Plastics are almost everywhere in the world. They form part of product components as well as packaging. For businesses with a keen interest in creating their own plastic products or packaging, an in-depth understanding of the key methods applied in plastic manufacturing may prove valuable in determining which process best fits with their needs and requirements.

Injection molding

Most of the toys and cell phones seen around are as a result of injection molding process. Basically, this process melts resin pellets in the injection machine through the use of a heated barrel. The auger serves to shift the melted plastic forward in order to achieve a consistent mix. Next, the melted plastic is driven into a steel mold. The mold is filled with the plastic resulting in a solid product. Thermoplastics are the chief raw material in injection molding because they can be melted and cooled several times, thus limiting material wastage.

Extrusion molding

Both extrusion molding and injection molding share an almost similar process. However, instead of the plastic filling the mold, the auger machine squeezes the melted plastic through a die that affords the plastic a lasting shape. Both multiple-melt thermoplastics and thermoset plastics are mainly used in extrusion molding processes. Some of the products on the market created through extrusion molding include pipes, seals and door frames.

Blow molding

Blow molding process has quite a number of variations including extrusion and injection blow molding and stretch blow molding. Nevertheless, the fundamental process creates a hollow, pre-designed length of heated thermoplastic, called a parison. When transferred to the mold, air pressure coerces the hollow plastic to fill out the mold shape, thus leaving the object's interior as hollow. The production of bottles is synonymous with the blow molding process.

Rotational molding

Besides blow molding, rotational molding presents a viable alternative for creating hollow objects. As far as rotational molding process is concerned, the plastic precipitate enters the mold preceding heating. The closed mold is subjected to furnace heating while rotating, which makes the plastic precipitate to cover the full inner section of the mold. The plastic precipitate is heated into single layer that takes up the shape of the mold section, while allowing the object's interior to stay hollow. Rotational molding is employed by manufacturers in the production of products such as auto parts, furniture and toys.

In conclusion, your needs and requirements will determine which plastic manufacturing process your business should adopt.