightweight HPPs

In an industrial world that is increasingly demanding in terms of performance and durability, lightweight materials are becoming a strategic lever. Combined with ease of processing, they facilitate the design of optimized technical components, while reducing carbon footprints and manufacturing costs.

Why choose a lightweight, easy-to-process polymer?

Reducing the weight of a part means:

  • Lowering energy consumption
  • Reducing mechanical wear
  • Facilitating transport, assembly and maintenance
  • Meeting eco-design requirements

High-performance polymers (HPP), 5 to 8 times lighter than metals, offer superior specific rigidity compared to standard plastics, while being highly processable.
 

Lightweight HPP Polymers - DEMGY selection

Product

 

Density (g/cm³)

 

Processing

 

Benefits

 

Applications

 
PEEK
(KetaSpire® KT820)
 

~1,3

 

Injection molding, machining

 

Very rigid

 

Aerospace, implants

 
Torlon® 4203
(PAI)
 

~1,4

 

Machining, injection

 

Low friction

 

Moving parts, bearings

 
Vespel® SCP-5000
(PI)
 

~1,43

 

Machining only

 

Extreme stability

 

Space, cryogenics

 
PPS Ryton® R4
 
 

~1,6

 

Injection

 

Good compromise

 

Automotive, chemical

 
PVDF Kynar® 1000 HD
 
 

~1,78

 

Injection molding, extrusion

 

Chemical resistance

 

Pharma, fluids

 
PTFE Teflon® FEP-9302
 
 

~2,15

 

Molding, extrusion

 

Very low friction

 

Wiring, coating

 
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High-precision processing

HPP machining

  • Tight tolerances and dimensional stability
  • Ideal for complex parts in short runs

Technical injection molding

  • Repeatability, fiber reinforcements (carbon, glass)
  • Short cycle times, high yield

Extrusion & molding

  • Films, sheets, tubes with dimensional control

Additive manufacturing

  • Optimized geometries without molds
  • Rapid prototyping of functional parts
     

HPPs vs. standard plastics vs. metals

CriterionStandard plasticsMetalsHPP polymers
DensityLowHighLow
Mechanical strengthLow to mediumHighMedium to high
MachinabilityGoodDifficult, costlyExcellent
ProcessingLimitedSlow, cumbersomeVersatile

Examples of industrial applications

Aeronautics & Space

  • Satellite components, insulating jackets
  • Vespel® SCP-5000: the benchmark for cryogenic environments

Automotive & mobility

  • Connector supports, under-hood parts
  • PPS Ryton® R4: lightness and rigidity for electrification

Medical & Pharma

  • Injected parts, surgical tools, implants
  • Medical PEEK: weight reduction + radiotransparency

Precision mechanics

  • Bearings, slideways, gears
  • Torlon® 4203: self-lubrication and exceptional rigidity
     

DEMGY: from material to processed part

Advice & choice of materials

  • Selection based on your mechanical, thermal and economic constraints

Multi-process processing

  • 5-axis machining, injection, compression, 3D HPP

Rapid industrialization

  • Validated prototypes, traceability, REACH, FDA, ISO compliance
     

Conclusion

To reconcile lightness, optimized processing and technical resistance, HPPs represent a strategic alternative to standard metals and plastics. DEMGY offers you a complete range of engineering polymers, adapted to your most demanding industrial constraints.

Associated products