Zone: Injection Molding

injection_molding.jpg Overview

Injection molding is a fast, high-volume, closed molding process that uses, most commonly, reinforced thermoplastics, such as nylon with chopped glass fiber. In the past 20 years, however, automated injection molding of BMC has taken over some markets previously held by thermoplastic and metal casting manufacturers. They include electrical and automotive components, appliance housings and motor housings, to name a few. The use of BMC must be justified by production volume because the cost of both molds and presses is relatively high. When injection molding BMC, a ram- or screw-type plunger forces a metered shot through a heated barrel and injects it (at 5,000 psi to 12,000 psi) into a heated mold, where the liquefied BMC flows easily along runner channels and into forming cavities. Heat build-up is controlled to minimize curing time. After cure and ejection, parts need only minimal finishing. Injection speeds are typically one to five seconds, and nearly 2,000 small parts can be produced per hour in a multiple-cavity mold. Long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics (LFRT) are materials with long (6.35 mm/0.25 inch or greater) fiber reinforcement and make up one of the fastest growing fabrication categories. Leading this expansion is one of the oldest forms, glass mat thermoplastic (GMT) and two of the segment’s newest: precompounded (pelletized) LFRTs (long-fiber reinforced thermoplastics), also known as LFTs, and inline compounded (ILC) or direct LFTs (D-LFTs).


Read More...

Most Recent Content: Injection Molding
Reinforced Thermoplastics: LFRT/GMT Roundup

Recent advancements in these reinforced thermoplastic technologies are expanding their performance, enabling new applications.
Read complete article Read More

Cleaner and greener: Bio-based end tanks 8/1/2012 Composites Technology

Plant-based polyamides break high-cost/low-performance paradigm to meet the demands of a challenging Toyota underhood application.

Spare wheel well: Functional integration 3/31/2012 Composites Technology

Gas-assist injection molding enables one-piece, one-shot thermoplastic composite/metal hybrid.

Solar panel supports: New rooftop system uses lightweighting strategies 10/1/2011 Composites Technology

A solar-energy start-up's prototype solar photovoltaic (PV) modules harnesses the benefits of injection-molded composites to solve problems often encountered in flat-roof solar-panel installations.

Under the hood: Thermoplastics tackle tough jobs 4/1/2011 Composites Technology

Reinforced plastics save weight and cost, increase underhood productivity.

Maintaining fiber length in complex 3-D designs 11/30/2010 Composites Technology

Award-winning composite pallet showcases new LFT molding process from South Africa.

View More Content in This Zone    RSS RSS Feeds

New Products