8 Remarkable Advantages of Thermoplastic Foam Injection Molding

Bydenny mark

Source’s Link : https://medium.com/@dennymark876/8-remarkable-advantages-of-thermoplastic-foam-injection-molding-b9d860614a65?postPublishedType=initial

 

You must be familiar with the term injection molding, as it is now the most popular method for mid-scale and large-scale production of strong and durable plastic parts with absolute precision. But when talking about foam injection molding, then it is primarily used for producing lightweight plastic parts with a foam-like core structure. Thus, Thermoplastic Foam Molding can be used to achieve higher strength-to-weight ratio in end products.

 

Similar to conventional injection molding, the same process takes place in thermoplastic foam molding as well. However, an inert gas is also added to the melted polymer, which expands in order to form a foam-like structure in the core of the products. As a result, end products can be built with 25% less weight compared to solid plastic parts.

 

Now that we have understood the process, let’s take a look at the main benefits of this manufacturing method.

 

  1. As we have already mentioned, the most significant advantage of this method is that you can build the desired plastic parts with an excellent strength-to-weight ratio. This is because the core within the products has a foam-like structure, while the outer walls are thick and solid. Thus, you get the desired strength and stiffness in the end products while keeping the weight on the lower side.
  2. The honey-comb structure in the core of the products provides decent impact-resistance, which is again a great advantage of this method.
  3. It’s a low-pressure injection molding method that simply eliminates stress and warpage to a great extent. As a result, final parts have no or very minimal sink parts, which can save you money on secondary operations.
  4. Since low-pressure is used for injection, you can use aluminum molds, which are cheaper and can be built in lesser time. Thus, it brings down the overall tooling cost, which is another great benefit of Thermoplastic Foam Molding.
  5. Aluminum offers better heat-transfer than steel, which means production can be done in faster cycles, which is really important to survive today’s competitive market.
  6. Although aluminum molds don’t last as long as steel molds, the low-pressure of thermoplastic foam injection molding eliminates this concern.
  7. Thermoplastics can be re-used and recycled, which makes it a cost-effective alternative compared to other materials. Thus, you’ll be able to deliver the desired products in the market at lower prices, all thanks to low-cost raw material.
  8. The margin of error in this method is very less, as we have automated tools and machinery available for thermoplastic foam molding today.

 

So, get in touch with experienced engineers of iMold USA, LLC today to avail high-end Thermoplastic Foam Molding solutions at affordable prices.

0