Top 5 Plastic Resins Used in Injection Molding || MPI

2022.10.26

With hundreds of resins to choose from, the Injection Molding job selection process might be overwhelming. Here are some of the most often used materials.

With hundreds of commodity and technical resins on the market today, the material selection procedure for plastic Injection Molding tasks might be difficult at first. We understand the unique benefits and features of many types of plastics at The MPI and work closely with customers to discover the ideal match for their projects.

 

Resins made of plastic?

We live in a world filled with plastic polymers. Plastic resins are used in a variety of applications ranging from bottles and containers to automotive and medical components, among others. Plastic resins are a diverse group of materials with distinct qualities that make them suitable for a variety of uses. When deciding on the best resin for your project, it is critical to grasp what each variety has to offer.

 Difference between Resin and Plastic?

Both resin and plastic are significant chemicals. There are, however, numerous important differences, including:

Origin.  While resins exist naturally in plants, plastics are man-made and mainly generated from petrochemicals.

Definition.  A synthetic resin is a form of plastic, whereas resins are amorphous substances that can be semi-solid or solid. Impurities and stability Plastics are more stable than resins and do not contain contaminants. Impurities are unavoidable when working with resins.

Hardness.  Plastic is solid and rigid, whereas resin is a gluey, gooey material.

The environmental impact because resin is a natural material; it is a more ecologically friendly alternative to plastic. Plastic degrades slowly and frequently contains harmful compounds that can pollute the environment.

 

Plastic Resin Injection Molding’s Most Common Applications

A large variety of resin compounds are suitable with plastic Injection Molding. It is critical to understand the requirements of your specific application while picking the best resin for your needs. The following are examples of common Injection Molding resin applications:

  1. ABS

Injection-molded ABS is utilized in a broad range of applications, including electrical outlet plastic wall plates, protective headgear, keyboard keys, electronic components, and automobile components such as vehicle body parts, wheel covers, and dashboards. It is also utilized in a variety of industrial fittings, sporting items, and consumer goods.

  1. Celson® (Acetal) 

Injection-molded Celson® is perfect for pulley wheels, conveyor belts, gears, and bearings due to its low coefficient of friction. This material is also used in a number of high-performance technical components, lock systems, weapons, eyeglass frames, and fasteners.

  1. Polypropylene 

Polypropylene injection-molding is utilized in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications. It may be found in power tool bodies, appliances, packaging components, sporting goods, storage containers, and children’s toys, among other things.

  1. LDPE

Injection-molded LDPE is commonly used for applications such as medical device components, wire and cable insulator, toolboxes, and children’s toys due to its flexibility and resilience to moisture and chemicals.

High-impact polystyrene (HIPS) has great impact resistance, machinability, fine low shrinkage, remarkable aesthetic features, and highly customisable surfaces. HIPS is simply printed, pasted, bonded, and embellished. It is also incredibly cost-effective.

  1. HIPS

Many print applications employ high-impact polystyrene, including advertising signs, display materials, gardening stakes and tags, banners, and retail packaging, as well as 3-dimensional lenticular or moving pictures. In fact, HIPS is designed specifically for use in graphic arts applications. HIPS is also an excellent material for high-speed digital printing equipment. Appliance components, TV and audiovisual (AV) equipment parts, bicycle trailers, toys, gasoline tanks, hot and cold drinking cups, and computer housings are all frequent applications.HIPS is combustible, however flame retardant variants are available.

 

How Do Plastic Resins Get Made?

Plastic resins are manufactured via the “cracking process,” which includes heating hydrocarbons to break down the bigger units into propylene, ethylene, or other forms of hydrocarbons. These monomers are then polymerized to form polymer resins, which may then be collected for additional processing such as the addition of plasticizers, flame retardant chemicals, colors, and other additives.

 

Important Considerations When Choosing an Injection Molding Material

Following the cracking process, the components are transformed into polymers that may be mixed to create the appropriate plastic resin with the properties required for the desired use. Once the desired resin has been created, it may be utilized in the Injection Molding process to produce the desired goods.

Considerations When Choosing an Injection Material for Molding Keep the following elements in mind while choosing the proper resin for your project:

Impact strength – Because certain applications demand greater base strength than others, the Izod impact strength of a resin should be evaluated from the beginning.

Tensile strength — Ultimate tensile strength, also known as ultimate strength, is a measurement of the resin’s resistance to stress and capacity to endure a certain weight without breaking.

The degree to which a material can be bent without causing harm and still snap back to its original shape is referred to as its flexural modulus of elasticity.

Heat deflection — This is especially significant in applications that demand insulating performance or temperature tolerance across a wide range of temperatures.

Water absorption – The proportion of liquid absorbed by a substance during 24 hours of immersion.

 

The MPI offers custom material selection.

Choosing the correct material from the outset will save you not just time and money but will also assure optimal performance and manufacturability. To assist you in deciding on the best alternative, thoroughly research your possibilities and talk with MPI plastic (CHINA TOP PLASTIC INJECTION MOLD MANUFACTURER),  as we have the best expert plastic injection mold maker team.