ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES TO EXTRUSION BLOW
MOLDING PLASTIC
Blow molding plastic is a procedure where hollow 3D articles are produced using various kinds of
thermoplastic materials. These materials are usually available in powder or granular form. The simplest blow
molded tool has two parts, which are closed and consist of a cavity inside.
Hold Molds Work in Extrusion Blow Molding
Technology
A plasticizing cylinder is used by blow molding manufacturers for softening the granular or powder materials,
which are then thrust into a parison (vertical tube). An open mold surrounds this parison that is later closed.
Thus, the bottom end is sealed effectively and then, the other end is used for sealing it in a pneumatic
manner.
The molds geometry and the parisons size determine what the distribution, wall thickness and other
dimensions of the manufactured article would be. This makes them important factors, along with the die
design, which is affected, by backpressure, land length, melt compression and melt flow pattern. For
producing bottles that have uniformity in wall thickness, the wall thickness of the parison is controlled using
various pre-stated steps by manufacturers.
Advantages of Extrusion Blow Molding Plastics
Advantages: Because of lower pressure, the mold costs in extrusion blow molding are lower as compared to
injection molding and the machinery costs are low as well. Also, its easy to mold external threads. Making
open-ended parts that are large can be done by splitting open a closed molding.
Disadvantages of Using Extrusion Blow Molding
Disadvantages: As the diameter of the mold increases, the corners and areas with the thinnest walls have
close tolerance. Plus, extrusion molding has longer cooling times than injection molding. Also, it is not
possible to mold in holes except after the molding.
Advantages of Blow Molding
Well suited to low and high production rates
Quick product revisions for increased flexibility
Plastic parison formed process to make hollow parts
Each part price is less than Rotational Molding (faster cycle)
One piece construction (no need to connect part halves)
No cores allow for irregular shapes
Excellent ESCR (environmental stress crack resistance)
Trim and flash reusable into finished parts
Outperforms metal counterparts in high speed impact tests
Many types of materials to choose from
Tooling is less expensive than Injection Molding
Aluminum tools are less costly
Choice between single and double walled construction
Single part replace prior several individual components
Excellent part performance under pressure
Advantages & Disadvantages of Blow Molding
By Jonathan Lister
eHow Contributor
6 Shares & Saves
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The process of blow molding has revolutionized the world of plastics and how people transport
their goods. Its advantages of quick production and high volume output have allowed
companies to cheaply produce receptacles for many of the world's most essential foods from
milk to orange juice. This method is not without its disadvantages, however, as polymers of this
type depend on diminishing resources to be created and have an environmental impact that
yet to be adequately dealt with.
Variety of Products
Nearly every plastic container in the supermarket that holds a liquid has undergone
some variety of blow molding. The ubiquity of the process has lead engineers to attempt a host
of designs and applications of the design technique resulting in some interesting applications.
Seat backs for automobiles, toy wheels, fuel tanks and flowerpots are just some of the objects
and devices created using blow molding. The use of this technique works to cut down on labor
and the potential for breaking parts, as the molded component is essentially one piece.
Multiple Production Methods
Different methods of blowing molding are currently available. Extrusion blow molding
works much the same way as traditional glass glowing where the compound is blown through a
long tube and worked on the end like a glass bulb. Injection blow molding is used for producing
receptacles in large quantities where the melted polymer is injected into the blow mold rather
than blown through using air as with extrusion blow molding. The technology continues to grow
adding to these production methods with tweaks in production design and moves toward
complete automation.
Blow Molding Automation
The Placo X-Y machine was developed in Japan and has given rise to three-dimensional
blow molding, an automated production method that allows for seamless part incorporation,
minimal flash (excess polymer) around the object and increased production speed due to the
precision of the receptacle created.
Environmental Impact
Plastics depend greatly on petroleum production, as it is an integral component of the
polymer's production. As a result, its production carries several risks, the largest of which is the
diminishing resource aspect that petroleum presents. In addition, plastic does not biodegrade,
which means every bottle, cup, wheel and other plastics ever manufactured is still on Earth
today. Blow molding increases the production viability of plastic, but cannot remove its
environmental risks.
Limited Uses
Blow molding is limited to hollow forms, such as plastic containers and bottles, as air
pressure is an integral component of the process. Wall thickness is also hard to control, as the
larger the product being built gets, the thinner the polymer has to be stretched.
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