subject: Getting To Know The Process Of Plastic Injection Moulding [print this page] Plastic is widely used all over the worldPlastic is widely used all over the world. It is known for its durability and usability. Plastic can be molded into any shape and form to be able to fit the need of the user. With the popularity of plastic and with its high demand, the plastic based industry is formed. Mass production is the expertise of such an industry and to make this possible, the process of plastic injection moulding was introduced.
Plastic injection moulding is actually just a simple process. It is used both for small requirements such as bottle caps as well as large items like car body equipment. Note that the process is made simple by the complex machine that is doing the actual manufacturing or production. The injection moulding process for plastics was invented in 1868 by John Wesley Hyatt and it all started with the plunger method.
Today, the plunger method is no longer in use. It has evolved to a more efficient process being used today. The process starts with the liquefied plastics stored in heated barrels. The liquefied plastics are mixed in with plastic granules and then poured into a mold cavity. After the cavity has been cooled and hardened, it is then moulded into the required shape.
All household appliances normally use injection moulders. The process is often tagged as cheap tooling for the labor cost and the materials used are very cost effective. However, even if it is affordable, it does not mean that the quality is not at par with the standards.
The materials used in the injection moulders still go through quality control. It is tested for its function and strength according to its eventual use. The plastics used at this stage are called thermosetting plastics or thermoplastics. Both types are polymers and examples of which are polyethylene, nylon and polystyrene.
During the year 1990s, the number of materials used for injection moulders are about 18,000. As the year progress, the number of materials kept on increasing at about 750 materials per year. Each material is chosen by the product designers and manufacturers in accordance with the specifications of the final product.
