PPE materials

PPE/PPO (Polyphenylene Ether Blends)

Typical Applications

Household appliances (dishwasher, washing machine, etc.), electrical applications such as control housings, fiber-optic connectors, etc.

Injection Molding Processing Conditions

Drying	Recommend drying before molding for approximately 2 - 4 hours at 100 C (212 F). PPOs have low levels of moisture absorption can typically be molded as received.
Melt Temperature	240 - 320 C (464 - 608 F); higher ranges for grades with higher levels of PPO
Mold Temperature	60 - 105 C (140 - 220 F)
Material Injection Pressure	60 - 150 MPa

Runners and Gates

All gates can be used; tab and fan gates are preferred

Chemical and Physical Properties

PPO is poly(2,6 dimethyl p-phenylene) oxide. The ether linkages offer easier processibility. Copolymers are referred to as PPEs (Polyphenylene Ethers). Typically, the commercially available PPOs (or PPEs) are blended with other thermoplastic materials such as PS (or HIPS), Nylon, etc. These blends are still referred to as PPOs or PPEs.

The blends offer superior processibility compared to pure PPOs. Their viscosities are lower. A range of properties can be obtained depending on the ratios of PPO and PS. Blends with nylons (PA 6/6) offer improved chemical resistance and perform well at high temperatures. The water absorption is low and the molded products have excellent dimensional stability.

Blends with PS are amorphous whereas blends with Nylons are crystalline. The addition of glass fibers reduces shrinkage levels to 0.2%. These materials have excellent dielectric properties and a low coefficient of thermal expansion. The viscosity level depends on the ratio of the components in the blend; higher PPO levels increase the viscosity.

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