How do we mold plastic into shapes?

Process: We use the plastic pellets feed into an injection molding machine. The machine heats the pellets until they turn into the liquid. Then, the molten plastic will be injected with high pressure into a closed injection mold tooling. It takes 30-60 seconds,the molten plastic will be solid with cooling the mold. Later,the plastic mold opens, and we can get the plastic parts with ejectors.

Applications: This injection molding progress is widely used in manufacturing various plastic products.Such as car plastic parts, electronic device housings, and medical plastic coverrs. For example, the washer machine's plastic cover is often made by injection molding progress.

Process: There are two main types: extrusion blow molding and injection blow molding. In extrusion blow molding, a parison (a tube of molten plastic) is extruded first. Then, it is placed in a mold and inflated with compressed air to take the shape of the mold cavity. Injection blow molding combines injection molding and blow molding. First, a bottle preform is injection molded, and then it is transferred to a blow mold and inflated to a real plastic part.

Applications: Normally it used for producing hollow plastic products such as bottles, containers, and some automotive components like fuel tanks and water bottles.

Process: Plastic materials are fed into an extruder. The extruder has a screw that rotates to transport and heat the plastic, melting it. The molten plastic is then forced through a die, which gives it a specific cross - sectional shape. As the plastic exits the die, it is cooled and solidified, usually by passing through a water bath or using air cooling.

Applications: It is mainly used to produce plastic products with a continuous and regular cross - section, such as pipes, profiles, and plastic films. For instance, the plastic pipes used in plumbing systems are made through extrusion molding.

Process: Normally we used the plastic powder placed into a hollow mold. The mold will rotate slowly in an oven, causing the plastic powder to melt and stick with the inner surface of the mold evenly due to the action of gravity and centrifugal force. After the plastic has completely melted and adhered to the mold, the mold is cooled, usually by spraying water or using air cooling, and the formed product is removed from the mold.

Applications: It often used to make large, hollow plastic products like storage tanks, playground equipment, and big light components.