Structural Web Method Of Manufacturing Plastics

By Marissa Velazquez


Structural web is a process of producing thick walled cross section parts with the help of gas. This is what makes the method earn the name gas assist, as it uses nitrogen gas or just air in low pressure to push out low resistant parts from the plastic. The most convenient thing about using this method is that it results in very smooth and consistent surfaces that are of high quality. This glossy finish is of aesthetic value to many consumers.

The process is a very precise one. The plastic resin is injected into the mold cavity. Afterwards, the nitrogen gas is introduced into the cavity so that it can push the plastic that has been molten out to the cavity walls. The best thing about using the gas is that it uses the least resistant parts of each plastic, hence creating hollow sections with different wall thickness.

The difference between this and the structural foam method is that this method does not use a chemical blowing agent. In the structural foam, the agent is put into the polymer melt and mixed together for expansion to occur. It is important that a low volume of the raw materials are used so that expansion can occur properly. The result is a strong and rigid product.

One of the many advantages of using the structural web method is the quality of all the surfaces of the components that are produced. They usually have a glossy appearance thus are mostly used by clients who value the overall outlook of the product. Also, the procedure leaves no marks on the surface thus bring out a smooth texture. It can also be designed to your specifications in terms of colour and texture, thus is great for customizing.

The material costs that are required for this method are not as much, as the amount of material that is needed is also less. This is why the resultant weight of all the products is less than that of the alternatives. This does not, however, reduce the strength of the product, as it can very well perform many functions.

This method also produces parts from many different kinds of resins. It may not be confined to a specific type as it is flexible enough to accommodate all kinds of plastics, from the normal and common ones like polyethylene, to those that are engineered. This makes the process have an edge over the normal injection molding, as it cannot handle some of the resins or additives.

The gas assist method may be a fairly new method in the industry thus may involve quite a lot of costs when initializing it. This, however, translates into profits at the end because the products are very beneficial. Also, the time cycles used are shorter than the others, thus it takes less time to come up with the products.

It will be important for you as a manufacturer to understand this process so that you can compare it to all the other processes. The benefits of the structural web present totally new limits and possibilities in the industry of plastics. Therefore, it would be the best especially where a lot of savings need to be made, and the resultant products need to be cosmetically appealing.




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