Injection Molding Materials

Injecting molding is done with various materials such as plastics, which are commonly used as thermoplastics. Most of the time, these are used for the production of thermoformed components such as:

● Polypropylene

● Polyethylene

● Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

These three materials are commonly used for making various products. They can endure the stresses of continuous use and are cost-effective. For example, ABS is the thermoplastic used to make your keyboard and parts of your phone.

What are Thermoplastics?

Thermoplastics are used as the main component in the production of plastic products. They can melt when heated. Some thermoplastics are very rigid and sturdy, while others are flexible and removable. Due to their various properties, these materials are very attractive to manufacturers.

Common Injection Molding Materials

Some of the materials commonly used for injection molding include acrylic, polycarbonate, and nylon. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages, and when choosing which one to use, you need to consider the various factors that will affect the final product. Before buying a material for your project, you need to consider various factors such as food safety, heat tolerance, UV resistance, and durability. Before you start working on your project, you will need to decide which material will work best for you. This will depend on the type of project that you're working on. The main difference between these two families of plastics is how they react to heat.

Since amorphous materials do not have a sharp melting point, they shrink or expand less when heated. This makes them more forgiving and gradual. A semi-crystalline plastic is known to expand or contract more when exposed to varying temperatures. This makes it a better alternative to amorphous plastics.

Here is a list of the type of plastics used in injection molding, and which of the two families they fall under:

● Amorphous plastics: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polystyrene (PS), Acrylic, Polycarbonate

● Semi-Crystalline plastics: Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Nylon (Polyamide), Polyoxymethylene (POM)

Ideal Materials for Injection Molding Products

The material that will be used for the product will depend on its application. For instance, if it’s a transparent product that needs to be durable, choose polycarbonate. If your product is a milk jug, then polyethylene is the material you should use. It is food-safe and doesn't contain chemicals.

Here is a table of the most common thermoplastic materials used for injection molding with their unique features and most common applications. Type of thermoplastic material and unique features common applications:

● ABS - durable, lightweight, it used in electronics, keyboards, phone hardware, LEGO bricks, drainpipe systems, kitchen appliances

● Polyethylene- flexible, impact resistant, leech resistant, moisture resistant, it used in recyclable food packaging, milk jugs, toys

● Polypropylene - leech resistant, flexible Tupperware, it used in kiddie pools, toys, utensils, car batteries

● Polystyrene - warp, shrink and impact resistant it used in compact disc cases, packaging applications, household appliances

● nylon / (POM) - heat-resistant, durable, it used in high-ware parts, quick-release buckles, gears, hand cranks

● Acrylic - optical clarity, chemical resistant, it used in tinted tubes, lab equipment, medical products, sports equipment, industrial components

● Polycarbonate - impact resistant, optical clarity, vulnerable to chemicals, it used in automobile headlights, bulletproof glass, eyeglasses, greenhouses, DVDs, mobile phones.

The right material for your project can help you streamline the process and improve your product's performance.Contact us at TEAM MFG today!