vineri, 14 martie 2014

How Structural Foam Molding Is Done

By Gwen Lowe


Since its introduction in the mid 19th century, plastic has been used as a substitute of wood, concrete, fiberglass and metals in many instances. For example, hundreds of kitchenware are made of plastic instead of the traditional metals like iron or aluminum. In fact, there are floors made of plastic as opposed to concrete. It is also not strange to see several plastic chair designs in the market today. So, the question is how do they make some of these chair designs? To answer that, you must understand structural foam molding.

Briefly, this type of molding refers to the use of an inert gas to produce foam. Once the foaming action is started, molten polymer then flows through the mold to form the required shape. It is an injection molding procedure usually carried out in low-pressure environment to produce high-density polyethylene.

It is true that the technique uses a number of raw materials; however, the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polystyrene (PS) and Polycarbonate are the most popular. From such materials, products such as Containers Pallets, Point of Sale Components and Displays can be produced. Business Machine Chassis also come from the foam method.

Prior to examining the advantages of foam molding, it is important that you know the other popular molding methods. Primarily, there are Gas Assist, Injection, Rotational and Blow (that employs both the extrusion and injection techniques in a single procedure) techniques. On the other hand are the Film Insert as well as thermoforming methods. It is important to note that each technique has an advantage over the other depending on the product. However, the foam molding method is the best in low-pressure surroundings.

As expected, the technique has its highs and lows. For instance, many love it because it is cheaper to set up. The fact that you could use low-priced and light molds (e. G. Aluminum) has only served to popularize this technique. In addition, structural foam has lower inner stresses as compare to other methods like Compression. Finally yet importantly, the method can produce some of the largest plastic products.

In most instances, structural foam could go as the cheapest molding option. However, a comparison of the setup costs between this procedure and Compression has shown the latter to be easy to start and finance. For people running on a strict budget, therefore, the former method may not be the best option. Another demerit is that speed of production. It has been found that the technique is slower compared to other Injection methods especially that use force to spread the polymer.

After defining structural foam and looking at its application and benefits, the focus should be on how to contract a plastic molding firm. Examining some of the qualities of a credible company is of great benefit considering the fact that the market has counterfeit goods. In worst cases, even manufactures may turn out to be unscrupulous thus underscoring the need for caution.

Though there are many things to look for in a plastic manufacturer, reviews from satisfied customers is the best place to start. Also, ensure the firm is registered that it operates within the local environmental laws. Finally, shop around online to ensure you only contract companies that charge affordably.




About the Author:



Niciun comentariu:

Trimiteți un comentariu

Yahoo! News: Most Viewed