Plastics are some of the widely used materials across many industries in the world. Economic efficiency (because of their cost-effectiveness), design flexibility, recyclability, aesthetics and resistance to corrosion and rotting are some of the top reasons to consider plastics. Usually, plastic products are made from moulding — specifically, injection moulding. The process entails filling mould tools with liquid plastic resins under pressure to form different plastic products.
Typically, various materials such as plastic polymers can be used in the plastic injection moulding process. Some of these include polyamide, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polypropylene, high-density polyethylene and blends of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. Each of these materials has unique properties setting them apart.
Here is a quick guide on what to look for when selecting these materials.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the top selling points of plastic. However, the level of flexibility varies across the different types of plastic. Flexibility can be largely mistaken for softness, so it's crucial to be extra careful here to ensure you get the right polymer. Generally, flexibility refers to the polymer's ability to bend or fold under pressure without easily breaking.
High-density polypropylene is one of the highly flexible plastics to consider for your application. On the other hand, nylon tends to be the less flexible counterpart, so assess your application requirements carefully to select the correct option.
Hardness
Flexibility and hardness are usually commonly misinterpreted. While flexibility refers to the polymer's ability to bend easily under stress without rapturing, hardness is all about its resistance to indentation. Material hardness is a vital aspect to consider in your selection because it determines the plastic's abrasion resistance when in use. Usually, plastics are rated based on their hardness and categorised on a specific scale. Therefore, it would be best to ask for the material's hardness rating to ensure you get the ideal one for your injection moulding needs.
Chemical Resistance
Will you be working with chemicals? From acids to alkalis and other chemicals, it's only best to select an option that will stand up to the chemical conditions. Acrylic, nylon and polycarbonate are some of the plastics with high chemical resistance, so remember that in your selection.
Weight
While plastics are naturally lightweight compared to most other materials, they vary significantly in weight. Therefore, it's also imperative to consider the weight when choosing materials for your plastic injection moulding exercise. Generally, the heavier the polymers, the heavier the product. Therefore, it would help to consider what you need to use the product for before deciding on the ideal weight. For instance, polymers for home kitchen products will need to be light. On the other hand, outdoor signages will need heavier or denser polymers that will hold up well against abrasion and outdoor elements. Usually, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonates and nylon are the heavier options while polypropylene and polyethylene are their lighter counterparts.
To find out more, look into plastic moulding products online.
Share20 May 2022
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