Plastic injection molding and other manufacturing outsourcing processes

Over the centuries plastics technology has advanced through Vulcanized Rubber, Cellulose, Nylon, polyethylene (familiar to many as Tupperware), PVC (surprisingly first manufactured in 1940!), and polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam), among many other forms and uses. Today plastics are the dominant form of fabrication material in the world: Durable, flexible, and often biodegradable. Types of Plastics There are two main categories of plastic materials: Thermoplastic materials can be heated repeatedly, becoming flexible and hardening into new shapes. Thermoplastic materials have a limit on how many times they can be melted and re-formed, due to degraded chemical chains and the inevitable introduction of contaminants in the recycling process. Thermoset materials can only be heated and shaped once; vulcanization is a permanent chemical reaction. An example of a thermoplastic material is PVC, which can be re-melted at 80 degrees Celsius. An example of a thermoset material is Vulcanized Rubber, which, once processed, cannot be reformed. Within these two categories are many subdivisions relating to aspects of the materials themselves, such as whether they are biodegradable, whether they are electrically conductive, or their inherent tensile strength. Originally most plastics were Bioplastics, created from plant or animal sources. Cellulose, created by processing plant cell walls, is perhaps the most well-known bioplastic. Plastics made from petrochemicals, however, became cheaper and more versatile over time and largely supplanted bioplastics over the course of the 20th century; however, in recent years the shrinking reserves of petrochemicals and concerns over the environmental impact of the plastic-creation process has resulted in a renewed interest in bioplastics, and a resurgence of celluloses fortunes. Bioplastics are considered a renewable, and thus green, resource, though the processes used to create them are not always any more environmentally-friendly than those working with petrochemicals. Plastic Processes There are over a dozen major processes utilized in the creation of plastic materials, with different processes employed to create thermoplastic and thermoset materials. Thermoplastic Processes Blown Film. This process extrudes plastic material into a circular form, which then undergoes an infusion of gas (bubbles) which expand the plastic drastically. This process is commonly used to create Polyethylenes or blends, and can be found in objects such as shrink film, packaging, or laminates. Extrusion Blow Moulding. Typically used to create piping (most commonly from PVC) this is a straightforward process involving melting the polymer and and then pushing it through a

form. Extrusion Profiles and Sheet. One of the most common plastic processes, it involves a continuously heated and worked material, and thus is ideal for create longer continuous products such as tubing, seals, gutters, and pipes. Injection Blow Moulding Used mainly to create bottles and jars (hollow objects). Injection Moulding (traditional or gas-assisted). Perhaps the most common plastic process due to its speed; it is very suitable for mass production or objects to a high degree of precision. Injection Moulding is used to create a large variety of products, including telephones, DVD and CDs, dashboards, and disposable razors. Injection Stretch Blow Moulding A process ideal for the creation of very strong containers (typically utilizing Polyethylene as a source material). Found commonly in soda bottles. Rotational Moulding Used to create hollow objects, this process is different from other processes in that the polymer is first placed into the mould and then melted and shaped, so external pressure is not required in the process. blow molding