High-Performance Plastics for Defense Solutions

Protecting what matters. Safeguarding what will sustain us tomorrow.

In safety-critical applications, there is no room for compromise.

Defense systems operate under conditions that far exceed those of civilian applications: extreme temperature fluctuations, mechanical shock loads, electromagnetic radiation and service lives lasting several decades. The right material must be chosen from the outset, as corrections during operation are simply not an option.

Where steel and aluminium once dominated, engineers are now increasingly turning to high-performance thermoplastics and fiber-reinforced composites. These materials offer weight savings of up to 50% compared with aluminium, thereby increasing mobility and range without compromising structural integrity. They offer high resistance to moisture, fuels and corrosive media, meet electrical insulation requirements and can be machined with the utmost precision for functionally critical geometries. Added to this is their suitability for components subject to vibration and wear, which is a decisive advantage in systems that must be operated under continuous load and with minimal maintenance.

Ensinger works closely with system integrators and Tier 1 suppliers on safety-critical programmes – using materials and components that are incorporated into systems which cannot afford to fail. Our engineers are involved at an early stage in development projects: in material selection, structural design and the qualification strategy. This shortens development cycles and reduces qualification risks before they arise. From the initial design concept through to the provision of spare parts during ongoing operation, we assume responsibility as a technical development and solutions partner, not merely as a supplier. Reliability, long-term availability and comprehensive quality documentation are not optional extras, but fundamental requirements.


Defense materials: Tailored exactly to requirements

In the defense sector, material selection and processing are not variables, but are strictly determined by system requirements. Ensinger relies on a comprehensive range of high-performance plastics that are specifically designed for use in extreme conditions. Right from the design phase, we take specific account of the interplay between material properties and operating conditions.
The following plastic materials are particularly suitable. Ensinger supplies these materials as semi-finished products, machined precision parts or as finished composite components depending on the specific system requirements.

TECASINT

  • Continuous operating temperature up to 300 °C
  • Cryogenic properties down to –270 °C
  • Extreme wear resistance
  • Thermal and electrical insulation
  • High purity and low outgassing
  • Inherently flame-retardant
Particularly suitable for heavily loaded insulating and structural components under extreme temperature conditions, such as those found in the vicinity of ammunition.

TECAPEEK (PEEK)

  • High heat resistance
  • Outstanding mechanical properties
  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Exceptional radiation resistance
  • High purity and low outgassing
Ideal for structural and functional components that must operate reliably under continuous stress.

TECATEC (fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites)

  • Customizable and recyclable
  • Lightweight and extremely durable
  • Exceptional impact strength and elongation at break
  • Thermally and chemically resistant
  • Creep- and fatigue-resistant
  • Vibration-damping
Composites enable high specific stiffness whilst significantly reducing weight; they are corrosion-free and offer design freedom for structurally demanding applications.

TECATRON

  • Excellent chemical resistance
  • Inherently flame-retardant
  • Resistant to hydrolysis and superheated steam
  • High rigidity
  • Resistant to high-energy radiation

TECAPEI (PEI)

  • Resistant to high-energy radiation
  • High thermal and mechanical strength
  • Excellent dimensional stability
  • Inherently flame-retardant

TECAFLON

  • Low density
  • No moisture absorption, good dimen-sional stabilityt
  • UV and radiation resistant
  • Good hydrolysis resistance

TECAMID & TECAFORM

  • High toughness and electrical insulation
  • Good machinability
  • Excellent sliding properties (POM)
  • Resistant to oils and greases (PA)

Applications in defense systems

Land systems

For wheeled and tracked vehicle platforms, we supply scalable, material-driven components: structural and functional components, bearings and sliding elements, wear parts and electrical insulators. Through the use of PEEK and fiber-reinforced materials, metallic components can be functionally substituted where appropriate; with the aim of achieving low-maintenance and corrosion-free solutions.

Drones and other UAV Systems

UAV platforms require specific solutions for weight, structural performance and functional integration. High-performance thermoplastics and composite materials offer the ideal combination of low weight, high stiffness and long-term operational stability – supporting efficient system designs.

Aerospace systems

Military aircraft, helicopters, satellites and other highly specialized systems place the most stringent demands on weight, temperature resistance and structural integrity. Ensinger materials are used in structural components, function-critical components, and in insulation and functional components subject to high thermal loads. PEEK, PI and composite materials enable high performance whilst simultaneously reducing system mass.

Maritime systems

Maritime applications require corrosion-resistant, chemical-resistant and dimensionally stable materials for use in humid and saline environments. Typical applications include structural and housing components, as well as functional components with requirements for electrical insulation and media resistance. Composite solutions enable lightweight, corrosion-free components with high mechanical strength.

Benefits for the defense industry

Measurable added value for defense programes

 
Choosing Ensinger as a development and manufacturing partner delivers tangible, demonstrable benefits throughout a system’s entire life cycle:
  • Weight savings of up to 50% compared with aluminium – depending on the application, this increases range, allows for additional payload or reduces operating costs.
  • Corrosion-free materials reduce maintenance and repair costs.
  • Shorter development cycles through the early integration of materials engineering into the development process.
  • Long-term availability of materials for stable in-service programes – even over extended service lives.
  • Documented compliance minimizes qualification risks and supports approval processes.
  • Reproducible quality and stable processes – with defined response and escalation procedures, scalability for series production and traceability, even for small to medium batch sizes.

One-Stop Shop for the defense industry

Ensinger offers defense customers a consolidated service model that reduces interfaces and simplifies processes, from material selection through to the delivery of qualified series-production components.

Our service portfolio comprises materials (semi-finished products, compounds, sintered plastics, PI powders, filaments), manufacturing (machining, injection molding, extrusion, casting, sintering and pressing), components (precision components, composite components, profiles, tubes, microsystems, insulating profiles), engineering support (early involvement in development projects, rapid prototyping, materials and process consultancy) and long-term supply (provision of spare parts and short lead times for ongoing in-service programes)

FAQs

  • Thermoplastic composites are composite materials in which a thermoplastic polymer forms the matrix and fibers (e.g., glass or carbon fibers) provide the mechanical reinforcement. This enables high stiffness and strength at low weight, while offering good corrosion resistance and the potential for functional integration (e.g., tailoring component properties through laminate design).  

    Depending on the design, they are processed as organosheets/prepreg‑like semi‑finished products, laminated structures, or formed components. The manufacturing route depends, among other factors, on part geometry, load paths, quantities, and quality requirements. Find more information here:
  • Sintered plastics are components or semi finished products that are not formed from a melt, but produced from polymer powder: the powder is consolidated in a tool under heat (and, depending on the process, pressure) so that the particles bond together and a dimensionally stable part is formed. Sintering processes are used in particular when certain materials or geometries can only be manufactured to a limited extent—or less economically—using conventional melt processing methods (e.g., injection moulding/extrusion). Key factors are powder quality, process control, and any downstream machining (if required).

    Main characteristics are:
    • High temperature capability (e.g. continuous service temperature up to 300 °C)
    • Suitable for cryogenic conditions (down to –270 °C)
    • Excellent wear resistance
    • Thermal and electrical insulation
    • High purity and low outgassing
    • Inherently flame retardant
     
  • Composites are suitable when maximum stiffness/strength at low weight is required and fibre orientation is intended as a key design lever (typical for load‑bearing lightweight structures).  

    High‑performance thermoplastics are suitable when precise geometries, tight tolerances, process robustness, and chemical/thermal resistance are the priorities—often efficient as semi‑finished stock + CNC machining or in stable serial production processes.
  • Typical reference values: PEEK ~1.3 g/cm³, aluminium ~2.7 g/cm³, steel ~7.8 g/cm³.  
    This means PEEK is ~50% of aluminium’s density and ~17% of steel’s density (material grade and quality dependent).

Contact

We’d be happy to help you choose the right material for your application. Please get in touch via our contact form.