#thermo plastic

In today’s world, Plastic finds many applications in our daily life. Starting from Textiles, Fashion, Toys and Domestic uses to Nano Technology, Airbus A380 and iPods, plastic is everywhere. And the large shares of these plastics are made of Thermo-Plastics.

Thermoplastic is made by using a specific polymer that can be molded at a higher level of temperature, and subsequently cooled to return to a solid state. The high molecular weight, and the polymer chains connected through intermolecular forces further make thermo-softening plastic easy to remold. Thus, thermoplastic can be processed in a number of ways to make bulk plastic containers and bins. However, thermoplastic processing method needs to be selected based on the specific products to be produced.

Different Ways to Process Thermoplastic:

1. Blow Film

Under this method, a circular die is used for extrusion of the plastic. The extruded plastic then goes through a bubble-like expansion process. A variety of polyethylenes such as LDPE, HDPE and LLDPE are required as the main product to carry out the process. However, the option to blend additional materials with the resins to produce certain items is also available. The process can be used to make a variety of plastic packaging. Along with consumer and industrial packaging, this method can also be used to make laminating, barrier and agriculture films.

2. Extrusion Blow Molding

                            [Extrusion Molding Machine]

This method requires a blow molding machine to plasticize the polymer. Normally, the machine is designed with a standard extruder barrel and screw assembly. Initially, the molten plastic is led through the right angle and then led through a die. The process results in the thermoplastic emerging through a circular pipe section of the machine. The method also uses several materials like Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Polyvinyl chloride and Polyethylene – Terephthalate. This method of thermoplastic processing can be used to produce watering cans, bottles, containers and automotive fuel tanks.

3. Extrusion Profiles and Sheet

It is one of the most widely used methods to form plastic materials. Under this method, heated rotary screws are used to melt and traverse the plastic raw materials at a time. As a continuous process, the method is further effective in producing applications with long length including pipes and gaskets. The typical materials used under the process are PVC, HDPE and PTFE filled PVC. Along with a variety of pipes and tubes, the method can also be used to produce fridge seals, garden fence posts, curtain tracks, door seals and animal feeding troughs.

4. Injection Blow Molding

This method of thermoplastic processing is widely used to produce large quantities of hollow objects. Many organizations use this method to produce bottles, jars and similar containers in large quantities. The method is also effective in producing both narrow-mouthed and wide-mouthed containers with full finishing and superior quality. The method needs certain materials like low density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene-terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high density polyethylene (HDPE).

5. Injection Molding

Along with extrusion ranks, injection molding is one of the common processes to produce plastic articles at a rapid pace. Along with being fast, the process is also effective in producing identical items in large quantities. The process can be used to produce a wide variety of items ranging from disposable consumer goods to high precision engineering components. This method also requires typical materials like nylon (PA), polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (GPPS). An organization can use the process to produce mobile handsets, electrical switches, DVDs, TV cabinets and wheelie bins.