Plastic Molding

A processing method which forms the rubber in the mold by the application of pressure and heat which shapes and cures the parts.

• Plastic Molding Overview

Injection Molding
A repetitive process in which plastic is melted and injected into a mold cavity where the article is cooled down. After cooling, the mould opens and the article is ejected.

• Reaction injection molding
• Liquid injection molding
• Gas assist injection molding
• Co-injection

Blow Molding
Process of inflating a hot, hollow, thermoplastic preform or parison inside a closed mold so its shape conforms to that of the mold cavity. A wide variety of hollow parts, including plastic bottles, can be produced from many different plastics using this process.

• Extrusion blow molding
• Injection blow molding
• Stretch blow molding

Rotational Molding (rotomolding)
In rotational molding, or rotomolding, a product is formed from fine powder within a closed mold, which is rotated in a heating chamber and then a cooling chamber. While the mold is slowly turning and tumbling, it is heated by forced hot air in an oven. As the mold wall heats, the resin begins to stick to the inside of the mold forming a hollow part.

Compression Molding
Technique for molding thermoset plastics in which a part is shaped by placing the fiber and resin into an open mold cavity, closing the mold, and applying heat and pressure until the material has cured or achieved its final form.

Insert Molding (overmolding)
Insert molding is an integral process for directly producing a complete product by molding the resin material together with metallic, fabric, and resin components placed in the die. Unlike the conventional production process that separately assembles (inserts or adheres) components and accessories, strength and durability are much higher.

Dip molding
Process where a mold or part is dipped into a polymer for dip molding or dip coating a part. This dip molding process is used to make items such as surgeons gloves and hand tool handles.

Transfer Molding
Resin transfer molding (RTM) is a liquid molding process that is commonly used in the aerospace and automotive industries.  In the RTM process, a resin is mixed with a hardener and then injected at low pressure into a mold containing dry fibers.

• Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)
• Vacuum-Assisted Resin Transfer Molding  (VARTM)

Structural Foam Molding
Structural foam molding is a type of injection molding process commonly used for parts that require thicker walls than standard injection molding. Introducing a small amount of nitrogen or chemical blow agent into the plastic material allows for the creation of the thicker walls. Foaming occurs as the melted plastic material enters the mold cavity.