physical property

Mold Shrinkage of Plastics

Mold shrinkage directly impacts tolerances. Semi-crystalline plastics (PP, PA, POM) shrink more than amorphous ones (ABS, PC, PS).

Unit: %Materials ranked: 228Order: lowest first
#MaterialMold Shrinkage (%)
1Ceramic SLA Resin
Ceramic-Filled Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Significant during firing (e.g., 15-25%)
2Rigid Unsaturated Polyester
Unsaturated Polyester Resin
4-8 %
3Regenerated Cellulose Coated
Regenerated Cellulose, Coated Grade FF
4.0-8.0 %
4LDPE Film Grade
Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade
2-5 %
5LLDPE Film Grade
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade
2-5 %
6Urea-Formaldehyde UV Stable
Urea-Formaldehyde Resin
5-8 %
7Melamine-Formaldehyde Hard
Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin
4-7 %
8Chemical Resistant Vinyl Ester
Vinyl Ester Resin
5-8 %
9Diallyl Phthalate for Electrical
Diallyl Phthalate Resin
5-8 %
10Furan Resin for Corrosion Resistance
Furan Resin
5-8 %
11Chitosan Film
Chitosan, Film Grade T
3.0-6.0 %
12rEVA Flexible Clear
Recycled Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Flexible Clear
2.0-5.0 %
13Chitosan Crosslinked
Chitosan, Crosslinked Grade DD
2.5-5.0 %
14MDPE Pipe Grade
Medium-Density Polyethylene Pipe Grade
2-4 %
15UHMWPE Bearing Grade
Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Bearing Grade
1-3 %
16XLPE Wire and Cable
Cross-linked Polyethylene for Wire and Cable
1-3 %
17EVA Low VA Film
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (Low VA) for Film Applications
2-4 %
18EVA Med VA Injection
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (Medium VA) for Injection Molding
2-4 %
19EVA High VA Hotmelt
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (High VA) for Hot Melt Adhesives
2-4 %
20EVOH 32 mol% Barrier
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (32 mol% VA) for Barrier Applications
1-3 %
21EVOH 44 mol% Barrier
Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol Copolymer (44 mol% VA) for Barrier Applications
1-3 %
22PMP Transparent High Temp
Poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) for High-Temperature Transparent Applications
1-3 %
23Ionomer Surlyn Packaging
Ionomer (Surlyn) for High-Performance Packaging
2-4 %
24Styrenic Block Copolymer Commodity
Styrenic Block Copolymers for Commodity Applications
1-3 %
25Phenolic Novolac Thermoset
Phenolic Novolac Resin
4-6 %
26Phenolic Resol Thermoset
Phenolic Resol Resin
3-5 %
27High Temperature Thermoset Polyimide
Thermoset Polyimide Resin
1-3 %
28Silicone RTV Sealant
Room Temperature Vulcanizing Silicone Rubber
1-3 %
29Allyl Resin for Casting
Allyl Resin
2-4 %
30Standard SLA Resin
Standard Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Moderate (1-3%)
31Tough SLA Resin
Tough Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Moderate (1-3%)
32Flexible SLA Resin
Flexible Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Moderate (1-3%)
33Castable SLA Resin
Castable Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Moderate (1-3%)
34High-Temp SLA Resin
High-Temperature Photopolymer Resin for SLA
Moderate (1-3%)
35rLDPE Film Clear
Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade Clear
2.0-4.0 %
36rLLDPE Film Translucent
Recycled Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade Translucent
2.0-4.0 %
37rLDPE Film Opaque White
Recycled Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade Opaque White
2.0-4.0 %
38rLLDPE Film Black Printed
Recycled Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Film Grade Black Printed
2.0-4.0 %
39POM Copolymer
Polyoxymethylene Copolymer
1.2-2.8 %
40Impact Modified Acetal Copolymer
Polyoxymethylene Copolymer, Impact Modified
1.2-2.8 %
41POM Homopolymer
Polyoxymethylene Homopolymer
1.0-2.5 %
42HDPE Injection Molding
High-Density Polyethylene for Injection Molding
1.5-3 %
43HDPE Blow Molding
High-Density Polyethylene for Blow Molding
1.5-3 %
44PP Homopolymer Injection
Polypropylene Homopolymer for Injection Molding
1-2.5 %
45PP Copolymer Injection
Polypropylene Copolymer for Injection Molding
1-2.5 %
46PP Impact Copolymer Film
Polypropylene Impact Copolymer Film
1-2.5 %
47PP Random Copolymer Injection
Polypropylene Random Copolymer for Injection Molding
1-2.5 %
48rHDPE PCR Natural
Recycled High-Density Polyethylene Post-Consumer Recycled Natural
1.5-3.0 %
49rHDPE PIR Colored
Recycled High-Density Polyethylene Post-Industrial Recycled Colored
1.5-3.0 %
50rPP Homo PCR Natural
Recycled Polypropylene Homopolymer Post-Consumer Recycled Natural
1.5-3.0 %
51rPP Copo PIR Filled
Recycled Polypropylene Copolymer Post-Industrial Recycled Filled
1.0-2.5 % (depending on filler)
52Ocean-Bound PP Regrind
Ocean-Bound Polypropylene Regrind
1.5-3.0 %
53PIR/PCR Blend PPA
Post-Industrial and Post-Consumer Recycled Polypropylene Blend
1.5-3.0 %
54rHDPE PCR Colored (Blue)
Recycled High-Density Polyethylene Post-Consumer Recycled Colored (Blue)
1.5-3.0 %
55rPP Homo PCR Black
Recycled Polypropylene Homopolymer Post-Consumer Recycled Black
1.5-3.0 %
56Impact Modified Acetal Homopolymer
Polyoxymethylene Homopolymer, Impact Modified
1.2-2.6 %
57PA12 Standard
Polyamide 12 Standard
1.0-2.0 %
58PA11 Flexible
Polyamide 11 Flexible
1.5-2.5 %
59PET Unfilled
Polyethylene Terephthalate Unfilled
1.0-2.0 %
60PPA Standard
Polyphthalamide Standard
0.5-1.5 %
61PA6 Impact Modified
Polyamide 6, Impact Modified
1.0-2.0 %
62PVC Rigid Pipe
Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride for Pipe Applications
0.5-1.5 %
63PVC Flexible Cable
Flexible Polyvinyl Chloride for Cable Jacketing
0.5-1.5 %
64CPVC Hot Water Pipe
Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride for Hot Water Piping
0.5-1.5 %
65PET Bottle Grade
Polyethylene Terephthalate for Bottle Applications
0.5-1.5 %
66PET Fiber Grade
Polyethylene Terephthalate for Fiber Applications
0.5-1.5 %
67Standard DGEBA Epoxy
Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA) Epoxy Resin
1-2 %
68High Temperature Novolac Epoxy
Epoxy Novolac Resin
2-3 %
69Cycloaliphatic Epoxy for Electrical
Cycloaliphatic Epoxy Resin
1.5-2.5 %
70Bismaleimide for High Performance
Bismaleimide Resin
1-2 %
71Low Dielectric Cyanate Ester
Cyanate Ester Resin
1-2 %
72Flexible Cast Polyurethane
Cast Polyurethane
0.5-1.5 %
73Silicone HTV for Molding
High Temperature Vulcanizing Silicone Rubber
1-2 %
74SMC/BMC for Automotive
Sheet Molding Compound / Bulk Molding Compound
0.5-1.5 %
75Dental SLA Resin
Biocompatible Photopolymer Resin for Dental Applications (SLA)
Low (0.5-1.5%)
76SLS PP Powder
Polypropylene Powder for Selective Laser Sintering
Moderate (1.0-2.0%)
77rPET Bottle Clear
Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle Grade Clear
1.5-2.5 %
78rPET Fiber Colored
Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Fiber Grade Colored
1.5-2.5 %
79Chemically Recycled PET Clear
Chemically Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Clear
1.5-2.5 %
80rTPU Flexible Black
Recycled Thermoplastic Polyurethane Flexible Black
0.5-1.5 %
81rPP Copo PIR Natural Impact
Recycled Polypropylene Copolymer Post-Industrial Recycled Natural Impact
1.5-2.5 %
82rPET Bottle Blue
Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottle Grade Blue
1.5-2.5 %
83rPA6 Natural
Recycled Polyamide 6 Natural
1.0-1.8 %
84rPA66 Black
Recycled Polyamide 66 Black
1.0-1.8 %
85PA610 Low Absorption
Polyamide 610 Low Absorption
1.2-1.8 %
86Impact Modified PA12
Polyamide 12, Impact Modified
1.2-1.8 %
87MJF PA11 Powder
Polyamide 11 Powder for Multi Jet Fusion
Moderate (0.7-1.3%)
88MJF PA12 Powder
Polyamide 12 Powder for Multi Jet Fusion
Moderate (0.6-1.2%)
89PBT Standard
Polybutylene Terephthalate Standard
0.3-0.8 %
90PPO/PPE Standard
Polyphenylene Oxide / Polyphenylene Ether Standard
0.5-1.0 %
91PC/PBT Blend
Polycarbonate / Polybutylene Terephthalate Blend
0.5-1.0 %
92PC/PBT Impact Modified
Polycarbonate / Polybutylene Terephthalate Blend, Impact Modified
0.5-1.0 %
93Glass-Filled PPA
Polyphthalamide, Glass Fiber Reinforced
0.5-1.0 %
94Impact Modified PA610
Polyamide 610, Impact Modified
1.0-1.5 %
95Impact Modified PBT
Polybutylene Terephthalate, Impact Modified
0.7-1.2 %
96PA12 FDM Filament
Polyamide 12 Filament for FDM
Moderate (0.5-1.0%)
97SLS PA12 Powder
Polyamide 12 Powder for Selective Laser Sintering
Moderate (0.5-1.0%)
98rPVC Rigid Clear
Recycled Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride Clear
0.5-1.0 %
99PS Crystal Injection Molding
General Purpose Polystyrene (Crystal) for Injection Molding
0.4-0.8 %
100HIPS Injection Molding
High Impact Polystyrene for Injection Molding
0.4-0.8 %

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