Parker Hannifin Design Resources - A clearer route from application brief to the right material and process

1. Define exposure

Record temperature range, chemical or fluid contact, UV exposure, pressure, mechanical load and expected service duration. A meaningful comparison needs the full environment, not one headline property.

2. Define process

Capture injection, extrusion, blow molding, thermoforming, compounding or assembly constraints. Melt flow, cure behavior, tooling geometry and line speed can change which option is practical.

3. Define proof

List the test method, regulatory region, customer approval route and change-control documents required. Evidence is tied to the selected grade and end use rather than presented as a universal claim.

Technical trade-offs to review

Decision	Review input	Typical evidence
Mechanical performance	Tensile, impact, flexural modulus or hardness	Method, specimen, conditioning and temperature
Thermal window	HDT, Tg, continuous service or cycling	Test curve and application safety factor
Chemical compatibility	Media, concentration, time and stress state	Immersion data plus part-level validation
Compliance	Market, contact type and finished article	Current declaration or scoped report
Processing	MFI, moisture, cure, die or mold conditions	Trial record and controlled setup window

Selection considerations with both sides visible

Pneumatic versus hydraulic actuation

Pneumatic systems simplify clean, fast motion at moderate force; hydraulic systems provide higher force density but add fluid, leakage and maintenance considerations. Compare working pressure, bore, stroke, cycle rate, control accuracy and failure consequences before selecting the architecture.

Thermoplastic tube versus reinforced rubber hose

Thermoplastic tube offers low mass and clean routing for many air circuits, while reinforced rubber hose can better tolerate impulse, abrasion or demanding hydraulic service. Working pressure, burst ratio, bend radius, temperature and media compatibility remain application-specific.

Separate screening data from qualification evidence

Published typical values are useful for screening but do not replace validation in the customer geometry and service environment. Parker Hannifin routes requests by product family, application and evidence need so technical, procurement and compliance teams review the same assumptions.

For a repeatable comparison, condition specimens at 23°C and 50% relative humidity where the cited method calls for it, record the lot number and specimen geometry, run the named ASTM or ISO method, retain the untreated control, and record the measured value with units and acceptance criterion. Application teams must confirm any alternate conditioning required by the material or standard.

Limitations are explicit: typical datasheet values are not release specifications; chemical compatibility is media-, concentration-, stress- and time-dependent; and regulatory declarations are grade-, site-, market- and revision-specific. For recycled content, medical contact, food contact, flammability or automotive approval, request the current lot-specific CoA plus the applicable TDS, SDS or scoped declaration before approval.

Parker Hannifin: Design Resources for Better Material Trade-offs

Start with conditions the material must survive