Plastic Processing

Plastic processing includes those methods or processes, which are used to convert the plastic materials into different forms like powders, sheets, pellets etc. Plastic material generally contains variety of additives which affect the processing of plastics. After the processing of the plastics, the resultant products are sometimes subject to some secondary procedures like welding, machining, painting etc. Some of the plastic processing techniques, which are enumerated below :-

Extrusion Molding

Extrusion molding is a process in which plastic pellets or granules have been fluidized, homogenized, and created without interruptions. Extrusion is used for making long shapes or large amount of small shapes. The extrusion process results in various product like tube, pipe, sheets, wires etc. In the extrusion process, pipes and tubes are obtained by forcing the melt via a cylindrical die.

Injection Molding

Injection molding consists of heating and homogenizing the plastics granules in a cylinder. The homogenizing and heating is done until the plastic granules are completely transformed into liquid. Then pressure is injected to solidify it and allow it to take the shape of mold pit. The injection molding process has some advantages like :-

• Production speed is very fast.


• For the post-molding process, the requirements are minimal.


• Multi-part molding can be done simultaneously.

Blow Molding

Blow molding involves different procedures, some of which are described below :-

• At initial stage, a tube that is also called a parison, is formed.
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• The tube is then expanded into a hollow object by introducing air and/or other gases.

The tube (parison), is made by the application of extrusion molding.

Thermoforming Molding

Thermoforming molding is the process by which the plastic sheets are created into parts, with the application of heat and pressure. This molding process is capable of handling any size of parts. Thermoforming molding is very popular, mainly because of the fact that it is very cost-effective.

Apart from these plastic processing methods, there are many other different techniques for the processing of plastics, like :

• Rotational Molding


• Compression Molding


• Transfer Molding


• Reaction Injection Molding