Index.php

The manufacturing sector has made great strides in the Structural Foam Molding process. Used in a variety of industries, this new age mold making process has replaced old school processes in a major way. The use of various materials and components to create molds via this process makes it a highly specialized process that can only be handled by trained professionals. Companies in China have mastered the art of molding hence they are the leaders in this region.

In the Asia-Pacific region, China has progressed immensely in material consumption and production of structural molds. The China Structural Foam Molding industry is second only to the US foam molding industry, when ranked globally. International demand has led to a rapid increase in production too. Countries all over the world are consolidating investments and starting foam molding units in China. This is perhaps a testament towards the expertise of the entire industry in China.

The Process

The Structural Foam Molding process is straightforward. High-density thermoplastic materials are subjected to a low-pressure environment to create molds. Another important aspect of the process is the foaming agent or gas, used to create the mold by expansion. Nitrogen gas is one of the most common foaming agents in the market right now.

When the gas is released inside the material, it assists in the expansion subway runner of the material outwards towards the mold. Occasionally, a chemical blowing agent is used in the process. The decomposition of this substance inside the plastic causes gas to release that aids in expansion. This process gives the mold a sandwich structure, resulting in higher strength and durability.

The Benefits

The numerous benefits of implementing this process are the reason why it is extremely popular in the manufacturing market. Everything from the cost to the quality of the product is much better this way, when compared to other materials and processes.

The end product obtained with Structural Foam Molding has higher rigidity. Because it is made up of plastic, the weight is less when compared to its metal or alloy counterparts. Because of the high amounts of export from the China Structural Foam Molding Market, the less weight of the mold is an extremely important benefit. Lightweight products help decrease transportation as well as material costs, which significantly benefits the company in the long run.

With a much better strength to weight ratio compared to other molds, the product lasts longer. This helps in reduction of long-term costs for any company that uses structural molds in its manufacturing process. The machinery used in this process has the capacity to create highly precise mold walls based on the client's specifications. The multi-nozzle capacity means more output in less time.

Structural foam molding can easily be confused with injection molding. The primary difference between these two processes is the manner in which the mold is created, as well as the type of pressure used for expanding the plastic. Add to it the advantages listed above, and it will be quite evident as to which one is the more preferred molding process for manufacturers.