In today’s diverse market, there is a vast array of plastic materials available for customers to choose from. As a result, the process of selecting resin materials for plastic injection molding is challenging right from the start.
Here are some commonly used resin materials:
ABS: A Versatile Material
ABS is widely used in various industries ranging from automotive manufacturing to pipe production due to its remarkable impact resistance and mechanical strength. Moreover, metal coatings can easily adhere to ABS, making it an ideal choice for the production of phones, showerheads, and various electrical appliances. However, ABS has poor chemical corrosion resistance, so it should not be used in applications that require electrical insulation or UV resistance; otherwise, it may fail prematurely.
POM: A Top Performer in Lubrication and Creep Resistance
POM boasts excellent surface lubricity, creep resistance, and resistance to chemical solvents, making it a favorite in the food, beverage, machinery, automotive, and household industries. We often select this resin to manufacture toy components, gears, and bearings, and it is also commonly used in the production of automotive and household products. However, POM is not a good choice for high – temperature applications as its performance degrades under such conditions.
PP: A Flexible All – rounder
PP is well – known for its flexibility in the fields of packaging, fluid management and processing, household products, and certain automotive parts. Although polypropylene is flammable and susceptible to UV radiation, it has good chemical resistance and electrical resistance. Nevertheless, most grades of PP are flammable and prone to degradation from UV radiation, so extra caution is needed when using it.
HIPS: A Cost – effective “Tough Guy”
HIPS, short for high – impact polystyrene, is a rigid material with low cost, high cost – effectiveness, and customizable surfaces. It is easy to print, glue, bond, and decorate, and is commonly found in the commercial, display, printing, graphic, and prototyping industries. Although it is flammable, there are flame retardants available on the market.
LDPE: A Flexible and Moisture-Resistant “Little Helper”
LDPE, or low – density polyethylene, is a highly flexible polyethylene with excellent moisture resistance and high impact strength. It performs well in the production of many consumer goods, household items, medical supplies, and wires. However, this material is difficult to bond, so it should not be used in extreme weather or high – temperature environments to avoid potential problems.
Key Considerations for Material Selection
Impact Strength: A Consideration of Basic Strength
Some plastic products require higher basic strength than others. Therefore, before starting the mold design, the IZOD impact strength of the resin material should be determined to ensure it meets the product’s usage requirements.
Tensile Strength: The Ability to Bear Loads
We usually use ultimate tensile strength or ultimate strength to measure the tensile strength of a resin and its ability to withstand a certain load. When selecting materials, choose a resin with appropriate tensile strength based on the actual stress conditions of the product.
Flexural Modulus: The Ability to Recover Shape
The flexural modulus reflects how much a material can bend without being damaged and still be able to recover its original shape. This is crucial for some products that need to be bent frequently.
Heat Resistance: The Key to Temperature Adaptability
Some plastic products need to be used in insulating or relatively wide – temperature – range conditions, so heat resistance is of great importance. When selecting materials, fully consider the product’s operating environment temperature and choose a resin with sufficient heat resistance.
Water Absorption: The Impact of Water Absorption
Water absorption refers to the amount of water a material absorbs after being immersed for 24 hours, usually expressed as a percentage. Materials with high water absorption may affect the product’s performance and dimensional stability, so this indicator should also be taken into account during material selection.
If the right resin material is selected before starting the plastic mold design, it can not only save a significant amount of time and cost but also ensure high – level performance and manufacturability of your production. To ensure an ideal resin material selection, it is recommended to consult a professional plastic injection molding company.
Dongguan Yize Mould Co., Ltd., founded in 2007, is an enterprise that has been deeply engaged in the field of precision mold design and manufacturing as well as precision injection – molded product production for many years. The company focuses on the design, precision mold manufacturing, injection molding, assembly, and after – sales service of products such as automotive connectors, medical product injection molding, dust – free injection molding, and PFA custom injection molding, providing a complete set of solutions from design to after – sales. If you have relevant needs, please feel free to call +86 13302615729 (same number for WeChat and Whatsapp). We will serve you wholeheartedly!
