Polypropylene

Polypropylene - A tough, light-weight polyolefin plastic made by the polymerization of high-purity propylene gas in the presence of an organometallic catalyst at relatively low pressures and temperatures.

Polymerization

Polymerization - A chemical reaction in which the molecules of a monomer are linked together to form large molecules whose molecular weight is a multiple of that of the original substance.

Polymer definition

Polymer - A high-molecular weight organic compound whose structure can be represented by repeated small units.

Polyethylene processing

Polyethylene - A polyolefin composed of polymers of ethylene. Exists in three classes: low, medium and high density.

Polycarbonate Resins processing

Polycarbonate Resins - Polymers derived from the direct reaction between aromatic and aliphatic dihydroxy compounds with phosgene or by the ester exchange reaction with appropriate phosgene- derived precursors.

Rotary Clamp

Rotary Clamp - A clamp in which the platens and mold are moved to close about an extruded parison and then said molds are rotated away from the parison center line. More than one platen is moved and the rotation can be horizontal or vertical, with the blowing devices rotating with the clamp.

Programmed Parison

Programmed Parison - Changes in shape and wall thickness of a parison at predetermined points along the length of the parison.

Preform Rod Holder

Preform Rod Holder (Core) - One for each station of injection blow molding machine = holds preform rods.

Preform Rod (Core Pin, Core Rod)

Preform Rod (Core Pin, Core Rod) - Internal member of preform (injection) cavity which is used to transfer preform to blow mold.

Preform Cavity (Injection Cavity)

Preform Cavity (Injection Cavity) - Together with preform rod, forms preform.

Pre pinch

Pre pinch - Closing off an open end of the parison, before the molds pinch is together. Often used in connection with pre blow.

Pre Close

Pre Close - Closing the molds (platen) to some point nearer the closed position before final closing on the parison.

Pre blow in extrusion blow molding

Pre Blow - The injection of a medium into a closed parison before the molds close.

Injection machine platen speed

Platen Speed - The closing/opening speed of a platen movement in inches per second (or cm/sec).

Polyethylene processing

Polyethylene - A polyolefin composed of polymers of ethylene. Exists in three classes: low, medium and high density.

Programmed Die Head

Programmed Die Head - A die head with provision for variation of orifice opening at specific points during parison ejection so as to program the parison.

Injection molding machine platen daylight

Platen Daylight - Open - Maximum and Minimum open distance; closed - Maximum and Minimum shut distance.

Injection molding machine platen

Injection molding machine platen - The plates on which the mold assembly is mounted. Large metal blocks on clamping ends of a molding machine used to support the mold.

Polymer plasticize

Plasticize - To soften a material and make it plastic or moldable, either by means of an extruder or by heat or both.

Plastic Shut Off Valve

Plastic Shut Off Valve - A valve used to shut off plastic flow, usually mounted in a manifold.

Screw pitch

Screw pitch - Distance in an axial direction from the center of a flight at its periphery to the center of the next flight. In a single flighted screw “pitch” and “lead” will be the same, but they will be different in a multiple flighted screw.

Pinch off

Pinch off - Those sections of a parison which are not taken within the cavity of a mold, and which are removed after blowing.

Pin (Mandrel) and Bushing (Die) Banks

Pin (Mandrel) and Bushing (Die) Banks - The maximum pin (mandrel) size and minimum bushing (die) size supplied unfinished.

PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate

PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate, known as a thermoplastic polyester. Has the unusual ability to exist in either an amorphous or highly crystalline state.

Pearlescent Pigments

Pearlescent Pigments - A class of pigments consisting of particles that are essentially transparent crystals of a high refractive index. The optical effect is one on partial reflection from the two sides of each flake. When reflections from parallel plates reinforce each other, the result is a silvery luster, iridescent effects and metallic sheen resembling natural pearl.

Plastic parting line

Parting line - Line, visible on the molded part, where the mold separates to release the molded part from the cavity.

Parison ejection rate

Parison ejection rate - The rate of plastic flow through the die body in cubic inches per second, or pounds per second.

Parison extrusion blow molding

Parison - The plastic tube formed by ejecting plastic through the die head or by injecting over a core within and injection cavity sometimes called preform.

Polymer orientation

Orientation - The alignment of crystalline structure in polymeric materials so as to produce a highly aligned molecular structure.

Olefins

Olefins - A group of unsaturated hydrocarbons and named after the corresponding paraffins by the addition of ene or ylene to the stem. Examples are polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.

Needle blow

Needle Blow - A system of blowing whereby the blowing medium is introduced into a mold through a needle inserted into the parison and which is frequently a part of the mold construction.

Multi-cavity plastic mold

Multi-cavity mold - A mold with two or more cavities.

Moving Mandrel Die Head

Moving Mandrel Die Head - A die head whose mandrel of die pin can be moved vertically so as to vary the orifice opening.

Plastic mold frame

Plastic mold frame - Series of metal plates which support mold components.

Plastic mold components

Plastic mold components - Parts that make up a mold and determine how a mold will be operated.

Plastic mold

Mold - The cavity or matrix of cavities into which plastic melt is placed and takes form.

Metering section of screw

Metering section of screw - A relatively shallow portion of the screw at the discharge end with a constant depth and lead, usually three to four turns of the flight in length, at which the melt is advanced at a uniform rate to the screw tip.

Plastic part metallizing

Metallizing - Applying a thin coating of metal to a non-metallic surface.

Melt Flow Index/Rate

Melt Flow Index - The amount, in grams, of a thermoplastic resin which can be forced through a 0.0825 inch orifice when subject to 2,160 grams force for ten minutes at 230°C, per ATSM D1238

Mean

Mean - See Average

Mold matte finish

Matte finish - A surface which displays no gloss when observed at any angle.

Melt decompression

Melt decompression - Reducing pressure of melt during molding cycle, usually by reverse movement of screw.

Melt accumulator

Melt accumulator - A cylinder equipped with a ram in which the plastic is stored between shots. Its capacity is variously given in cubic inches, or in maximum shot weight. The ram is actuated by hydraulic pressure, either variable or constant to allow for programming weight and thickness of the parison through the die opening.

Polymer melt

Melt - The material in a molten or plasticated condition.

Parison mechanical or electronic Programming

Mechanical or Electronic Programming - A method of changing the shape and wall thickness during formation of the parison.

Setting up manual cycle in injection molding

Manual cycle - A manual cycle requires that each machine function be controlled manually by an operator.

Manifold

Manifold - A structure containing flow passages that carry the plastic to the accumulator head or die heads.

Lubricants in polymer processing

Lubricants - Prevent materials form sticking or improve processability.

Low pressure injection mold close

Low pressure mold close - Low pressure mold closing is a provision in the machine to lower the clamp closing force during the clamp closing cycle. The lower clamp forces minimizes the danger of mold damage caused by parts caught between the mold faces.

lLDPE - Linear Low Density Polyethylene

lLDPE - Linear Low Density Polyethylene

Linear molecule

Linear molecule - A long chain molecule of two-dimensional structure which may contain side chains or branches.

Lead In

Lead In - Initial clearance through an initial angle or chamfer that helps align two close mating parts.

LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene

LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene

L/D ratio extrusion screws

L/D ratio - Length to diameter ratio of an extruder screw.

Knockout injection molding

Knockout - Any part or mechanism of a mold used to eject the molded article.

Intermittent parison

Intermittent parison - A parison ejected from the die head intermittently.

Interference Fit

Interference Fit - The mating of two points, lines, or surfaces, the dimensions of which cause negative clearance between them.

In-Mold Decorating for extrusuion and injection molding

In-Mold Decorating - The process of applying labels or decorations to plastic articles simultaneously with the molding operation.

Injection molding pressure

Injection Pressure - Pressure exerted on plastic to flow through a manifold and die head tooling.

Injection Blow or Injection Transfer Technology

Injection Blow or Injection Transfer - A type of blow molding in which the parison is first injection molded and is then transferred to the blow molding mold for blowing.

Polymer properties: Hardness, Heat Deflection

Hardness - The resistance of a material to compression or indentation. Among the testing methods Brinell, Rockwell, and Shore
Heat Deflection or Distortion Point - The temperature at which a standard test bar deflects 0.010 inches under a stated load of either 66 or 264 psi. Indication of maximum temperature that you can eject a part from a mold..

Guide pins & rods

Guide Pins - Devices to maintain proper alignment for molds.
Guide Rods - Rods which guide the platens but take no clamp force.

Fluorescent effect in plastics

Fluorescent - Organic dyes or pigments which may be blended into inks to provide a luminescent or fluorescent appearance typical of the "neon" colors.

Flash plastic part

Flash - The thin, surplus web of material which is forced into crevices between mating surfaces during a molding operation, and which remains attached to the molded article.

Plastic filler

Filler - A substance added to the plastic to make it less costly. Some fillers also improve mechanical properties.

Extruder Feed Throat

Extruder Feed Throat - The section of the extruder supporting the feed hopper, frequently water cooled, through which plastic is introduced into the extruder by the feed opening.

Extruder Length to Diameter Ratio = L/D - The distance from the forward edge of the feed opening to the forward end of the barrel bore divided by the

Extruder Length to Diameter Ratio = L/D - The distance from the forward edge of the feed opening to the forward end of the barrel bore divided by the bore diameter and expressed as a ratio wherein the diameter is reduced by 1, such as 24:1 or 30:1.

Impact strength for polymers

Impact Strength - The ability of a material to withstand shock loading.

Gel Permeation Chromatography

Gel Permeation Chromatography - A device used to determine the molecular weight distribution of a polymer.
GPC - An abbreviation for Gel Permeation Chromatography.

Extrusion feed zone

Feed zone - Zone on the screw directly below hopper. Plastic is pre-heated in this zone, not melted.

Exhaust time extrusion blow molding

Exhaust time - The length of time required to relieve the blowing medium pressure in the molded part before opening the mold.

EVOH - Ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymers

EVOH - Ethylene-vinyl alcohol co-polymers. Used for barrier to gases.

EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate)

EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate) - Co-polymers from these two monomers retain many of the properties of ethylene, but have considerably increased flexibility, elongation, and impact resistance.

Ethylene plastics

Ethylene Plastics - Plastics based on polymers or co-polymers of ethylene.

Polymer Environmental Stress Cracking

Environmental Stress Cracking (ESC) - The susceptibility of a plastic to crack or craze under the influence of certain chemicals, stresses, or other agents.

Polymer elongation

Elongation - Lengthwise stretching of a material usually denoted as a % of original length.

Polymer elasticity

Elasticity - The property of a substance which enables it to return to its original shape and size after removal of a deforming force.

Polymer elastic deformation

Elastic deformation - The part of the deformation of as part under load which is recoverable when the load is removed.

Ejection system injection molding

Ejection system - System used to eject the molded part from the mold after it cures.

Plastic part ejection

Ejection - That part of the molding cycle in which the finished part is removed from the mold mechanically.

Dry coloring

Dry coloring - A method commonly used for coloring plastics by tumble-blending uncolored and colored particles of the plastic material with selected dyes and pigments.

Draft plastic molding

Draft - The degree of taper of a side wall or the angle of clearance designed to facilitate ejection of parts from the mold.

Diverter valve

Diverter valve - A valve used to divert plastic from one passage to another.

Die adjustment extrusion blow molding

Die Adjustment - Means for moving the die relative to the die pin ( lower mandrel).