So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Saturday, August 3, 2013

An Overview Of Structural Foam Molding

By Cathy Mercer


Structural foam molding process is a mold process involving lower pressure injection that is able to produce quite huge structure parts. The injection of a molten plastic substances is done to make it a mold once it has been mixed together with a top pressure gas or blowing agents. By doing this, bubbles are produced within the plastic, influencing it to foam. Resulting foams keeps the properties of that particular plastic, with the only difference being that it weighs less due to a reduced density.

This foams mold process is several similarities to injection mold process since it is also a thermoplastics processing method using low pressure. In the process, HDPE, meaning high density polyethylene, is the most commonly used resin. The end products are typically rigid parts with relatively hard structures. However, confusion should not be made between structural foams and expanded polystyrene, known as EPS. Expanded polystyrene can be linked with the white disposable foams blocks that are used to package and protect appliances and electronics.

The main element when it comes to structure foam molds is low pressure. Unlike convectional injections molds that force the material to a cavity of the mold with the use of high pressure, the process capitalizes on the configuration of a certain part. Typically, thick wall sections are formed so that they can act as runners.

The foaming action that is supplied either by introduction of an inert compressed gas inside the mold or a chemical reaction in the resin blend allows molted resin blend to flow a much further distance. In addition, it utilized a much lesser pressure than would be allowed by a typical process of injection molding.

Typically, structure foams molds are produced in aluminum, with the foaming of plastic leading to a swirling finish on the plastic part. The forming agents do not undergo expansion when they are under pressure within the injection screw. Occurrence of foaming takes place when the cavity enters the mold cavity. In the course of foaming plastics filing the foam mold cavity, the part wall solidifies against the cold wall.

A thin layer of plastic becomes solid in the absence of foaming along the molds wall. This layer afterwards forms a structure of a skin over the foamed inter core. The solid and thin wall has support, which is the foamed cellular interior structure. Parts produced in this manner results in cellular structures that are somewhat similar to products of wood.

Once molding has taken place, parts will shrink between 1.5% and 4% the molds size. During the first forty eight hours it will shrink further 5%. Such shrinkage sticks but will continue at miniature levels for a lifetime of the plastic. However, the size of the part is constant since chemicals, oils and changes in ambient temperatures act on such plastic. Expansion of vinyl siding needs expansion gaps of half an inch in order to accommodate movements since the size changes according to fluctuations in temperature.

In the course of structural foam molding, when plastic parts are injected into molds, they are at a temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. They later cool rapidly up to 140 degrees. The cooling process is capable of deforming the parts to the shape of the mold as soon as they are released from the molds.




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