When it comes to Pet Bottle Preform development or plastic product manufacturing, it is useful to know which material to use. Generally, there are two types of plastic materials: thermoplastic resins and thermosetting resins.

Thermoplastic materials are those that can be melted and cured again and again (hardening the polymeric material). Of course, depending on the type of thermoplastic material, the number of times this melting and curing process can be repeated is limited. However, the key is that this thermoplastic material can be melted multiple times without degrading the material.

Thermoset materials, on the other hand, are those that can only be melted and formed once. After the thermoset material has cured, attempting to melt again will cause the material to burn rather than melt. Think about a two-part epoxy to understand thermoset materials. The epoxy resin is in a liquid state prior to mixing with the hardener. Once the resin is mixed and dried, it is impossible to heat and melt it.

When it comes to plastic injection molding, it is easy to misjudge the importance of thermoplastic and thermoset materials. By the way, both thermoplastic and thermoset materials can be injection molded. When using thermoplastic or thermoset materials, the biggest difference applies after the injection molding cycle, when the molded plastic cures. During the molding process, the plastic is heated and injected into the metal mold. However, in order to enter the cavity of the metal mold, the molten plastic first needs to pass through a series of entry points and passages, called gates, runners, and gates. The plastic cools within the cavity and into the passage of the cavity. The plastic that cures in the channel is not part or part of the final product. This is just a waste.
What happens to the “waste” in the plastic injection molding process now?
Thermoplastic material

If a thermoplastic material is used for injection molding, the waste can be recycled and reused. The solid plastic left in the gates, runners and gates can be combined with the raw materials entering the injection molding machine. The same thing can happen with the materials of discarded plastic parts. All waste plastics can be collected and recycled to the beginning of the process. All of this means higher efficiency, which ultimately means lower final product costs and better producer profit.
Thermoset material

If thermoset materials are used for injection molding, solid plastics from gates, runners, and gates are just a waste and have no practical use. This means that the cost of the final product will be higher.

In short, thermoplastic materials bring some significant benefits to plastics manufacturers, consumers, and even society because they are recyclable. In fact, when it comes to plastic prototyping or plastic product manufacturing, manufacturers should choose and use thermoplastic materials.

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