PPE (Polyphenylene Ether) is the same material as PPO, both chemically being poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide). The difference between them only comes from naming conventions in different regions (PPE is the international general name, PPO is the traditional commercial name), so their core properties and density ranges are exactly the same. PPE is an amorphous high-performance thermoplastic engineering plastic with moderate base density, extremely low water absorption, excellent dimensional stability, outstanding electrical insulation, and hydrolysis resistance, balanced heat resistance and mechanical strength. Pure PPE has poor processability, and mainstream products on the market are modified alloys, whose density fluctuations mainly come from the modification formula. Different types and modified versions of PPE have slight density variations, which are important basis for high-precision component design and process optimization.
General-purpose pure PPE: 1.06–1.08 g/cm³, typical value 1.07 g/cm³. The amorphous structure gives it natural low water absorption and high dimensional stability, with high processing difficulty, only suitable for special precision scenarios with extremely high performance requirements.
PPE/PS (HIPS) modified: 1.05–1.07 g/cm³. By modifying with polystyrene (PS) or high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) to improve processing fluidity, its density is close to pure PPE, with more cost advantages, making it the mainstream general-purpose injection grade product on the market.
Glass fiber reinforced PPE (10–30%): 1.15–1.32 g/cm³. The higher the glass fiber content, the more obvious the density increase. The material's strength, rigidity, and heat distortion temperature are significantly improved, suitable for high-load, high-temperature working environments.
Mineral-filled PPE: 1.12–1.28 g/cm³. Filling content is positively correlated with density. It mainly adds minerals such as talc and calcium carbonate to focus on improving dimensional stability, reducing warpage, and effectively controlling production costs.
Flame-retardant PPE: 1.07–1.15 g/cm³. Mainly adopts halogen-free and phosphorus-based flame-retardant systems. The addition of flame retardants makes the density slightly higher than the base grade, meeting the V-0 flame-retardant requirements of electronic equipment housings and structural components, while retaining excellent electrical insulation.
Glass fiber + mineral composite PPE: 1.18–1.35 g/cm³. It combines the high strength of glass fiber with the dimensional stability of minerals, with density between single reinforcement systems, balanced comprehensive performance, suitable for complex precision structural component needs.
This density parameter is the core basis for the design of high-precision products such as automotive exterior parts, pump housings, electrical equipment housings, junction boxes, water treatment equipment components, and medical device structural components. The amorphous structure and extremely low water absorption ensure near-perfect dimensional accuracy in humid, high-temperature, and chemically corrosive environments. Density calculation is also key data for product lightweight design, mold cavity design, assembly gap matching, and injection molding process parameter setting, while supporting the play of its core characteristics of high heat resistance, high insulation, and hydrolysis resistance.
