Plastic Electronics Enclosure Facts To Help Choose Them Right
At first glance, all electronic enclosures look the same. However, it is common knowledge that a plastic electronics enclosure would always be the best choice, because plastic is a lightweight material – a feature that makes this type of enclosures more suitable when a bigger-in-volume enclosure is required. Furthermore, plastic is non-conductive and cheaper than the enclosures made from metal, fiber glass, stainless steel and wood.
Another well-known fact is that not all plastic enclosures are created equally. They are mainly distinguished according to the specific type of plastic material they are made of and their exact purpose of use. Thus, in order to choose the right type of plastic electronics enclosure for your application, you need to learn more about the specific features of the most common plastic materials Australian manufacturers use for making electronic enclosures. In addition, here’s what you need to know about what makes a plastic electronics enclosure good for a specific purpose of use:
Poly-carbonate (PC) plastic
Poly-carbonate or PC plastic is highly resistant to direct sunlight exposure. Furthermore, this material is also well-equipped against scratching. These features of the poly-carbonate plastic make it the perfect solution for electrical enclosures for outdoor use. In other words, to make sure that your electronic parts will remain safe and protected, no matter how hot the weather and how long during the day the enclosure is exposed to direct sunlight, choose plastic electronics enclosure made from PC plastic.
Polyamide (PA) plastic
What sets the Polyamide plastic apart among the other types of plastic materials is its resistance to extreme heat. In this case, we are not talking about the heat from the sun, but the heat produced by devices that operate continuously for hours. Unlike most of the other types of plastic that would simply melt under such circumstances, the PA plastic will protect your electrical components while not undergoing a minimum deformation. The only drawback of the polyamide is the fact that it is not humidity resistant. For this reason, it is not recommended for outdoor nor indoor usage in regions with tropical climate conditions.
Thermoplastic elastomer or TPE
TPE is a plastic material made of a combination of plastic and rubber. Not only is it sturdy, durable and highly recommended for protecting wires and cables, the thermoplastic elastomer material is also recyclable, which makes it an eco-friendly option.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
When choosing a plastic electronics enclosure for indoor use, you need to be extremely careful, because there are materials that emit hazardous and toxic fumes in the air. ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is the safest option when it comes to choosing a sturdy, durable and non-hazardous plastic enclosure for indoor commercial or residential use, because it has been proven that it structure and emission in the air do not change as a result of exposure to environmental factors such as heat for example.
