Engineering polymers are capable of high performance in a variety of environments. The combination of high strength and light weight allows them to replace metals in many different applications. Other characteristics like high-temperature, corrosion and chemical resistance, desirable electrical properties and design flexibility, make engineering resins suitable for diverse applications. As their use lowers cost when compared to conventional materials, they find usage in a range of applications from electronic systems and construction materials to medical products, automotive parts and consumer appliances. The largest markets for engineering polymers are automotive, electrical/electronic and industrial products, where they continue to replace metal parts. BASF has upgraded its well-proven product line Ultradur® (polybutylene terephthalate- PBT) - into "Ultradur® High Speed" by adding finely distributed organic nanoparticles to the plastic. The additive allows the plastic to be processed at 230 degree C instead of 260 degree C and improves its flow ability by 50%. But its mechanical properties like shrinkage and heat distort resistance are scarcely affected. With these properties, Ultradur® High Speed offers major advantages both in terms of cost and environmental friendliness. The plastic can be processed at lower temperatures. Only half as much pressure is needed to fill the material into the mold. This also means that much less energy is needed - about 20% of the energy can be saved. The quantity of material needed also decreases because the mold is easier to fill with the easy-flow plastic. Fewer undesired air inclusions appear which means a lower rate of product rejects. It also increases productivity, and because it is processed at lower temperatures, the injection molded parts need not be cooled for so long. The hourly output increases – by up to 30%. It helps improve the quality of the products. The easy-flow plastic can be reinforced with much higher glass fiber content than before. This allows thinner walled parts to be produced that are also very strong. Large, complex parts also need fewer injection points. This reduces the costs of expensive injection molding tools which improves the customer's competitiveness. DuPont’s Zytel® High Glass Reinforced Engineering Thermoplastic has superior flow properties that enable parts to fill more easily, at lower temperatures and pressures, resulting in: • Shorter cycle times • Use of smaller size machines • Better surface aspect & gloss When substituting a standard glass reinforced resin with its high flow equivalent, shrinkage remains unchanged and mechanical properties remain similar. These nylon resins have strength and stiffness properties considerably different from some of the older engineering materials, particularly most metals. In general the strength and stiffness properties of nylon resins are more sensitive to environmental changes of moisture and temperature. Due to their excellent balance of properties, nylon components (produced by injection moulding, extrusion or blow moulding) find extensive use in many applications including: automotive, electrical/electronic, domestic appliances, furniture and construction. MINLON® is DuPont’s registered trademark for its range of mineral and mineral/ glass reinforced nylon resins. These compositions are reinforced – not filled. The chemical bond between the nylon and the mineral reinforcement enhances the tensile properties and stiffness of the resins. Due to their excellent balance of properties, components of MINLON® (produced by injection moulding) find extensive use in many applications including: automotive, electrical, electronic, domestic appliances and construction. Rhodia has developed Technyl XCell 66 and 6 polyamide optimized for use with Trexel Inc.'s MuCell processing technology. It provides the answer to key needs such as environmental-friendliness through weight reduction and metal substitution, safety through impact absorption or flammability protection, processing simplification, and sustainability, due to its durability, long-term resistance and fluid resilience. It offers metal replacement due to very high stiffness, high fluidity for freedom of design, impact resistance, On-line conductive paintable body parts. Applications can be in Automotive: body panels, structural parts, cooling and heating, air systems, mechanical parts, transmission, interior, connectivity, etc. Electricals & Electronics: power distribution, industrial controls, connectors, terminal blocks, appliances, etc. Consumer & industrial goods: extrusion, fastening devices, machine components, furniture, consumer disposables, power tools, sporting goods, motorcycles, etc. However, plastics are fundamentally different from metal in molecular structure in intrinsic short term properties and also the way they react to the influences of time, temperature and load. Failure to consider the influence of these variables in part application can often lead to products that are either over- or under- engineered.