Choosing the right plastic material for injection molding can be a daunting task for entrepreneurs and product designers. However, it’s much easier after understanding each material and its composition. Here are five materials to consider:
Polypropylene
If you need a material that’s more resistant to impact and shrinkage, polypropylene is the suitable material for you. However, it has low strength, minimal flash resistance and can easily be degraded when exposed to UV light.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene is affordable and has high resistance to impact and chemicals. It’s ideal for product designers and engineers who need a safe material for food storage. Due to thermal expansion, it’s also used in bearing, toys and buckets.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
ABS is a perfect material for you if you need a plastic resin with colorfastness and luster features. It has a medium resistance to flash and warpage. Due to its opaque engineering features, ABS is commonly used in electrical and automotive industries.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene provides excellent material flow and shrinkage-resistant features. You can easily glue and customize it for toys, cups, and product casings. If you need a material with superb aesthetics, machinability, and dimensional stability, you can go for the high impact polystyrene (HIPS)
Acetal
Acetal is a thermoplastic that offers creep, chemical, and wear resistance capabilities. You can use it to manufacture products that require low friction versatility and enhanced dimensional stability. Some of the features that make Acetal a valuable alternative include:
- Fatigue endurance
- Impact, solvent, and chemical resistance
- Flexible to fabricate
Industrial Applications
Each of the materials mentioned above has unique features that make it perfect for a specific industrial application. They are widely used in industries like:
- Pharmaceuticals
The plastic materials are used to manufacture surgical equipment and other laboratory products. The scratch resistance and durability of plastic resins like Polyethylene make them perfect for manufacturing pharmaceutical containers and bottles. - Food Packaging
When it comes to food and beverage production, plastic resins are the most popular and cost-effective alternatives. The ease of molding makes them perfect for designing milk jugs and drink bottles. - Construction
Plastic materials are commonly used for assembling and manufacturing construction products. Plastic resins also work perfectly when manufacturing quality door and window parts like vent stops, joiners and latches.
How to Select the Best Material for Injection Molding
With the various plastic resins available in the market, you should choose a material that will offer the best properties for your industrial application. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Application – It’s essential first to determine what the plastic resin is intended for. Don’t forget to confirm whether the material can withstand the application’s environmental conditions.
- Hardness – Different plastic resins function differently when exposed to different loads. It would be best if you evaluated whether the material is strong enough for use. You need to consider its ability to withstand abrasion and other harsh conditions.
- Appearance – Some plastic resins change once you add new colors. To avoid these surprises, you need to check whether the material will retain its properties even after a color change.
Plastic versus Metal
When compared to metal, plastics offer incredible benefits to product designers and entrepreneurs. Some of these benefits include:
- Durability and longevity
- Weight reduction without compromising strength
- Versatility
- Resistance to impact and chemicals
- Great aesthetic appeal
Get Top-quality Plastic Materials from plastech
If you’re looking for quality plastic materials to withstand the test of time, PlasTech Molding Solutions has your back. We have over 70 years of experience producing injection molded parts for all industrial applications. Whatever idea you have in mind, we are ready to offer the best solution. Please contact us online or call us at 508-634-7999 to request a free quote and get a solution to all your plastic needs.