N ON-METALLIC

MATERIALS
Prepared by: Mansang,Mohaira C.
Plastic Materials

 Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic

materials, that use polymers as a main ingredient. The
plasticity during production makes it possible for plastic to be
moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various
shapes, making it an adaptable material for many different
uses.
7 of the most popular and commonly
used plastics:
 Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
 Polycarbonate (PC)
 Polyethylene (PE)
 Polypropylene (PP)
 Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)
 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
 1. Acrylic or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA)
 Well-known for its use in optical devices and products, acrylic is a transparent thermoplastic
used as a lightweight, shatter-resistant alternative to glass. Acrylic is typically used in sheet
form create products such as acrylic mirrors and acrylic plexiglass. The transparent plastic
can be made colored and fluorescent, abrasion-resistant, bullet-resistant, UV-tolerant, non-
glare, anti-static and many more. In addition to being than glass and polycarbonate sheeting,
acrylic is seventeen times more impact resistant than glass, easier to handle and process, and
has endless applications.

 2. Polycarbonate (PC)
 Tough, stable, and transparent, polycarbonate is an excellent engineering plastic that is as
clear as glass and two hundred and fifty times stronger. Thirty times stronger than acrylic,
clear polycarbonate sheets are also easily worked, molded, and thermo-formed or cold-
formed. Although extremely strong and impact-resistant, polycarbonate plastic possesses
inherent design flexibility. Unlike glass or acrylic, polycarbonate plastic sheets can be cut or
cold-formed on site without pre-forming and fabrication. Polycarbonate plastic is in a wide
variety of products including greenhouses, DVDs, sunglasses, police riot gear, and more.
 3. Polyethylene (PE)
The most common plastic on earth, polyethylene can be manufactured in varying densities. Each different
density of polyethylene gives the final plastic unique physical properties. As a result, polyethylene is in a
wide variety of products.
Here are the four common polyethylene densities:
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
This density of polyethylene is ductile and used to make products like shopping bags, plastic bags, clear food
containers, disposable packaging, etc.
Medium-Density Polyethylene (MDPE)
Possessing more polymer chains and, thus, greater density, MDPE is typically in gas pipes, shrink film, carrier
bags, screw closures, and more.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
More rigid than both LDPE and MDPE, HDPE plastic sheeting is in products such as plastic bottles, piping for
water and sewer, snowboards, boats, and folding chairs.
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)
UHMWPE is not much denser than HDPE. Compared to HDPE, this polyethylene plastic much more abrasion
resistant due to the extreme length of its polymer chains. Possessing high density and low friction properties,
UHMWPE is in military body armor, hydraulic seals and bearings, biomaterial for hip,
 4. Polypropylene (PP)
 This plastic material is a thermoplastic polymer and the world’s second-most widely produced
synthetic plastic. Its widespread use and popularity are undoubted because polypropylene is
one of the most flexible thermoplastics on the planet. Although PP is stronger than PE, it still
retains flexibility. It will not crack under repeated stress. Durable, flexible, heat resistant,
acid resistance, and cheap, polypropylene sheets are used to make laboratory equipment,
automotive parts, medical devices, and food containers. Just to name a few.

 5. Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET)

 The most common thermoplastic resin of the polyester family, PET is the fourth-most
produced synthetic plastic. Polyethylene Terephthalate has excellent chemical resistance to
organic materials and water and is easily recyclable. It is practically shatterproof and
possesses an impressive high strength to weight ratio. This plastic material is in fibers for
clothing, containers for foods and liquid, glass fiber for engineering resins, carbon nanotubes,
and many other products that we use on a daily basis.
 6. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
 The third-most produced synthetic plastic polymer, PVC can be manufactured to possess
rigid or flexible properties. It is well-known for its ability to blend with other materials. For
example, expanded PVC sheets are a foamed polyvinyl chloride material that is ideal
products like kiosks, store displays, and exhibits. The rigid form of PVC is commonly in
construction materials, doors, windows, bottles, non-food packaging, and more. With the
addition of plasticizers such as phthalates, the softer and more flexible form of PVC is in
plumbing products, electrical cable insulation, clothing, medical tubing, and other similar
products.
 7. Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
 Created by polymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene, ABS is
robust, flexible, glossy, highly processable, and impact resistant. It can be manufactured in
a range of thicknesses from 200 microns to 5mm with a maximum width of 1600mm. With a
relatively low manufacturing cost, ABS plastic sheeting is typically used in the automotive
and refrigeration industries but is also in products such as boxes, gauges, protective
headgear, luggage, and children’s toys.
 Thermoplastic Compound
 Thermoplastic compounds are a class of material whose base resin is
of thermoplastic nature, formed by polymer chains interacting through intermolecular
interactions (Van Der Waals forces) and generating a 3D structure, more or less
entangled.
 Thermoplastic compounds are a class of material whose base resin is of thermoplastic
nature, formed by polymer chains interacting through intermolecular interactions (Van
Der Waals forces) and generating a 3D structure, more or less entangled. Depending on
the type and intensity of these interactions, the polymer can present amorphous and/or
crystalline structures. Polymer chains of the first category are generally randomly
arranged and responsible for the elastic behaviour of the material, whereas the second
ones are more organised and tight, yield the materials resistance and strength.
 Thermoplastic compounds sometimes referred to as thermoplastic rubbers or
thermoplastic elastomers, are a class of copolymers which consist of materials with
both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties.
Thermoplastic Compounds are easy to use in manufacturing by injection molding.
Thermosetting Compound

 A thermosetting polymer, resin, or plastic, often called a

thermoset, is a polymer that is irreversibly hardened by curing
from a soft solid or viscous liquid prepolymer or resin. Curing is
induced by heat or suitable radiation and may be promoted by
high pressure, or mixing with a catalyst.
Phenolic Compounds
 Phenolic compounds offer outstanding dimensional stability and
resistance to creep under dynamic and static loads at elevated
temperatures.
Epoxy Compounds
 Epoxy is the premier material for military firewall connectors
and is also used extensively in the encapsulation of electronic
components.
Diallyl-Phthalate Compounds
 DAP has long been the material of choice for critical high-
performance military and commercial electrical components
where long-term reliability is demanded.
Silicone Compounds
 Silicone molding compounds are noted for maximum heat
resistance, and are used in insulators for military and
commercial applications.
Methods of Processing molds for plastics

The most popular techniques in plastic molding are :

 Rotational Molding
 Injection Molding
 Blow Molding
 Compression Molding
 Extrusion Molding
 Thermoforming

 Plastics can be processed with the following methods: machining, compression

molding, transfer molding, injection molding, extrusion, rotational
molding, blow molding, thermoforming, casting, forging, and foam molding.
 Rotational molding involves a heated hollow mold which is filled with a charge
or shot weight of material. It is then slowly rotated, causing the softened
material to disperse and stick to the walls of the mold.

 Injection moulding is a manufacturing process for producing parts by injecting

molten material into a mould, or mold. Injection moulding can be performed
with a host of materials mainly including metals, glasses, elastomers,
confections, and most commonly thermoplastic and thermosetting polymers
 Blow molding (or moulding) is a manufacturing process for forming and
joining together hollow plastic parts. It is also used for forming glass bottles
or other hollow shapes.

 In general, there are three main types of blow molding: extrusion blow
molding, injection blow molding, and injection stretch blow molding.

• In extrusion blow molding (EBM), plastic is melted

and extruded into a hollow tube (a parison). This
parison is then captured by closing it into a cooled
metal mold. Air is then blown into the parison,
inflating it into the shape of the hollow bottle,
container, or part. After the plastic has cooled
sufficiently, the mold is opened and the part is
ejected.
• Injection blow molding

Injection blow molding a plastic bottle

The process of injection blow molding (IBM) is used for
the production of hollow glass and plastic objects in
large quantities. In the IBM process, the polymer is
injection molded onto a core pin; then the core pin is
rotated to a blow molding station to be inflated and
cooled. This is the least-used of the three blow molding
processes, and is typically used to make small medical
and single serve bottles. The process is divided into
three steps: injection, blowing and ejection.

• Injection stretch blow molding Single-Stage

In the single-stage process both preform manufacture
Injection Stretch Blow Molding has two and bottle blowing are performed in the same machine.
main different methods, namely Single-
stage and Double-stage process. The Two-stage
Single-stage process is then again broken In the two-stage injection stretch blow molding process,
down into 3-station and 4-station the plastic is first molded into a "preform" using the
machines. injection molding process.
 Compression molding is the process of molding in which a preheated
polymer is placed into an open, heated mold cavity. The mold is then
closed with a top plug and compressed in order to have the material
contact all areas of the mold.

 Extrusion is a manufacturing process used to make pipes, hoses, drinking

straws, curtain tracks, rods, and fibre.[1] The granules melt into a liquid
which is forced through a die, forming a long 'tube like' shape. The shape
of the die determines the shape of the tube. The extrusion is then
cooled and forms a solid shape. The tube may be printed upon, and cut
at equal intervals. The pieces may be rolled for storage or packed
together. Shapes that can result from extrusion include T-sections, U-
sections, square sections, I-sections, L-sections and circular sections.
 Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is
heated to a pliable forming temperature, formed to a specific shape in a
mold, and trimmed to create a usable product. The sheet, or "film"
when referring to thinner gauges and certain material types, is heated in
an oven to a high-enough temperature that permits it to be stretched
into or onto a mold and cooled to a finished shape. Its simplified version
is vacuum forming.
The END
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