ME 2201 Unit 5 Plastics
ME 2201 Unit 5 Plastics
ME 2201 Unit 5 Plastics
TYPES OF PLASTICS;
Thermoplastics
Thermosetting plastics
-not possible
-formed by condensation
polymerization
-can be re-moulded
-not possible
EXAMPLES OF
THERMOPLASTICS
THERMOSETTING PLASTICS
-cellulosic
-nylons
-polyethylene resins
-polystyrene
-polypropylene
-polycarbonate
-acrylic resin
-vinyl plastics
-epoxy resins
-amino resins
-phenolics
-silicons
Properties of Plastics
-less brittle than glass
1.Blow moulding :
Used to produce hollow thin walled products( containers); production rate is
high
2.Casting :
Use to produce simple & intricate shapes with suitable moulds : low production
rate.
3.Compression mould :
Similar to die-forging ; medium production rate
4.Extrusion:
Used to produce long, uniform solid or hollow sections at high production rates
5.Injection moulding :
Used to produce complex shapes ; high production rate : costly tooling
6.Rotational moulding :
Used for large hollow shapes ; low tooling cost; low production rate
7.Thermoforming :
Used to produce deep cavities; low tooling cost; medium production rate
8.Transfer moulding :
Used to produce more complex parts; high production rate
INJECTION MOULDING
- It is a process in which polymer is heated to highly plastic state & forced to
flow under high pressure into mould cavity where it solidifies by cooling.
- It is widely used for moulding thermoplastic components
-Injection moulding machines have high production capacity
-This method is suitable for making parts with complex threads,
intricate shapes, thin walled parts etc.
-Some of the products are:
cups, containers, tool handles, toys, knobs, plumbing fittings, elec. &
communication components
-Limitation of this process :
reliable temp. control & non-corrosive dies
Screw Type
Plunger Type
BLOW MOULDING
-It is used to create hollow enclosed components
-There are two basic types of blow moulding process:
1. Extrusion Blow Moulding
2. Injection Blow Moulding
-most widely used materials for blow moulding :
-low density polyethylene (LDPE)
-high density polyethylene (HDPE)
-polypropylene (PP)
-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
-polyethylene terephtalate (PET)
Blow moulding
ROTATIONAL MOULDING
( this process is similar to centrifugal casting)
-Uses gravity inside a rotating mould to achieve a hollow form
-Also called Roto-moulding
-Generally used for thermoplastic polymers
-Thermosetting & elastomers are also used
-Steps involved :
-Required amount of polymer powder is loaded in the molud
-Mould is heated & simultaneously rotated
-The powder impinges on the internal surface of mould
-A layer of uniform thickness is formed
-The mould is cooled & the plastic solidifies
Roto-molded products
EXTRUSION
-It is a compression process, where the material is forced to flow thro a die
orifice to provide long, continuous product whose cross sectional shape is
determined by the shape of orifice
-Feed section: here the feed is moved from the hopper & preheated
Extrusion molding
-the air pressure can be changed to control the width & gage of the film
-the final blown film can be left in tubular form or can be cut as two parallel
thin films
THERMOFORMING
-it is a process in which a flat thermoplastic sheet is heated
& deformed into the desired shape
-this process is widely used in packaging of consumer products,
bathtubs, internal lining of refrigerators
Three categories of Thermoforming
1. Vacuum Thermoforming:
-in this process, vacuum is used to draw preheated
sheet into a mould cavity.
2. Pressure Thermoforming :
-in this process, thee sheet is pressurized from above
into the mould cavity.
3. Mechanical Thermoforming:
-in this process, matching positive & negative molds are
brought together against heated sheet & forced
to form the shape.
Thermoformed Products
Thermoforming Process
COMPRESSION MOULDING
-It is a process in which the preheated moulding material is placed in a
heated mould cavity & compressed
-It is a high volume, high pressure method & suitable for molulding complex,
high strength fibre-glass reinforcements
TRANSFER MOULDING
-In this process, thermosetting resin is heated in a separate chamber & then the
softened polymer is forced into a heated mould, where curing occurs.
Plunger transfer
Pot transfer
&
Thermo-setting plastics
1.Injection moulding
2.Blow moulding
2.Compression moulding
3.Rotational moulding
3.Transfer moulding
4.Extrusion moulding
5.Thermoforming
BONDING OF THERMOPLASTICS
-Various methods of bonding :
4.Ultrasonic welding : parts are held together & pulses are transmitted
-by a generator by vibrating tools. Suitable for spot weld.