Food Industry Balls | McMaster-Carr

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For Use With

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)

Mineral Oil

Plastic

Rubber

Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda)

Vegetable Oil

Water

Food Industry Standard

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.1020

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.1520

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.1580

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2480

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600

System of Measurement

Diameter

Shape

Material

Color

Hardness Rating

Construction

Hardness

Rockwell R120 to Rockwell R122

Performance

Ultra-Low Temperature

Environment

Maximum Temperature

Tolerance Rating

RoHS

REACH

Application

Density

Clarity

Tensile Strength

2,900 psi to 5,070 psi

10,000 psi to 11,000 psi

Minimum Temperature

U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) Qualifying

Comparable To

DFARS Specialty Metals

Exempt

Export Control Classification Number (ECCN)

For Use Outdoors

69 Products

About Plastic

Compare over 25 types of plastic to find the right material for you.

Plastic Balls

Delrin® Acetal—Able to hold tight tolerances, these balls resist expanding when exposed to heat and moisture. They have a naturally slippery, wear-resistant surface. Use them for bearings and low-load rolling applications. Delrin® acetal resin is also known as acetal homopolymer.

	Max. Temp., ° F	Color	Food Industry Std.	Pkg. Qty.		Pkg.
Multipurpose







	Delrin® Acetal

	1/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K5	00000


	3/32"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K51	0000
	1/8"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K52	0000
	9/64"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K61	0000
	5/32"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K53	0000
	3/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K54	0000
	7/32"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K22	0000
	1/4"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K24	0000
	9/32"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	25	9614K92	0000
	5/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K57	0000
	3/8"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K58	00000


	7/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	50	9614K93	00000
	1/2"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	50	9614K59	00000
	9/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	25	9614K94	0000
	5/8"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	25	9614K6	00000
	3/4"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	10	9614K25	0000
	13/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K62	0000
	7/8"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	10	9614K95	00000
	15/16"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K63	0000
	1"	-0.001" to 0.001"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	10	9614K27	00000
	1 1/8"	-0.002" to 0.002"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K64	0000


	1 1/4"	-0.002" to 0.002"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K65	0000
	1 1/2"	-0.002" to 0.002"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K39	0000
	2"	-0.002" to 0.002"	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	1	9614K66	00000
	2 mm	-0.0254 mm to 0.0254 mm	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K71	0000
	3.5 mm	-0.0254 mm to 0.0254 mm	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K67	0000
	4 mm	-0.0254 mm to 0.0254 mm	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K73	0000
	5 mm	-0.0254 mm to 0.0254 mm	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	100	9614K74	0000
	8 mm	-0.0254 mm to 0.0254 mm	-20	180	White	FDA Standard	50	9614K68	0000

Hollow Plastic Balls

Hollow balls float. Use them in tanks to slow evaporation and reduce heat loss.

Polypropylene—Resistant to swelling when exposed to water, these balls are often used in laboratory applications.

	Min. Temp.	Max. Temp., ° F	Color	Food Industry Std.	Pkg. Qty.		Pkg.
Multipurpose







	Polypropylene

	0.787"	-0.010" to 0.010"	1	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	150	3748K31	000000


	1"	-0.015" to 0.015"	1.5	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	25	9338K11	0000
	1.4"	-0.015" to 0.015"	5	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	25	9338K13	0000
	1.496"	-0.010" to 0.010"	5.5	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	50	3748K33	00000
	1.969"	-0.020" to 0.020"	8	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	40	3748K34	00000
	3.15"	-0.030" to 0.030"	13	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	10	3748K36	00000
	3.937"	-0.050" to 0.050"	40	Not Rated	220	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	1	3748K18	0000

Rubber Balls

Use rubber balls for a variety of applications, including cleaning, vibration damping, and sealing.

Multipurpose Neoprene—Oil and abrasion resistant. Let balls bounce around the inside of vibrating sifters to clean screens, or use them as seals in pumps and check valves.

Ultra-Stretchable Abrasion-Resistant Natural Rubber—FDA compliant for direct contact with food, these balls are often used to clean screens in vibrating sifters in food, beverage, and other sanitary environments. You can also use them as seals in pumps and check valves.

Tear- and Abrasion-Resistant Polyurethane Rubber—These balls combine the shock-absorbing qualities of rubber with the strength of plastic. Use as seals in pumps and check valves or let them bounce inside of vibrating sifters for an effective screen cleaner.

Extreme-Temperature Silicone Rubber—For temperatures up to 400° F, these balls seal pumps and check valves, or bounce inside of vibrating sifters to clean screens. Silicone also offers good resistance to ozone and salt water.

	Dia.	Temp., ° F	For Use Outdoors	Specifications Met	Pkg. Qty.		Pkg.
Multipurpose Neoprene







		White for Use with Food and Beverage

		5/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 55A (Medium)	0 to 212	Yes	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	10	96405K71	000000


		1"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 55A (Medium)	0 to 212	Yes	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	10	96405K72	00000
		1 1/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 55A (Medium)	0 to 212	Yes	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	96405K73	00000
		1 3/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 55A (Medium)	0 to 212	Yes	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	96405K74	00000
		2"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 55A (Medium)	0 to 212	Yes	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	2	96405K78	00000


		Ultra-Stretchable Abrasion-Resistant Natural Rubber







						White for Use with Food and Beverage

						5/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 45A (Medium Soft)	0 to 180	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	10	96385K61	00000


						1"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 45A (Medium Soft)	0 to 180	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	10	96385K62	00000
						1 1/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 45A (Medium Soft)	0 to 180	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	96385K63	00000
						1 3/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 45A (Medium Soft)	0 to 180	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	96385K64	00000
						2"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 45A (Medium Soft)	0 to 180	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	1	96385K68	0000


						Tear- and Abrasion-Resistant Polyurethane Rubber







										Gray for Use with Food and Beverage

										1 3/8"	-0.016" to 0.016"	Durometer 65A (Medium Hard)	-94 to 305	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	1	96385K81	0000


										Extreme-Temperature Silicone Rubber







														Semi-Clear White for Use with Food and Beverage

														5/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	10	8945K71	00000


														7/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	8945K72	00000
1"														-0.115" to 0.125"	Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	5	8945K73	00000
1 1/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"													Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	1	8945K74	0000
1 3/8"	-0.115" to 0.125"													Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	2	8945K75	00000
2"	-0.115" to 0.125"													Durometer 35A (Soft)	0 to 400	No	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.2600	1	8945K76	00000

Metal Detector Calibration Kits

Made with metal additives, these balls test the sensitivity of food-processing metal detectors. They’re often used to calibrate metal detectors to find metal-detectable plastic tools that have fallen into a batch. To calibrate your metal detector, run different balls through the line—the smaller the ball, the more sensitive the detector must be to recognize it. Since they’re spheres, their orientation won’t affect a metal detector’s ability to register them. These balls help you comply with Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) programs for food safety. They’re FDA compliant for direct contact with food. Balls are autoclavable, so you can sanitize them with steam.

Material	Color	Max. Temp., ° F	Autoclavable	Includes	Food Industry Std.		Each
Polypropylene	Blue	180	Yes	Sizes 4 mm to 14 mm (1 mm increments)	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 177.1520	3562N11	00000

Plastic Pellets

Use them with injection molders, 3D printers, and other molding equipment.

Impact Resistant—Absorbing impact without cracking or breaking, these plastic pellets are molded into parts that endure bumps, scrapes, and falls.

Moisture Resistant—These pellets resist swelling when exposed to water, making them suitable for use in wet environments. Melt and mold them into desired shapes.

HoPP—HoPP pellets are harder than HDPE pellets, so they won't scratch as easily. HoPP has greater tensile strength than CoPP.

CoPP—CoPP pellets are harder than HDPE pellets, so they won't scratch as easily. CoPP has better impact resistance than HoPP. It resists impact even at low temperatures.

HDPE—Choose HDPE pellets for general-purpose applications such as protoyping.

HIPS—HIPS pellets are easy to thermoform, so they’re good for signs, packaging, and other light duty applications.

ABS—ABS pellets are easy to thermoform, have good impact resistance at low temperatures, and have more chemical resistance than those made of HIPS or polycarbonate. They’re also more impact resistant than HIPS pellets. Use them to make storage cases, tote trays, equipment housings, and protective gear.

Polycarbonate—Polycarbonate pellets handle higher temperatures than any of these other materials, but they’re more difficult to thermoform. Clear in color and a lightweight alternative to glass, they’re often used to make windows, machine guards, and instrument covers.

PVDF—PVDF pellets are flexible, weather resistant, and have the most chemical resistance of all these materials. PVDF is also known as Kynar.

	Container Net Wt., lb.	Melting Temp., ° F	Melt Flow Rate	Shrinkage	Color	Food Industry Std.		Each
Impact Resistant







		HIPS

		5	Pail	100 to 150	410 to 480	9 g per 10 min.	0.3% to 0.6%	Off-White	FDA Standard	4387N16	000000


		55	Cardboard Box	100 to 150	410 to 480	9 g per 10 min.	0.3% to 0.6%	Off-White	FDA Standard	4387N13	000000




				ABS

				5	Pail	145 to 185	400 to 460	35 g per 10 min.	0.5% to 0.8%	Off-White	FDA Standard	4387N17	000000


				55	Cardboard Box	145 to 185	400 to 460	35 g per 10 min.	0.5% to 0.8%	Off-White	FDA Standard	4387N11	000000




						Polycarbonate

						5	Pail	180 to 240	540 to 590	22 g per 10 min.	0.5% to 0.7%	Clear	FDA Standard	4387N18	000000


						50	Cardboard Box	180 to 240	540 to 590	22 g per 10 min.	0.5% to 0.7%	Clear	FDA Standard	4387N12	000000




								PVDF

								5	Jar	125 to 190	270 to 280	8 g per 10 min.	2% to 3.5%	Semi-Clear Off-White	FDA Standard	4387N15	000000


								Moisture Resistant







												HoPP

												5	Pail	90 to 150	375 to 450	12 g per 10 min.	1.3% to 1.7%	Semi-Clear White	FDA Standard	7202N15	00000




														CoPP

														5	Pail	90 to 150	375 to 450	4 g per 10 min.	1.3% to 1.7%	White	FDA Standard	7202N16	00000




HDPE

5	Pail															80 to 140	375 to 440	6 g per 10 min.	1.2% to 2%	White	FDA Standard	7202N14	00000


50	Cardboard Box															80 to 140	375 to 440	6 g per 10 min.	1.2% to 2%	White	FDA Standard	7202N11	000000

Foaming Agents for Plastic Molding Machines

Commonly used in molding applications such as injection molding and extrusion, these foaming agents reduce weight, warpage, and sinks in finished parts. Mix them into resin as 0.5-1.5% of the total mixture—by decreasing the amount of resin needed to make a part, they help reduce costs. They also lower the melt viscosity of resin so that it can be processed at low temperatures, which reduces cooling times, cycle times, and the risk of heat degradation. These foaming agents are compatible with most plastic and rubber resins.

Microfine Cell—Microfine cell agents produce smaller bubbles and a tighter cell structure than other foaming agents. They improve the appearance of your final product and keep its mechanical properties consistent throughout. They’re often used to create parts that have thin walls.

Fine Cell—Fine cell agents produce more gas than microfine agents. Use them to ensure uniform foaming when molding bigger parts.

310° F Activation Temperature and 325° F Activation Temperature—Agents with a 310° F or 325° F activation temperature are for use with low-melt-temperature resins such as polyolefins, polystyrenes, and thermoplastic elastomers.

400° F Activation Temperature—Agents with a 400° F activation temperature are for use with high-melt-temperature resins such as polycarbonates and polyamides.

FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5—All are FDA compliant for direct contact with food.

	Melting Temp., ° F	Min. Gas Evolution	Color	Container Type	Food Industry Std.		Each
Microfine Cell



	325	250	30 cm³/g	White	Cardboard Box	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5	5469N13	0000000


	325	250	65 cm³/g	White	Cardboard Box	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5	5469N12	000000
	400	350	30 cm³/g	Off-White	Cardboard Box	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5	5469N14	000000


	Fine Cell



			310	310	95 cm³/g	White	Cardboard Box	FDA Compliant 21 CFR 174.5	5469N11	000000