How To Thermoforming Polystyrene Plastic Sheets

Polystyrene is available in three primary forms including a hard impact resistant plastic a lightweight foam and a thin film.

How to thermoforming polystyrene plastic sheets.

When we stretch a plastic in the forming press we orient the molecules. It is sheet temperature that dictates the process the end result being not just a better product but also decreased cycle time less scrap less floor space and reduced energy and labor costs. Vacuum forming is used for large plastic pieces that don t need high levels of detail or sharp corners or edges. Many plastic sheet materials can be shaped by thermoforming.

Some plastics like hdpe and pp have narrower processing windows and lower melt strength which make them more difficult but not impossible to thermoform. Most thermoforming companies recycle their scrap and waste plastic either by compressing in a baling machine or by feeding into a granulator grinder and producing ground flake for sale to reprocessing companies or re use in their own facility. Amorphous plastics like abs and polycarbonate generally have wide processing windows and good melt strength making them easy to thermoform. Styrene is commonly used in prototypes as it is dimensionally stable and easy to fabricate paint and glue.

The level of orientation is a function of the extent of stretching needed to push the part into various corners of the part 3. To do this large sheets of hips are heated and fitted over a custom tool. Prototypes packaging soap and candle molds scale models theater props abs thermoform plastic sheets due to its low cost and superior physical properties abs acrylonitrile butadine styrene is one of the most popular thermoform plastics used for vacuum forming. Styrene is also nontoxic and odorless with excellent forming properties.

Recommended uses for styrene thermoform plastic sheets. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic that s solid at room temperature but will begin to melt at 210 c. This gives polystyrene almost the same amount of versatility as polyethylene. Simply put our plastic part is now oriented.

Then to achieve the ideal shape and design we use one of three methods to complete the thermoforming process. Importantly here is that the nature of the orientation of a polymer is affected by the rate of cooling of the plastic against the mold surface. When the plastic is pressed against the cool mold we freeze this orientation. Styrene plastic is a go to machinable plastic when high impact resistance and machinability are needed at a cost effective price point.