Plastic & Composites
Plastics and composites are materials used in a variety of applications, including construction, packaging, consumer goods, and transportation. Plastics are synthetic materials made from polymers, which are long chains of molecules. They offer a variety of properties such as durability, light weight, and low cost, making them popular in many industries. Composites, on the other hand, are materials made by combining two or more materials with different physical or chemical properties. The resulting material has properties that are superior to those of the individual components, making composites popular for applications that require strength, stiffness, and lightweight. Examples of composites include fiberglass and carbon fiber composites used in the aerospace and sporting goods industries.
The manufacturing of plastic products can be done through various methods, including injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, and thermoforming. Injection molding involves melting plastic pellets and injecting them into a mold, where they solidify into the desired shape. Blow molding is used to produce hollow plastic products, such as bottles and containers, by blowing air into a parison, which is a heated tube of plastic.
Composite manufacturing can be done through various methods, including hand layup, vacuum infusion, and compression molding. Hand layup involves laying up layers of composite material, such as fiberglass, into a mold and then curing the composite with a resin. Vacuum infusion involves injecting resin into a mold under vacuum pressure, which helps to ensure that the resin thoroughly saturates the composite material. Compression molding involves heating and pressing composite material into a mold to form the desired shape.
The combining two or more different types of plastic resins to create a new material with improved properties. This can be done for a variety of reasons, such as to improve the strength, flexibility, or heat resistance of the material.
There are several methods for mixing plastics, including:
- Blending: The simplest method, where two or more resins are simply mixed together in a barrel or other mixing vessel.
- Co-extrusion: A process where two or more resins are melted and combined into a single stream, which is then extruded into a product.
- Lamination: A process where layers of different resins are stacked and bonded together to form a composite material.
- Compounding: A process where additives, such as fillers, stabilizers, and colorants, are incorporated into the plastic resin to improve its properties.
The specific method used for mixing plastics depends on the desired properties of the final product and the processing method used to manufacture the product. Mixing plastics can result in new materials with improved physical and mechanical properties, making them suitable for a wider range of applications.
Orbis Machinery offers double arm mixers & extruders, tumble blenders or paddle & ribbon blenders, tumble dryers and ball mills for the Plastic & Composite industry.