Processing of material compounds using injection moulding and extrusion is relied upon heavily by many industrial sectors including architecture, construction, automotive and retail industries. For this reason, specification of materials must include a thorough understanding of the following:
- Time and energy required to process
- Cost effectiveness against material strength and reliability
- Opportunities for portfolio diversification
- Safety considerations during operation
- Sustainability and recyclability
TempRite Engineered Materials develops resins and compounds for effective extrusion and injection moulding using CPVC (Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride). Its versatility as an engineering material puts manufacturers at an early advantage, saving time and money whilst enhancing opportunities for diverse new products.
Strength and Versatility
CPVC’s performance attributes are developed during the chlorination process. Additional bulky chlorine atoms are added to the PVC chain, stiffening the carbon backbone and increasing the thermoplastic’s softening temperature well beyond than typical PVC.
This process enables compounds to carry numerous beneficial properties, including:
- Better resistance to heat
- Increased corrosion resistance
- Inherent UV resistance
- Weatherability
- Recyclability
Injection Moulding
Whether producing prototypes or finished parts, the quality and finish can be instrumental to the product’s success. Therefore a strong and stable thermoplastic is necessary to avoid many common manufacturing defects that can occur during injection moulding.
CPVC is a rigid, amorphous polymer. It is naturally less susceptible to mould shrinkage than many other polymers in use today, resulting in prototypes with a smoother, more professional looking finish. CPVC is much less prone to sink marks and warping than other types of thermoplastics, and it provides a smooth glossy surface finish to injection moulded parts. Its low mould shrinkage also makes it easier to hit tight dimensional specifications, resulting in a lower scrap rate.
Extrusion
Consistency is key to extrusion; vast continuous sheets or profiles of material with identical dimensions and cross sections are often produced thousands of meters at a time in a single production cycle. Manufacturers need a material that is strong enough to produce consistent results.
TempRite CPVC as an extrusion medium for sheets, panels and even partition walls is well suited thanks to its inherent strength, even within thinner profiles.
Thermoforming flexibility - CPVC can be extruded and re-shaped. Its amorphous nature makes it ideal for thermoforming.
Surface appearance - Like injection moulding, extrusion to a smooth, glossy surface can be achieved with CPVC for a professional look.
Low Die Swell - CPVC makes it easier to achieve tight dimensional targets.
Foaming - CPVC can be extruded to a lightweight panel, to be used for anything from polystyrene-like packaging for heavy electrical goods or lightweight, adjustable partition walls for temporary office spaces with inherent fire safety benefits.
Sustainable Injection Moulding and Extrusion
TempRite Engineered Materials are working to maximise the environmental and economic performance of its CPVC resins and compounds. Our footprint as CPVC empowers manufacturers to establish a more sustainable means of production, through fast, flexible and reliable extrusion and injection moulding.
Sustainability
Energy Consumption - CPVC is lighter than traditional materials used in manufacturing such as metal. Transportation of materials therefore requires less energy, reducing our carbon footprint both on and off site.
Service life - CPVC resins and compounds are engineered for long service life. Plastics are often relied upon for short lived, functional purposes such as plastic bags; TempRite CPVC’s manufacturing possibilities extend to products and structures that are relied upon for decades.
Recyclability - Manufacturers can feed CPVC back into the process, recycling and reworking cutoffs into functional, strong reliable prototypes and finished profiles. Adding this process to the production line boosts productivity during each cycle and minimises waste.
Environmental Impact
Corrosion Resistance - After extrusion, panels are often applied with additional paints or coatings to reduce chemical or environmental impact. CPVC is naturally corrosion resistant, reducing manufacturer’s dependence on potentially hazardous solvents and substances and saving the production process time and money.
Fire Safety - CPVC’s inherent flame and smoke characteristics eliminate the need for flame retardant chemicals, providing a more environmentally friendly solution to construction work. Panels can be extruded to provide layers of fire protection on walls, ceilings and doors cost effectively.
TempRite CPVC has been engineered to address the economic and environmental pressures of today’s manufacturing industry. While we depend heavily on injection molding and extrusion to shape the world we live in, we take responsibility for making sure your raw materials live up to your demands.
Talk to a TempRite Engineered Materials expert today to discuss using CPVC in your production process.
