Minimum Continuous Service Temperature
Last update on Sep 10, 2025
Continuous service temperature in plastics is crucial because it defines the maximum temperature at which a material can function reliably over extended periods without significant degradation of its mechanical, physical, or electrical properties.
This parameter directly influences material selection decisions for applications with sustained temperature exposure, such as automotive under-hood components, appliance parts, and industrial equipment housings.
In this guide, you will discover more about minimum continuous service temperature values of polymers to ease your material selection process.
What is minimum continuous service temperature?
This is the minimum acceptable temperature above which mechanical properties (tensile strength, impact strength) or electrical properties (dielectric strength, linked to insulation properties) of a plastic part are significantly degrading, over the reasonable life time of the tested product.
UL 746 is the test method generally used to calculate Relative Temperature Index (RTI).
RTI is measured in °C.
Min. Continuous Service Temperature Values of Several Plastics
Click to find the polymer you are looking for:
| Polymer Name | Min Value (°C) | Max Value (°C) |
| ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene | 60.0 | 80.0 |
| ABS Flame Retardant | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| ABS High Heat | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| ABS High Impact | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| ASA/PVC Blend - Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate/Polyvinyl Chloride Blend | 0.0 | 8.0 |
| CA - Cellulose Acetate | -30.0 | -30.0 |
| ETFE - Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene | -100.0 | -100.0 |
| EVA - Ethylene Vinyl Acetate | -60.0 | -60.0 |
| FEP - Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene | -150.0 | -150.0 |
| HDPE - High Density Polyethylene | -70.0 | -70.0 |
| HIPS - High Impact Polystyrene | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| HIPS Flame Retardant V0 | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| Ionomer (Ethylene-Methyl Acrylate Copolymer) | -70.0 | -55.0 |
| LCP - Liquid Crystal Polymer | -200.0 | -50.0 |
| LCP Carbon Fiber-reinforced | -200.0 | -50.0 |
| LCP Glass Fiber-reinforced | -200.0 | -50.0 |
| LCP Mineral-filled | -200.0 | -50.0 |
| LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene | -70.0 | -70.0 |
| LLDPE - Linear Low Density Polyethylene | -70.0 | -70.0 |
| PA 46 - Polyamide 46 | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| PA 6 - Polyamide 6 | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| PA 66 - Polyamide 6-6 | -80.0 | -65.0 |
| PA 66, 30% Glass Fiber | -20.0 | -20.0 |
| PA 66, Impact Modified | -80.0 | -65.0 |
| PAI - Polyamide-Imide | -196.0 | -196.0 |
| PAR - Polyarylate | -100.0 | -95.0 |
| PBT - Polybutylene Terephthalate | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| PCTFE - Polymonochlorotrifluoroethylene | -250.0 | -250.0 |
| PE - Polyethylene 30% Glass Fiber | -100.0 | -100.0 |
| PEEK - Polyetheretherketone | -65.0 | -70.0 |
| PEEK 30% Carbon Fiber-reinforced | -65.0 | -70.0 |
| PEEK 30% Glass Fiber-reinforced | -60.0 | -75.0 |
| PESU - Polyethersulfone | 175.0 | 180.0 |
| PESU 10-30% glass fiber | -98.0 | -101.0 |
| PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| PETG - Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| PFA - Perfluoroalkoxy | -150.0 | -150.0 |
| POM - Polyoxymethylene (Acetal) | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| POM (Acetal) Impact Modified | -50.0 | -40.0 |
| POM (Acetal) Low Friction | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| PP - Polypropylene 10-20% Glass Fiber | -40.0 | -5.0 |
| PP, 10-40% Mineral Filled | -20.0 | -5.0 |
| PP, 10-40% Talc Filled | -20.0 | -5.0 |
| PP, 30-40% Glass Fiber-reinforced | -30.0 | -5.0 |
| PP (Polypropylene) Copolymer | -20.0 | -10.0 |
| PP (Polypropylene) Homopolymer | -20.0 | -10.0 |
| PP, Impact Modified | -40.0 | -20.0 |
| PPE - Polyphenylene Ether | -50.0 | -40.0 |
| PPE, 30% Glass Fiber-reinforced | 80.0 | 110.0 |
| PS (Polystyrene) Crystal | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| PS, High Heat | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| PSU - Polysulfone | -100.0 | -100.0 |
| PTFE - Polytetrafluoroethylene | -200.0 | -200.0 |
| PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), 20% Glass Fiber-reinforced | -10.0 | 1.0 |
| PVC, Plasticized | -40.0 | -5.0 |
| PVC, Plasticized Filled | -40.0 | -5.0 |
| PVC Rigid | -10.0 | 1.0 |
| PVDF - Polyvinylidene Fluoride | -40.0 | -40.0 |
| SAN - Styrene Acrylonitrile | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| SAN, 20% Glass Fiber-reinforced | 20.0 | 20.0 |
| UHMWPE - Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene | -30.0 | -30.0 |