Fragmented Material Data
Material data is scattered across PDFs, manufacturer websites, and distributor catalogs. Finding a complete picture for any single resin means checking three or four different sources before you can make a comparison.
Join teams from leading companies
THE PROBLEM
Material Selection Shouldn't Slow Down Your Design Cycle
Wrong Material = Failed Prototype
Ordered the wrong hardness. The part cracked. The color bled. The surface won't bond. One wrong resin choice can set a project back by weeks and hundreds of dollars in reprints.
Ordering Processes that Don't Fit
You need 2kg of nylon. Suppliers want 500kg. Industrial sourcing platforms are designed for procurement teams ordering by the pallet — not a maker testing a concept.
SIMPLIFY SOURCING
How Plastics.com Works
Discover with Herman AI
Describe your application requirements and Herman recommends the right plastic resin or engineering plastic from 45,000+ materials. Trained on 350,000+ pages of curated industry data, Herman is 67% more accurate than general-purpose AI.
Compare in the Marketplace
Side-by-side property comparison across mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. Filter by material family, application, or manufacturer to narrow your selection in minutes, not days.
Source with Rapid Ordering
Request quotes from verified plastic resin distributors and manufacturers. Get pricing in 24 hours, not weeks. Connect directly with suppliers for samples and production volumes.
CASE STUDY
From Concept to Material Spec in Minutes
See how prototypers use Plastics.com to go from a set of application requirements to a sourced material — without leaving the platform.
Ask Herman What to Use — Get a Specific Answer
Herman AI is the built-in assistant on Plastics.com, trained on more than 350,000 pages of curated plastics industry data. You don't need a materials science background. Just describe your project in plain language and Herman does the rest.
Herman is 67% more accurate than general-purpose AI tools with 98% fewer hallucinations — because it's trained on real plastics data, not generic web content. When Herman recommends TPU-87A over silicone, it explains why.
- Ask in plain language: "flexible, food-safe, survives a dishwasher"
- Get material recommendations with trade-off explanations
- Compare candidates side by side on the properties that matter
- Jump straight to sourcing from the same screen
MATERIAL DISCOVERY
Materials from the World's Leading Manufacturers
3x
FASTER MATERIAL DISCOVERY
45K+
MATERIALS
37+
Material Families
BASF
SABIC
DuPont
Celanese
Evonik
Solvay
Arkema
Covestro
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the right plastic material for my prototype?
Describe your project requirements to Herman AI — the built-in assistant trained on 350,000+ pages of plastics industry data. Tell Herman what your part needs to do: operating temperature, flexibility, chemical exposure, strength, surface finish, or food safety. Herman recommends matching materials from a database of 45,000+ resins and explains why each one fits. No materials science degree required.
Can I order samples or small quantities through Plastics.com?
Yes. Plastics.com connects makers and prototypers with suppliers who offer samples, small-batch orders, and prototype quantities. After identifying candidate materials with Herman AI, submit an RFQ directly to verified suppliers and ask about sample availability and minimum order quantities. Many distributors in the network specifically accommodate small-volume buyers and prototyping needs.
What is the difference between 3D printing filaments and injection molding resins?
3D printing filaments (FDM, SLA, SLS) and injection molding resins are often made from the same base polymers — such as ABS, Nylon, and TPU — but the processing conditions, additives, and resulting material properties can differ significantly. Plastics.com helps makers understand both the prototyping-grade material properties and the production-grade resin equivalents, so your prototype can faithfully predict how the final injection-molded part will perform.
Is Plastics.com free for individual makers?
Yes. Plastics.com is 100% free for all buyers, including individual makers, students, hardware startups, and prototypers. You can search the full material database, consult Herman AI, compare properties, and request quotes from suppliers at no cost. No credit card is required to sign up.