Plastic Processing Techniques

Plastic Processing Techniques
Plastics are mainly organic polymers of high molecular mass, but they sometimes contain other
substances as well. Plastics are usually synthetic, most commonly derived from petrochemicals,
but many are partially natural. Plastics are usually classified by their chemical structure of the
polymer's backbone and side chains. Some important groups in these classifications are
the acrylics, polyesters, silicones, polyurethanes, and halogenated plastics. There are a variety of
methods used to process plastic. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages and are
better suited for specific applications. There are various plastic processing techniques, explained
as follows:
1) Injection Molding
Injection molding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting material into a
mold. The main method used for processing plastic is injection molding. With this process, the
plastic is placed into a hopper. The hopper then feeds the plastic into a heated injection unit,
where it is pushed through a long chamber with a reciprocating screw. Here, it is softened to a
fluid state. A nozzle is located at the end of the chamber. The fluid plastic is forced through the
nozzle into a cold, closed mold. The halves of the mold are held shut with a system of clamps.
When the plastic is cooled and solidified, the halves open and the finished product is ejected
from the press.
2) Plastic Extrusion
Plastics extrusion is a high volume manufacturing process in which raw plastic material is melted
and formed into a continuous profile. The process of extrusion is usually used to make products
such as film, continuous sheeting, tubes, profile shapes, rods, coat wire, filaments, cords, and
cables. As with injection molding, dry plastic material is placed into a hopper and fed into a long
heating chamber. At the end of the chamber, however, the material is forced out of a small
opening or a die in the shape of the desired finished product. As the plastic exits the die, it is
placed on a conveyor belt where it is allowed to cool. Blowers are sometimes used to aid in this
process, or the product may be immersed in water to help it cool.
3) Blow Molding
Stretch Blow Molding process is mainly used when the plastic product that needs to be created
should be hollow. A molten tube is created with blow molding by using compressed air, which
blows up the tube and forces it to conform to the chilled mold. Variations of blow molding
include injection, injection-stretch, and extrusion blow molding.
4) Thermoforming
Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable forming
temperature, formed to a specific part shape in a mold, and trimmed to create a usable product.
The sheet, or film when referring to thinner gauges and certain material types, is heated in an
oven to a high-enough temperature that it can be stretched into or onto a mold and cooled to a
finished shape. The second animation shows the twin sheet thermoforming process whereby two
individual components are fused together through the application of tremendous pressure which
forces two molds together, thereby fusing the materials together.
5) Compression Molding
Compression molding is the most common process used with thermosetting materials and is
usually not used for thermoplastics. With this process, the material is squeezed into its desired
shape with the help of pressure and heat. Plastic molding powder and other materials are added
to the mix in order to create special qualities or to strengthen the final product. When the mold is
closed and heated, the material goes through a chemical change that causes it to harden into its
desired shape. The amount temperature, amount of pressure, and length of time utilized during
the process depends on the desired outcome.
6) Calendaring
Calendaring is a continuous process which works in much the same way as an old-fashioned
clothes mangle. For plastics, there are usually four heated rollers of different sizes rotating at
slightly different speeds. The material is fed into these rollers, heated and melted, then shaped
into a sheet or film. This is then cooled and rolled up. The sheets can be mono-oriented during
this process. The most commonly calendared material is PVC.
7) Pultrusion
Pultrusion is similar to extrusion in that it produces continuous cross-sectional profiles. While

extrusion relies on press to push unreinforced thermoplastic materials through a short die,
pultrusion pulls a variety of reinforced fibers, wetted by thermosetting and/or some thermoplastic
resins, through a heated die. Polymerization of the resin occurs as the wetted fibers pass through
the die, forming a continuous, rigid profile corresponding to the orifice shape.
8) Vacuum Forming
Vacuum forming is a simplified version of thermoforming, whereby a sheet of plastic is heated
to a forming temperature, stretched onto a convex, or into a concave, single-surface mold, and
forced against the mold by a vacuum (suction of air).
9) Rotational Molding
Rotational molding is an extremely popular and well-used process for producing items that are
usually hollow. The mold is closed and then spun both vertically and horizontally and moved
into an oven. As the powder starts to melt and the mold continues rotating, it is flung onto the
walls of the mold by centrifugal force where it forms a skin. After a fixed period, the mold is
removed from the oven and allowed to cool carefully to avoid the product shrinking or
warping. It's most often used for very large articles which are usually made in small quantities.

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Plastic Processing Techniques

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What are the main plastic processing techniques discussed?

How does injection molding work?

Plastic Processing Techniques

Pultrusion is similar to extrusion in that it produces continuous cross-sectional profiles. While

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