Since the development of plastics in the last 100 years, polymers and plastic compounds have become heavily utilized in various manufacturing industries, largely because plastics are cost-effective, easily manufactured, and highly useful fabrication materials that are applicable to a broad range of purposes. At MultiSource Manufacturing LLC, we work with a variety of plastics to build precision-based components and full assemblies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and other customers. As a contract manufacturer for multiple industries, plastic fabrication plays an important role in the full-service design and building of many products for our customers. Part 1 of this blog series focuses on polypropylene, including its properties and uses.
While we work with many plastics to perform welding, forming, and finishing operations, the four primary plastics we use are polypropylene, PVC, CPVC, and PFA. For many reasons, polypropylene is key plastic due to its durability and other properties.
Properties: Polypropylene is one of the more lightweight plastics that is used most often worldwide as a packing solution. This is mainly because it has a very low risk of deforming with repeated bending and movement. Polypropylene has a high elasticity and toughness that will hold up against stress by bending and reforming its original shape. Because of this, polypropylene is very resistant to fatigue. Additionally, it is resistant to acidic or alkaline chemical exposure and resistant to electricity, making it ideal for insulation purposes. Polypropylene can also be made semi-transparent or opaque for various cosmetic results.
Uses: The properties of polypropylene make it ideal for many applications in an industrial setting. It also responds well to various manufacturing techniques, including injection molding, CD printing, CNC machining, and other production operations. The two main types of polypropylene, homopolymer and copolymer, are useful in multiple applications. These compounds work well for parts facing high stress, needing to resist fatigue, needing to be deformed and reformed to function (such as a hinge or lid), having to be manufactured with injection molding, and much more. MultiSource utilizes polypropylene extensively in the semiconductor component, financial processing, medical device as well as other industries. More parts made with polypropylene include electrical insulation, packaging, and many additional components. Parts made with these particular plastic compounds can last a long time in any setting that won’t be subjected to high heats that may begin to melt or deform polypropylene, and they last a long time without compromising effectiveness and reliability.
Other plastics we use in the manufacturing of various components will be covered in the next three parts of this blog post. Plastic fabrication is a unique field that requires specific knowledge and advanced technical training to understand precision in a manufacturing setting. Our plastic fabrication capabilities allow our technicians and engineers to meet customers’ specific needs. To learn more about our contract manufacturing services, contact MultiSource Manufacturing LLC at (952) 456-5500. You can also request more information or a quote to get started with us today.