Reading Plastic & Metal is the premier manufacturer of precision Ultem® machined parts on the East Coast. Our state-of-the-art equipment and expert machinists and programmers deliver durable, high performance Ultem® parts with the tightest tolerances to meet your exact specifications. Ultem®, or polyetherimide, is one of the top high-performance thermoplastics on the market. Similar to […]
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Custom plastic manufacturing provides companies with durable parts that help lower costs and speed production, increasing company profits. The speed of CNC custom plastic manufacturing means replicate parts can be delivered quickly, minimizing costly downtime. Replacing metal parts with plastic can also improve performance and extend part life. At Reading Plastic, we’ve produced dependable custom […]
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At Reading Plastic, we have decades of experience machining the most advanced and technical plastics, including Ultem®. One of the most dimensionally stable thermoplastics on the market, Ultem® has a unique balance of mechanical properties and processability which provides superior flexibility and design freedom. With many characteristics similar to PEEK (and a lower cost), Ultem® […]
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Glass-filled plastics are some of the most difficult plastics to machine, which is why many machine shops refuse to work with them. Glass-filled plastic machining requires special tools and training to produce a high-quality product. At Reading Plastic, we excel at machining all types of plastic, including glass-filled. The Challenges of Glass-Filled Plastic Machining Glass-filled […]
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One of the most dimensionally stable thermoplastics on the market, Ultem® is part of the PEI (polyetherimide) family of thermoplastic resins. It’s unique balance of processability and mechanical properties gives engineers superior flexibility and freedom in design. It is also available in a variety of grades that provide enhanced benefits such as greater chemical resistance, […]
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Stiffness is one of the key mechanical properties of plastic, along with strength, hardness, and toughness. The stiffness of plastics is described by flexural modulus (the ability of a material to bend), which is measured in pounds per square inch (psi). The higher the flexural modulus, the stiffer the material; the lower the flexural modulus, […]
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Today’s precision engineering plastics offer superior chemical resistance, higher temperature capability, greater dimensional stability, good wear resistance, and excellent machinability. Below are five of the best precision engineering plastics on the market, able to tackle the most challenging applications in any industry. PEI (Ultem) With a tensile strength of 15,200 psi and continuous use up […]
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When it comes to high performance engineering thermoplastics, PEI plastic offers a great balance of mechanical properties and processability that makes it suitable for use in a wide range of applications. With high strength and stability and a glass transition temperature of 420º, PEI plastic is a lower cost alternative to PEEK. Its long term […]
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Ultem plastic resin is a family of thermoplastic PEI (polyetherimide) resins that offer high strength and stiffness, superior elevated thermal resistance, and broad chemical resistance. Ultem plastic uniquely balances processability and mechanical properties, giving design engineers outstanding flexibility and freedom. There are also various grades of Ultem available that provide even higher chemical, heat, and […]
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As high-performance plastics become more advanced, aerospace engineers are increasingly turning to plastics for critical aircraft parts. Here are some of the top materials for aerospace applications and their qualities: UHMW – Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW) is a high-strength, low-cost plastic that is resistant to impact, abrasion, solvents and fuel and offers excellent performance across a […]
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When choosing the right high-performance plastic for an application, understanding the differences between similar polymers can help you make a decision based on which properties are most crucial to your part’s performance. For parts that require superior strength and durability, Ultem and PEEK are at the head of the class. Deciding on Ultem vs. PEEK […]
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To understand high tensile strength plastics, we must first discuss tensile strength. Tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand without breaking while being pulled or stretched. Some materials will break sharply – called a “brittle failure” – while others experience some deformation before fracture. Tensile strength is one of the most important […]
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