Thermoforming is one of the most popular methods for processing mold design polymer sheets. Moreover, it allows you to quickly and inexpensively obtain products of the desired configuration. For advertisers and designers, this is a great opportunity to create spectacular advertising signs with three-dimensional elements, original racks and POS materials.
Plastic sheet mold design forming: advantages
Molding plastic involves heating the sheet to a certain temperature, as a result of which the sheets become very plastic. The material goes to pressure, which is maintained until the part has cooled.
Furthermore, the pressure can be positive (injection molding) or negative (plastic vacuum molding). Both options are easy to use to mold one or more parts in a cycle and enable extremely precise components.
The thermoforming process offers many advantages over other common approaches to producing a wide variety of designs:
- affordable equipment and economy (up to 90% less tooling costs compared to injection molding);
- quick modification of tools and parts;
- excellent aesthetics and functionality;
- a wide variety of finished products;
- compatibility with a wide range of engineering thermoplastics;
- efficiency of order fulfillment;
- the ability to manufacture both single and small, and large batches (up to 5000 pieces)
Plastic for mold design: selection criteria
An important point in the manufacture of thermoformed mold design parts is the selection of the appropriate material. Each type of plastic sheet has its own specific characteristics, properties, strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the requirements of the project, it is worth considering the following factors:
Appearance:
How important its comparison to strength, weight, durability and use, color, texture, optical properties;
Finishes - will the part be painted or can the material is easy to use in the desired color so painting is not important?
Whether text or graphics come on the part;
Compatibility
What other material the part is in contact with;
Thickness
How thin or thick different areas of the finished product should be;
Stiffness
Whether the part should be rigid or have some flexibility;
Hardness
The resistance of the material to abrasion, chipping and cracking;
Durability
Will the product withstand harsh conditions, moisture, chemicals, solvents or detergents?
- impact resistance and tensile strength;
- chemical resistance;
- electrical conductivity - should the part be non-conductive, like most materials, or should a conductive coating be used;
- thermal conductivity - the amount of heat that can pass through the material, the coefficient of thermal expansion;
- the temperature at which the material will deform;
- flammability - the degree to which the material will support combustion;
- temperature range at which plastic can be thermoformed
Plastic molding: the most popular materials
One of the most common materials common for thermoforming mold design is High Impact Polystyrene, or HIPS. These are inexpensive sheets of various colors and sizes. Moreover, we use them for thermoforming. Since HIPS contains rubber additives, it is quite ductile.
PVC is used for advertising structures, POS materials, interior decoration of premises, and production of showcases.
Acrylic is a popular thermoplastic in the advertising industry for its great looks. There is a wide variety of shades and sheets on the market with varying degrees of transparency, light transmission and light diffusion.
Which material is good for mold design?
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Acrylic is an excellent alternative to glass, used for glazing, furniture production, aquariums, signage and street signs, a variety of exhibition and trade structures. It is a transparent, flexible, impact-resistant material.
PET and PETG are highly resistant to a variety of external influences; in addition, the material is highly recyclable and has good transparency. Mold design is an excellent option for the manufacture of a variety of packaging, automotive parts, industrial components.
Thus, thermoforming makes it possible to obtain a huge range of advertising and industrial products. The final decision on the choice of material depends on the characteristics of a particular project. Do you want to find the best option with the best value for money? Contact us for professional advice.
Mold on the slopes of plastic windows what to do?
Mold and mildew on the slopes of windows: what to do, instructions
You spent money on replacing the old wooden windows with new ones made of plastic, but with the arrival of autumn, they began to leak and soon a fungus began to be observed. Mold appears on the slopes of plastic windows, what to do and how to prevent this trouble from appearing in the future? It will not be possible to wash off the appeared blackening just like that, they will appear again.
Common causes of mold
Why do slopes on plastic windows turn black and stains appear on the windowsill? There are several reasons for this.
First, the old wooden windows had slots that allowed air to circulate in the room. Yes, there were drafts and heat loss, but the humidity was normal. As soon as the frames were changed to PVC, the situation changed: the movement of oxygen stopped and favorable conditions come for the development of fungus on the slopes on plastic windows.
How and how to eliminate mold on the slopes of PVC windows?
What to do if mold design appears on the slopes of a plastic window, how to deal with it? You need to prepare inventory and tools in order to process the surface. It can be:
- antifungal surface treatment solutions;
- chlorine-containing detergents;
- personal protective equipment (gloves, respirator, and so on).Antifungal solutions are used for surface treatment
If you have to disassemble the slope, then prepare:
- drill, spatula, chisel;
- screwdrivers, ruler, pencil and tape measure;
- material for thermal insulation;
- sealant, foam, mastic;
- plastic panel, starter strip;
- knife and glue for plastic.
The war against fungi is carried out in several stages. How to permanently remove mold from the slopes of plastic windows, what to do to prevent its appearance?
Mold design Surface cleaning
Pay attention to the material with which the slopes on the windows are sewn up after installation. How to get rid of mold on the slopes, if it is plastic on which stains have appeared? You should dismantle the panel and disinfect the wall underneath.
When plastering the slope with drywall, you will have to remove it completely and replace it with a new one. Since the mold design has penetrated deep into the material, from where you cannot get it out in any way.
Using a brush, clean the frame and the slope from the fungus and treat with a bleach solution, be sure to wear gloves. After completing these procedures, ventilate the room.
Antiseptic surface treatment
You can buy ready-made products in household stores. These compositions are made on the basis of chlorine or copper sulfate. In addition, you can make the product yourself, for example, take 70% acetic acid 0.2 liters, add boric acid 0.2 liters and dilute 1 liter of water. Second option: take sodium fluoride 0.1 l, add copper sulfate 0.1 l and dilute with 1 l of water. You can take copper sulfate and bleach 1: 1 and dilute with 5 parts of water.
To combat mold, you can prepare a solution of copper sulfate and chlorine
The antiseptic is applied with a brush to the entire surface, be sure to wear gloves on your hands, and after processing, the room is ventilated.
Fixing the result
To prevent mold from appearing, it is necessary to waterproof. For this, mastic is suitable, which covers the completely processed surface of the wall, making it waterproof, it can last for several years.
Slope waterproofing will protect the structure from mold for several years
After carrying out the manipulations, if the result was not achieved, you can try to make ventilation ducts in the upper part of the window, or you will need to drill a hole in the window sill, which closes the battery.
There are several remedies that will remove fungi:
- Antiseptic primer. The use of such a tool during construction and finishing work is the prevention of the formation of fungi.
- Chlorine-based products that we regularly clean and wash windows with are excellent antiseptics.
- Vinegar or citric acid. This product, which found in every kitchen, can help fight harmful fungi.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Many types of fungi die upon contact with this drug, in addition, it is not toxic to humans.
- Ammonia can help if fungus appears on a smooth surface, glass or tile.
- Baking soda. Having prepared an aqueous solution, you can treat stains, but you should not rinse it off, because soda does not harm the materials.
- The natural material dissolves in water and is applied on the surface affected by the fungus. You do not need to wash it off.
- Tea tree oil or grapefruit seed extract. Dissolve in water and apply by spraying onto a moldy surface.
- Sometimes they use potassium permanganate in solution or office glue diluted with water.
Conclusion
In addition to its main mold design advantage, which consists in the possibility of obtaining the most complex castings with relief contours with a wall thickness of 0.8 mm and more, injection molding has a number of valuable advantages over other casting methods.
