Rabu, 19 Maret 2014

The Main Types Of Structural Foam Molding

By Gwen Lowe


Plastic was introduced in the 1800s and has since been used to replace metal, concrete, fiberglass and wood in the manufacture of most appliances. For instance, a big number of utensils are no longer made of aluminum or iron but plastic. In other cases, the use of concrete on floors is slowly being replaced by plastic products. People are not surprised anymore to see artistically designed plastic seats in furniture stores. What many do not know is how these chairs (for example) are made. Well, a little introduction to structural foam molding can clear the air.

In brief, this is the process where inactive gas is mixed with plastic to produce foam. This is then allowed to flow throughout the mold to produce the desired product. Interestingly, the procedure does not require high pressure or force, but works in an environment with low pressure to give high-density polyethylene.

The flexibility of this method means that it can use different raw material; be that as it may, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), Polycarbonate and Polystyrene (PS) are used frequently. In fact, the method is mainly used in the production of Business Machine Housings and Containers Pallets. In addition, the technique produces point of sale Displays and Components.

Now, before one looks into the pros and cons of this technique, there is need to know the other molding techniques. For example, there is the Blow (which is basically putting injection and extrusion techniques together), Gas Assist, Rotational and Injection molding techniques. Other popular processes include thermoforming and Film Insert. Well, every procedure mentioned has its highs and lows. Nonetheless, structural foam is still the popular choice especially where force is not needed to spread the molten polymer.

Obviously, the technique has its own merits and demerits. On the brighter side, the process is cheaper to run. Many also love the method because it uses cheap and light molds (such as the ones made of aluminum). Additionally, it has very low internal stresses compared to Compression molding. Lastly, the technique allows the production of large 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.

Learning how to contract a plastic manufacturer is just as important as the description of structural foam technique, its uses and advantages. Now, that the plastic market is full of fake goods, knowing where to buy you products or whom to contract for the same is important. In fact, when a manufacturer decides to charge higher fees for low quality product then taking some precautions is in order.

While you are supposed to look for a number of things in a company, it is easier to begin with the testimonials. You then need to verify if the manufacturer is fully registered and follows the environmental legislation in your area. Last but not least, check their rates and only buy from the most affordable firm.




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