COC IM
Grade
also TOPAS, Zeonor
IM = impact-modified / elastomer-blend COC
Elastomer- or COC-elastomer-blended compounds for tougher packaging film and parts that must survive drop impact, at the cost of clarity and stiffness.
Values for the IM condition
Other COC grades and fills
COC is listed in 3 conditions; see the grade overview at COC.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IMThis page Impact-modified / elastomer-blend COC | Elastomer- or COC-elastomer-blended compounds for tougher packaging film and parts that must survive drop impact, at the cost of clarity and stiffness. | 35 | 40 | 60 | 72 Shore D |
Low-Tg / film & blend grade | Pick for blown/cast film, shrink film and PE/PP blends where stiffness and moisture barrier are wanted at low processing temperature. | — | 55 | 10 | — |
High-heat grade | Use where parts must survive steam autoclave, reflow-adjacent or hot-fill service while staying optically clear. | — | 66 | 3 | — |
What is COC IM?
COC IM is COC in the IM grade — elastomer- or COC-elastomer-blended compounds for tougher packaging film and parts that must survive drop impact, at the cost of clarity and stiffness. COC IM has a yield strength of 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 1.8 GPa (0.261 Msi). COC IM has a density of 1.02 g/cm³ (0.0368 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 138°C (280 °F).
Advantages
- Low moisture uptake — 0.01%, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 85/100, better than 92% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades
COC IM properties
Typical room-temperature values for COC IM; 27 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are COC reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
COC IM has a density of 1.02 g/cm³ (0.0368 lb/in³), lighter than 72% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 138°C (280 °F).
Mechanical9
COC IM has a yield strength of 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 1.8 GPa (0.261 Msi).
Thermal11
COC IM is rated for continuous service to 80°C (176 °F). It conducts heat at 0.16 W/m·K (0.0924 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 65 µm/m·K (36.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
COC IM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 45 kV/mm (1,143 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (84/100), better than 58% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of COC IM takes about 110 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 64% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
COC IM's machinability is good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades); weldability good (55/100); formability very good (70/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with COC IM
Is COC easy to machine?
Machines cleanly with sharp single-flute or polished carbide tools and air cooling, but it is notch-sensitive — avoid sharp internal corners and aggressive feeds to prevent crazing/chipping; use no aromatic coolants.
Can COC be welded?
Joins well by laser transmission, ultrasonic, hot-plate and heat sealing; solvent bonding is limited to cyclohexane/decalin-type solvents, and adhesives need surface activation (plasma/corona) because of the non-polar surface.
Can COC be formed, bent or molded?
Injection moulds like a stiff amorphous resin: dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C, melt 240–300 °C, mould 80–140 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; low-Tg grades extrude into film and thermoform readily.
What surface finishes work on COC?
Reproduces polished tool surfaces to optical quality with no post-polish needed; printing, painting or metallising requires corona/plasma pretreatment, and UV-stable topcoats are advised for outdoor use.
COC chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| norbornene (bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene) uncomonomer content sets Tg; higher norbornene = higher Tg | 20 – 60 | 45 |
| stabilizers/antioxidantstrace phenolic/phosphite package | ≈ 0.2 | 0.2 |
| ethylene unitsmetallocene-catalysed ethylene-norbornene copolymer (COC); COP grades are hydrogenated ring-opened norbornene homopolymer | balance | — |
COC IM — frequently asked
What is COC IM used for?
COC IM is typically used for blister packaging, microfluidic diagnostic chips, optical lenses, vials/syringes and food packaging films. In short: glass-clear mouldable polyolefin; very low moisture absorption; brittle and notch-sensitive.
What is the yield strength of COC IM?
COC IM has a typical yield strength of 35 MPa (5.08 ksi) and a tensile strength of 40 MPa (5.8 ksi) — weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is COC IM easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (62/100, better than 60% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly with sharp single-flute or polished carbide tools and air cooling, but it is notch-sensitive — avoid sharp internal corners and aggressive feeds to prevent crazing/chipping; use no aromatic coolants.
Can COC IM be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated good (55/100). Joins well by laser transmission, ultrasonic, hot-plate and heat sealing; solvent bonding is limited to cyclohexane/decalin-type solvents, and adhesives need surface activation (plasma/corona) because of the non-polar surface.
What surface finishes work on COC IM?
Reproduces polished tool surfaces to optical quality with no post-polish needed; printing, painting or metallising requires corona/plasma pretreatment, and UV-stable topcoats are advised for outdoor use.
Can COC IM be formed, bent or molded?
Injection moulds like a stiff amorphous resin: dry 2–4 h at 80–100 °C, melt 240–300 °C, mould 80–140 °C, shrinkage 0.4–0.7 %; low-Tg grades extrude into film and thermoform readily.
What is the maximum service temperature of COC IM?
COC IM is rated for continuous use to about 80°C (176 °F), and briefly to 130°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- TOPAS COC grade datasheets (8007, 5013, 6013, 6015, 6017) and processing guide — TOPAS Advanced Polymers / Polyplastics (2023)
- ZEONEX / ZEONOR cyclo olefin polymer product data — Zeon Corporation (2023)
- APEL cyclo olefin copolymer product information — Mitsui Chemicals (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics ISO 10350 datasets for COC — CAMPUS / CWFG (2023)
- ISO 527, ISO 178, ISO 180, ISO 75, ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.