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How To Select The Right Polymer For Your Mold
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How To Select The Right Polymer For Your Mold
It is crucial to choose the correct polymer to suit the mold as this will determine the quality and usability of the final output. Polymers also referred to as plastics, are a class of materials that can be molded into various shapes and designs. There is no single polymer that can be used in all the applications and therefore it is important to have an insight into such features to make the right choice.Get more news about plastic injection mold,you can vist our website!
Considerations when Choosing a Polymer
Fabrication and molding polymers: Evaluate the parameters concerning the desired application such details as strength, flexibility, and resistance to impact among others. For example, polycarbonate is more appropriate for those products which require high-impact resistance while polypropylene is good for lightweight and relatively flexible products.
Thermo-mechanical area: For example, if your end product is going to be exposed to heat then go for a polymer with high thermal resistivity. Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) has great resistance to heat but most polymers will melt with heat or get degraded.
Environmental aspect: if exposure to chemicals is inevitable – for such products select a polymer that will be physically intact and will not erode with chemicals. Teflon (PTFE) is one of the polymers, which are highly stable and do not react with chemicals.
Cost and Availability: There must be a compromise on performance parameters considering the cost of the polymer. Although advanced polymers are better in terms of properties some of them may be costly. Make the materials selection ensuring that the price is within the available resources but at the same time meets all the necessary performance.
Testing and Prototyping
Before you make your decision, it is a good idea to use prototypes first in order to check a polymer and if it gives the properties expected. Prototyping gives the opportunity to have a first-hand experience of how the material behaves in practice, and corrections are made where necessary.
Conclusion
Many factors must be considered when choosing a polymer for your mold, these include mechanical properties, thermal and chemical resistance, and of course the cost among others. Having recognized these factors, it will thus be possible to select a polymer that fits such requirements and the end product will be of good quality.