Technical information on plastics
General information on plastics
All the plastic enclosures we supply are made of one stand-
ard material (Euromas of two materials). The standard
material is chosen during the design, taking into account
the data available to us on the use and pricing. The injec-
tion tools are made to suit the material.
Many of our customers use the enclosures under quite
different conditions from those we have considered in
selecting the material. It is therefore frequently necessary
to use a special material or a special colour, to suit these
conditions.
We willingly meet customers’ special requirements, if the
technical means are available. In the case of materials that
we cannot use for technical reasons, we propose viable
alternatives on the basis of your material requirements.
Special colours / material for plastic enclosures
In principle, all plastic enclosures can be produced in special
colours to meet customers’ wishes. However, the following
factors need to be taken into consideration:
1) the colour required can only be approximately achieved
for production reasons.
2) In choosing the colour, wherever possible only the
standard palette published by the raw materials manu-
facturer should be used, as this will enable subsequent
orders to be as close as possible to the original colour.
The delivery time and the quantity of the raw material
required are ensured within specific limits.
3) Our series production has to be interrupted to set up the
necessary mould. The plant has to be thoroughly
cleaned of the previous material to ensure that no im-
purities enter the special colour.
4) The cleaning required before the special colour can be
used causes material losses.
When we make our products in special colours and/or
special materials, the following deviations from our stand-
ard products are possible for material and production
reasons:
646
* Standard products are subject to the tolerances under
DIN 16901. In the case of special materials, the nominal
dimensions change in accordance with the oscillation
difference from the special material, as do the tolerance
groups.
* Deviations in dimensions and shapes from the standard
versions are due to differences in shrinkage and shrink-
age behaviour.
* Deviations in colour from standard or RAL colour charts
occur.
* In other surface properties, such as
- gloss
- structures
- lines of flow or streaks on dark colours
* Stronger ridges may form
* Colour additives can affect the material properties
(combustibility, UV resistance)
* or others.
General advice for machining plastic enclosures
Milling, drilling
When machining plastic enclosures, the tools must only be
cooled with oil-free air. Drilling coolants and separators
can cause splitting and tearing. When using separators
containing silicone, subsequent imprinting and lacquering
is not possible as the lacquer would not adhere properly.
In case of doubt please ask us for information.
Our machining service protects you against these risks.
Punching
When plastic parts are punched, corners can tear or break.
Glueing
The quality of a glued joint depends on the materials to be
glued, the size of the glued area, and the adhesive used.
The following should be taken into consideration:
1) Only glue the same materials
2) Glue as large an area as possible
3) Use suitable glues and follow the technical instructions
4) Test the adhesion under conditions of use, such as tem-
perature, strain, etc. before starting series production.
Tolerances of plastics according to DIN 16901

Deviations from the nominal dimensions are unavoidable

in the manufacture of plastic shapes.

There are various reasons for these deviations:

a) Processing parameters. These depend on b) The condition of the tool:

- the evenness of the shape - manufacturing tolerances for tool dimensions
- the setting of the machine (see DIN 16749)
- the temperature of the tools - wear on tools
- the distortion of the tool under pressure. - deviations in the position of movable tool parts.

The tolerances for this norm have been laid down taking
into account these factors and numerous measurements in
practice.

The plastics in this norm are divided into tolerance rows.

All the plastics used by BOPLA for standard enclosures are
in row 130, for which the tolerances given below apply.
The tolerances apply on the basis of the machining shrink-
age worked into the tool only for the appropriate enclo-
sure with the standard material stated.

Nominal dimension area

over 0 1 3 6 10 15 22 30 40 53 70
up to 1 3 6 10 15 22 30 40 53 70 90
A ±0.18 ±0.19 ±0.20 ±0.21 ±0.23 ±0.25 ±0.27 ±0.30 ±0.34 ±0.38 ±0.44
B ±0.08 ±0.09 ±0.10 ±0.11 ±0.13 ±0.15 ±0.17 ±0.20 ±0.24 ±0.28 ±0.34

over 90 120 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800
up to 120 160 200 250 315 400 500 630 800 1000
A ±0.51 ±0.60 ±0.70 ±0.90 ±1.10 ±1.30 ±1.60 ±2.00 ±2.50 ±3.00
B ±0.41 ±0.50 ±0.60 ±0.80 ±1.00 ±1.20 ±1.50 ±1.90 ±2.40 ±2.90

A = Dimensions which are not tool-specific are those
formed by the interaction of movable tool parts, e.g.
wall thicknesses and floor thicknesses or dimensions
which are affected by additives or pushers.
B = Tool-specific dimensions are those in the same part of
the tool.
Information on membrane keypad tolerances:
The installation areas for membrane keypads are dimen-
sioned in the catalogue illustrations with the tolerances
which are present during manufacture. These tolerances
are already restricted in comparison with DIN 16901.
As the membrane dimensions are also furnished with
manufacturing tolerances, this may result in undesirable
crack dimensions (greatest dimension - enclosure, smallest
dimension - membrane). In the case of membrane keypads
developed by Bopla, this is reduced to a minimum.

All dimensions in mm. 647

Technical information on plastics

The material properties of plastics

Test SE 1 PC/ABS- PA6.6 PA6 FR PA6

Material properties Unit requirements PS ABS PC GFN1 Blend FR (NV12) GF 15 UP-GF
Impact strength +20° C ISO 179 – 60 without 30 – – without 36 49
KJ/m2
Impact strength -40° C DIN 53453 – 40 breaking 30 – – breaking – –
Notched impact str. (Charpy) +20° C ISO 179 7 10 25 – – – 3.5 55 –
KJ/m2
Notched impact str. (Charpy) - 40° C DIN 53453 4 4 10 – – – – – –
ISO 178
Max. bending stress N/mm 2
– 64 >70 110 – – – – >100
DIN 53452
ISO 335-1
Round body pressure stress °C – 75 125 125 125 – 125 – –
DIN 0471/2-5
Retention of shape under heat 1) A ISO 75 75 80 125 120 120 90 70 150 150
°C
Retention of shape under heat 1) B DIN 53461 – 85 135 130 130 215 190 210 –
DIN 52612
Thermal conductivity W/mK 0.17 0.18 0.2 0.23 – – – – 0.6
ASTM C 177
°C ISO 695
Glow hot wire test – 650/2 850/1 960/3.2 960/2 – 850/1 – –
with mm DIN 0471/2-1
Grade
Combustibility UL 94 HB/1.47 HB/1.6 V2/1.14 V1/1.47 VO/1.6 V0/1 V2/1.6 HB/1.6 V0/4
from mm
ISO 62
Water absorption % DIN 53495 <0.1 0.4 0.35 0.22 – 2.2 2.5 2.2 0.7
ASTM D 570
IEC 93
Surface resistivity ohm DIN 53482 >1013 >1014 >1015 >1015 – >1015 >1012 – >1012
ASTM 257
IEC 93
ohm DIN 53482
Special volume resistivity >1016 >1015 >1016 >1015 – >1015 >1015 >1012 >1013
x cm VDE 303 T3
ASTM 257
IEC 243
DIN 53481
Dielectric strength KV/mm – – 28 26 – – – – 18
VDE 303 T2
ASTM 149
1)
The ability of the enclosures to maintain their shape when subject to heat depends on a seal being inserted. The temperature resistance can still be affected by
mechanical stress.

The above data are for guidance only. It has been deter-
mined using standardized test pieces and can vary within
normal tolerances.
The combustibility classification refers to the material, and
deviations are possible in finished parts if these have a dif-
ferent material strength.

648
The resistance of plastics to chemicals

PS ABS PC PC/ABS PA UP-GF

blend Polyester
Acetic acid 50% 25% 10% 10% 5% 10%
Acetone --- --- --- --- + ---
Ammonia + 25% --- --- 10% ---
Benzene --- --- o --- + +
Benzole --- --- --- --- + ---
Brake fluid o --- --- + +
Butane --- + + + +
Butanol + +
Calcium chloride + + + 10% +
Carbon disulphide --- --- --- --- + ---
Caustic potash solution 50% 50% --- --- 50% ---
Chlorine benzole --- --- --- --- + +
Citric acid + + 10% + +
Diesel oil --- + o + +
Detergents + +
Engine oils o + + + +
Formaldehyde 40% 30% o 30%
Formic acid 40% --- --- --- --- 10%
Frigen 113 --- + --- + +
Fruit juice + + +
Glycerine + + o + +
Heating oil --- o o + +
Hydraulic oil + --- + +
Hydrocarbon tetrachloride --- --- --- + +
Hydrochloric acid 10% o 20% --- ---
Lactic acid 80% 80% + + o +
Linseed oil + + + + + +
Lubricating oil + + +
Methanol --- o ---
Methylene chloride --- --- --- --- o ---
Mineral oils + + +
Nitric acid 10% --- 10% --- 10%
Potassium chloride + + 10% +
Potassium hydroxide ---
Soap suds o +
Soda lye 50% 50% --- --- + 40%
Sodium carbonate + + + 10% +
Sodium chloride + + + + --- +
Sodium hydroxide + ---
Sulphuric acid 50% 50% 50% 50% --- ---
Tartaric acid + + + + 10% +
Toluol --- --- --- --- + ---
Trichloroethylene --- --- --- --- + ---
Turpentine oil --- o + +
Water (distilled, river, tap, sea water) + + + + + +
Xylol --- --- --- --- + +
Zinc sulphate + + + + +

Symbols: + resistant to all concentrations --- not resistant

% resistant to this max. percentage concentration no information
o resistant under certain conditions available

Unless otherwise stated, the tests were carried out at room If different media coincide, resistances can change; hence
temperature. we cannot accept any liability for these data.

All dimensions in mm. 649