Secrets of Thermoforming
Are you aware that some of the things we use in our everyday
lives are plastics? When we talk about convenience, durability,
efficiency, stability, usefulness and practicality now days, we
use plastics.
One example of it Zip-lock plastic bags for storing left over
foods and use for packing foods when going outdoors. Another one
is, Coleman or Rubbermaid coolers use to keep preserve foods
while camping outside or going out of town and water jugs to
keep our beverages cool and a handy gadget outdoors.
And a lot more of plastics used for everyone's convenience. But
these are not just ordinary plastics! We make sure its durable;
reliable, tough, helpful, easy to use and it costs less than
other products out in the market and Thermoforming has been a
part of it. Want to know the BIG SECRET behind it?
Thermoforming is one of the procedures being done to manufacture
plastic. A plastic sheet or film is used that can be easily
soften up when heated and becomes hard again when it cools down.
The kind of plastic used in Thermoforming can undergo through
melting and freezing without changing its chemical state and it
can be re-used again. The plastic sheet or film is heated
between specialized heaters in order to form the product with
its usual temperature range.
Then it is placed in a temperature regulated metal table or
molder until it is cooled down. The plastic formed from the
molder will be taken out of the sheet. Used or excess plastic
sheets are being recycled in order to form new plastic products
out of it.
This special procedure is being processed to form plastic used
for computers, machines, and other special equipments for
medical, electronics, and industrial products.
It is a technological breakthrough for its: 1. Reliability 2.
Convenience 3. Easier to produce 4. Ability to form small and
large objects for that specific product 5. Lower costs of
production 6. Great and unique design 7. Firmly and nicely
furnished 8. Shorter time for production 9. Can work on any type
of weather conditions, high and low temperatures.
In the history, it is stated that Thermoforming is one of the
oldest plastic manufacturing procedure. In the year 1890's, Baby
rattles and Teething rings are formed out of plastics using
Thermoforming procedure, which the industries had a hard time
developing its new products.
The year 1930 came when some developments are made in its
plastic materials; until it grow and went successful in the late
1930's in Europe.
Thermoforming has two general process categories called the thin
gauge and the so called heavy or thick gauge. Thin gauge is used
for thin sheets of plastics and can be directly processed with
regulated temperature.
Unlike the heavy or thick gauge, the plastic used there is
thicker than the thin plastic sheets and it still need to cut
into pieces before being processed.
Instead of using the regulated temperature for thin plastics
sheets in order to form a product, the temperature is higher
than the regulated temperature in heavy or thick gauge.
Heavy or thick gauge was formed during the World War II on
aircraft windscreens and machine gun turret windows in
aircrafts.
Now a days, Heavy or thick gauge parts are used in permanent
structures as additional parts in cars, trucks, refrigerating
units, bathroom accessories such as showers, plastic faucets,
plastic doors and toilet seats, electronic and electrical
equipment.
It is a big benefit for companies who use these kind of
procedure for their plastic products it's lower costs,
durability, usefulness, and productivity. It also weighs less
than other ordinary and special types of plastics. Of course,
it's also helpful for the consumers and users of this kind of
plastic.
A lot of Industries, big and small companies indulge and gain on
to this kind of procedure. Their clients prefer more of this
kind of procedure for its unique design, stability, efficiency
and value. Their aim:
Lower material and production costs, plus Mass production of
products, equals BIG MONEY, in order to be successful in this
kind of business.