Sheet Metal Vs Plastic

Below are 5 key comparisons to consider for metal vs.

Sheet metal vs plastic.

Most do it yourselfers prefer plastic electrical boxes while electricians use both metal and plastic boxes. Use our interactive properties table below to explore by property group sort or compare two or more plastic materials. In many cases your choice of a metal or plastic electrical box is one of personal preference economy and ease. The actual span limit is going to depend on the thickness of the panel panel style and material.

Fuel efficiency maintenance costs logistics installation all see significant cost reductions in tandem with a decreased part weight. When homeowners receive quotes from hvac contractors they typically are given two duct replacement options sheet metal or fiberglass duct board. For example polycarbonate comes as both corrugated panels and twinwall sheets. Metal can be fabricated through a wider range of processes including casting deep drawing welding forging soldering and chipping.

Also you may want to use our plastic material selection guide or interactive thermoplastics triangle to assist with the material selection process based on your application requirements. Metal vents whether they are aluminium or galvanized are prone to corrosion in wet environments especially if damaged. It seems virtually impossible to go a day with encountering plastic whether it be your keyboard cover for your smartphone or in everyday food you consume. Environmental impact of plastic vs metal plastic.

Heavy weight equals heavier costs. In general metal roofing is stiffer than plastic and can probably span a greater distance. Referencing the chart below you can see that this is a major advantage that plastic has over metal. Plastic has been around just short of a century yet it has already had a detrimental effect on our environment.

For chemically resistant plastic view our chemical resistance of plastics chart. It hasn t been on the market long enough to weigh in on its merits and shortcomings and will not be included in this comparison. Metal grades tend to be stronger harder and more durable than their plastic counterparts. There is a third option phenolic duct that is made of plastic foam with a foil liner on the inside and exterior.

Filament wound springs have lost penetration at gm but are proliferating to ford says market search. If you were to take a part made from steel and compare it to the same part made from thermoplastic the plastic part could be more than 6 times. Plastics on the other hand can be fully immersed in water. It also predicts that the plastic intake manifold providing improved engine performance lighter weight and cost reduction is on its way towards near complete displacement of metal.

Extremes of heat and cold can damage metal over time from continual expansion and contraction.