High Temperature Plastics: A Resistant Material
At Ready Plastics, we specialize in high-performance materials engineered to perform in extreme thermal environments. Essential for the aerospace industry, electronics, and manufacturing equipment—our advanced plastics ensure continuous stability where it matters most.
What Are High Temperature Plastics?
High temperature plastics are materials with the ability to retain mechanical and physical properties at sustained temperatures above 150°C, with many capable of short-term exposure well beyond 250°C. Their resilience is due to structurally engineered high melting points, chemical stability, matching oxidation resistance, and critical dimensional control.
Unlike commodity plastics, these materials offer superior mechanical strength, tensile strength, and optimal heat deflection temperature—meaning they will not deform under load when heated. Whether choosing a rigid thermoset or an impact-resistant, remeltable thermoplastic like PEEK or ULTEM®, these specialty plastics are necessary when failure is not an option.
Thermosets vs. High-Temp Thermoplastics
We offer both thermoset composites and high-performance thermoplastics, each engineered with distinct advantages depending on your specific requirements.
Thermoset Composites
Chemically crosslinked during curing, creating a rigid structure that will never melt under heat.
- Outstanding dimensional stability
- Superior electrical insulation
- High creep resistance
GPO-3, FR4 / G10, Phenolics, Polyimide
High-Temp Thermoplastics
Melt-processable advanced plastics providing excellent heat resistance with added toughness and machinability.
- Excellent thermal stability
- Very good chemical resistance
- Reshapable & highly machinable
PEEK, PI, PAI (Torlon®), PEI (Ultem®), PPS
Why Choose High Temperature Materials?
Advanced materials solve complex engineering problems that standard metals and commodity plastics easily succumb to. They combine unique heat resistance with corrosion avoidance and incredible design flexibility.
- Thermal Stability – Maintain performance in continuous high-heat environments.
- Weight Reduction – Replace heavy metal components while severely reducing system weight.
- Electrical Insulation – Ideal for high-voltage and dielectric applications.
- Chemical Resistance – Withstand harsh environments, steam, and aggressive media.
- Dimensional Control – Resist warping, dimensional creep, and excess thermal expansion.
Manufacturing & Processing at High Temps
Producing parts from these extreme materials requires specialized manufacturing processes and precise engineering. From pure machining with specialized diamond carbide tools to advanced process control in injection setups, maintaining structural integrity—even amid intense heat—is critical for these aerospace-grade materials to perform seamlessly in demanding final applications.
Material Selection Support
Selecting the right high-temperature material depends heavily on several operational factors including continuous vs. intermittent exposure, mechanical payload, vacuum outgassing, and cost/machinability parameters. Our engineers work hand-in-hand with sourcing professionals to navigate this specialized catalog and secure the ideal material for prototyping and full production.
High-performance thermoplastic with exceptional dielectric strength and continuous service up to 170°C.
Offers extreme continuous-use temperatures up to 260°C with superb chemical and wear resistance.
High-temperature phenolic laminate ideal for electrical insulation remaining stable above 150°C.
The ultimate in heat resistance with grades exceeding 400°C for the most demanding aerospace uses.
Extensive inventory of high-performance materials.
Deep expertise in thermosets and engineered plastics.
Fast turnaround for machining and rapid supply.
Dedicated support for prototype through production volumes.