There are a variety of resins used for plastic injection molding, but in this blog post, you will learn about the three commonly used.
The history of plastic injection molding dates to the late 1800’s when there was a need to fill plastic billiard balls and not the ivory billiards used in the current era. When Mr. John Wesley Hyatt, the man behind the invention of billiard balls, ventured into the project, he did not expect it to capture the attention of designers and manufacturers decades later. Four years into the project, he partnered with his brother to invent and patent the automation machine. This became the first plastic injection molding machine on the market. It was used as a plunger for injecting plastic into the mold via a heated cylinder.
In this article, you will learn more about plastic injection molding processes and the resins used.
- Polypropylene (PP)
Famous for its chemical resistant nature, polypropylene is a widely produced type of plastic across the world. The material is recognized for its toughness and fatigue resistance. While inflammable, it still provides perfect resistance to different chemical solvents as well as electricity.
Polypropylene is used for different applications since it can be customized by inserting chemical additives into the manufacturing process. Because it can easily be tailored to other uses, in the plastic category, the material is regarded as steel. And for this reason, it is used for various packaging solutions, living hinges, medical components, and bottle caps.
- LDPE
LDPE falls in the category of polyethylene. It is flexible and low-density, offering superior moisture resistance coupled with high-impact strength to a product. The material is also a low-cost option that can be processed in several methods. The low-density nature of the material makes it ideal for creating everyday products. It can be found in several consumer goods like medical and agricultural products. This versatile plastic resin can be found in lids and caps, computer components, and juice boxes. With the number of people who recycle bags going up, products made with LDPE will always get a second life in items like floor tiles, furniture, trash cans, shipping envelopes, and landscape timber.
That is not all, though. LDPE is pretty difficult to bond, and its applications should, therefore, be avoided in harsh weather conditions.
- ABS
ABS offers superior toughness and strength to plastic products. The material has multiple applications in the automotive sector and piping. ABS effortlessly combines the rigidity of styrene polymers with polybutadiene rubber to mold a high-quality colorfast product with a glossy effect.
ABS materials are processed using a standard thermoplastic processing method. The material self-adheres to plastic as well as metal coatings, thereby making it suitable for different products. For example, it is often used in telephone handsets and computer equipment.
ABS is also useful in making musical instruments, medical gloves, and lawn mower covers. When the material is extruded to get filament, ABS becomes the ideal material to use in 3D printing.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right material for plastic molding from the beginning may not save your money, but it can help ensure that there is optimal product performance coupled with manufacturability.
