What Kind of Materials are Used in Plastic Injection Molding?

Injection molding is a common process to create plastic objects. In this, heated plastic is poured into molds to create different objects. However, there are different plastic injection molding materials that are used to perform plastic molding depending on the end results that a person wishes to achieve. So before you Google “best plastic injection molding companies near me,” it is important to know about the different materials used to perform injection molding. Some of the materials that different plastic injection molding companies use for plastic molding are as follows –

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

ABS material has a low melting point, and therefore, it easily gets molded in any form. This opaque polymer is well known for its excellent resistance feature and strength. However, plastic injection molding materials such as ABS do not provide strong resistance to exposure to sunlight, rough weather, and water.

The butadiene content in ABS provides toughness to molded parts even when molded at low temperatures. This type of material is mostly used to manufacture keyboard keys, wheel covers, sports equipment, industrial fittings, etc.

Polycarbonate

It is a robust and transparent material that is used by plastic injection molding companies to support light transmission in the final products. Companies can use polycarbonate to manufacture durable products to replace glass. It is one of the most expensive plastic injection molding materials as it requires a high temperature for processing. But it delivers you the best results. Polycarbonate plastic is mainly used in tinted windows, clear tubing, diffusers, machinery guards, etc.

Polyoxymethylene

Polyoxymethylene is an engineering-grade plastic that is often referred to as acetal. This material lacks water absorption and has strong resistance to chemicals. Due to its low coefficient of friction feature, it is used by plastic injection molding companies to manufacture conveyor belts, bearings, gears, eyeglass frames, fasteners, etc. POM materials are reinforced with certain minerals and fiberglass to improve their strength.

Polypropylene

Polypropylene is one of the most common plastics that is used in plastic injection modeling. It is known for its chemical resistance and ability to retain its shape even after bending and torsion. This plastic has a melting point and is water resistant. Most plastic injection molding companies use it to manufacture toys, sporting goods, packaging appliances, storage units, and power tools.

Thermoplastic Polyurethane

Thermoplastic Polyurethane is plastic that is known for its elastic properties. Therefore, it is often used as a replacement for rubber. Products manufactured using this plastic material have a high load-bearing capacity and can even withstand ozone radiation. These materials are a bit expensive and also require more drying before they can be processed into the final product. These materials are used by plastic injection molding companies that manufacture electronic and medical devices. These are sometimes used as a replacement for polyvinyl chloride, which can cause skin infections.

Nylon Polyamide

Nylon polyamide is a material known for its toughness and resistance to heat, along with a high level of abrasion resistance. However, this material is not fire-resistant. Furthermore, to make it resistant to UV rays, UV stabilizers are added during the manufacturing process. Nylon polyamide provides poor resistance to strong bases and acids. These materials are used to create mechanical parts such as bearings, bushing, gears, and slides.

These were some of the plastic injection molding materials that are most commonly used by plastic injection molding companies. So one should inquire about the materials before manufacturing to get a product that meets their expectations.