If you work in the construction industry or have done any improvement on your own home, you have probably encountered a product created by insert molding. But what is this integrative molding technique- and how does it impact your everyday life? The answers might surprise you!
Insert Molding – What is It?
The process of insert molding is quite like that of injection molding. During injection molding, heated material – such as liquid plastics – are injected into a mold to allow them to cool into their proper, finished shape. During insert molding, these heated or melted materials are introduced to molds for cooling as well, though injection is typically not the platform used for the introduction. Sometimes, raw pellets of material are melted or liquefied and applied manually to a mold, and then the second layer of material is applied or injected into the mold to create the finished product. In these cases, insert molding is used specifically to combine plastic and metal or any other two forms of raw materials to create a finished item.
Applications for Insert Molding
The steps of the insert molding process might make it seem like a very specialized procedure, but it’s one that is used in the manufacturing of many types of items that are used in myriad different industries every day. Some of the most common applications of insert molding include:
- Manufacturing of magnets.
- Productions of screws, nails, rivets, studs, contacts, clips and many more items used in construction.
- Creation of surface mount pads and other fixtures.
Why Combine Materials?
There are a variety of reasons that builders may want to combine today’s high-performance plastics with metals and other raw materials. Chief among them is improved performance and wear resistance. By introducing modern plastics to the workings of metal fixtures, we can extend the life of these items and create, stronger, better-performing items that help build a better future for property owners across the world.
In this way, combining plastics and metals through insert molding and other techniques isn’t just a great way to keep production moving on today’s structures. It’s a way to keep those structures rising high, long into the future.
