Plastic as a polymer compound has various processing methods. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages and is more suitable for specific applications. Next, let's see how they are handled with their respective cool animations!
Plastic extrusion
Plastic extrusion is a high-volume production method in which plastic raw materials are melted to form a continuous profile. The extrusion process is commonly used to produce materials such as films, continuous sheets, pipes, profiles, rods, sheaths, threads, wires and cables. Together with injection molding machine, dry plastic is placed in a hopper and fed into a long heating chamber. At end of chamber, material is extruded from a small hole or mold, taking shape of desired end product. After plastic leaves mold, it is placed on a conveyor belt to cool. Sometimes a blower is used during this process to cool it down.
Injection molding
Injection molding is a manufacturing method in which parts are created by injecting material into a mold. The main method of plastics processing is injection molding. In this process, plastic is placed in a hopper, which then injects heated plastic, which is forced through a long chamber with a reciprocating screw. After that, it softens to a liquid state. The nozzles are located at end of chamber, through which liquid plastic is forcibly cooled and closes mold. While plastic cools and hardens, semi-finished product comes out of press.
Blow molding
Blow molding is a method of forming hollow plastic products. This is a secondary molding technology that uses gas pressure to inflate a rubber-like preform, closed in a mold cavity, into a hollow product.
Thermoforming
A special plastic processing method for processing thermoplastic sheets into various products. The sheet is clamped on frame and heated to a softened state, under action of an external force is pressed against surface of mold to obtain a shape similar to surface. After cooling and shaping, it is cut and trimmed. This process is also used in processing of rubber. In recent years, thermoforming has made new advances such as continuous production technology from extruded sheet to thermoforming.
The animation below shows process of thermoforming two parts. The two separate parts are fused together by application of tremendous pressure, which presses two molds together, fusing the materials together.
Shaping Compression
Compression molding is most common method used for thermosets and is not commonly used for thermoplastics. During this process, material is extruded into desired shape. Plastic molding powder and other materials are added to mixture to give it special properties. When mold is closed and heated, material hardens and takes desired shape. The temperature, pressure and duration of process depend on desired results.
Calculation
Also known as calendering. The last process of finishing heavy leather. Using plasticity of fibers under mixed thermal conditions to flatten surface of fabric or roll parallel thin oblique lines to improve process of finishing sheen of fabric. After material is fed, heated and melted, it is formed into a sheet or film, cooled and rolled. The most commonly used calendered material is polyvinyl chloride.
Extrusion
Extrusion molding, workpiece is extruded from mold hole or gap under action of three-way uneven compressive stress to reduce cross-sectional area and increase length, and processing method to obtain desired product is called extrusion. This processing is called extrusion molding.
Vacuum forming
Vacuum forming is often referred to as blister plastic processing technology. The basic principle is to heat and soften a flat hard plastic sheet, then use a vacuum to absorb it on mold surface, and then shape it. after cooling. It is widely used in plastic packaging. Lighting, advertising, decoration and other industries.
Rotational molding
Rotational molding is also known as rotational molding, rotational molding, rotational molding, rotational injection molding, rotational molding, etc. The rotational molding process is to first add plastic raw materials to mold, and then mold is continuously rotated along two vertical axes and heated, so that plastic raw material in mold is gradually and evenly covered by gravity and heat. energy, melt and stick to mold. The entire surface of mold cavity is molded into desired shape, then cooled and molded, demoulded, and finally product is obtained.
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