Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Deflashing Thermoset Parts
While thermoplastic and thermoset molded parts may appear similar, one difference between molded parts is that thermoset parts are molded with excess material or “flash”, and must be deflashed after they are molded, whereas thermoplastics are molded without excess flash. Flash is excess molding material needed in thermoset molding to fully form a part and avoid bad or rejected parts. In order to mold a full part, thermosets must be molded with excess material flash, otherwise the part integrity may be jeopardized by shorts, burns or other molding defects. Regardless of whether a molded thermoset part is molded into basic or complex geometries, it will always require a secondary deflash operation. Removing the excess flash can be done in a variety of ways, depending on what is most suitable to the part and volume requirements. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Molded Thermosets for Kitchen Appliance Products
Thermosets are used in products in a variety of industries. Electrical and automotive are two heavy users of molded thermoset components due to thermoset materials durability and protection against high temperatures and electrical current. Another industry that relies on the unique properties of thermoset molding materials is the home and consumer appliance market. Whether a product is a larger home appliance, or countertop cookware appliance, molded thermosets are used for elements and components touching high operating temperatures or requiring protection against electrical elements. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Converting Parts from Metal to Thermoset
Engineers and product designers convert the design of existing parts and components from metals or to thermoset plastics in applications for a variety of material property advantages and benefits to the application. While metal components may require costly secondary machining operations to manufacture a part, thermosets may be molded into complex geometries and shapes. Incorporating thermoset materials into a product design may allow for consolidation of multiple parts of an assembly, as well as reduce overall weight of a product or assembly compared with metallic parts. For high-volume applications, thermosets offer a highly scalable solution to meet increasing product demand and volume requirements with low waste. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Thermoset Molding Processes
As a moldable plastic composite, thermosets can be molded in similar molding processes as thermoplastics such as nylon, ABS, and polypropylene. They can be injection molded, compression molded, and transfer molded. Each molding process offers different benefits and disadvantages depending on the finished part’s geometry, assembly, and commercial aspects of the program. OEMs and molders must take into consideration all variables of a part and how it is used to determine the best molding process to make the part. While there may be multiple molding processes that can successfully produce the part, some processes may be more advantageous based on pricing or quality specifications. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Thermoset Use in Automotive Components
Thermosets are a material of choice for some automotive applications due to the unique material properties that thermoset composites offer. Thermosets are able to be injection or compression molded, lending themselves to complex geometries that may be difficult or costly to achieve in metal or stainless steel. Property-wise, thermosets have chemical resistance against many types of automotive fluids such as oils, transmission fluids, and coolants. Whereas a thermoplastic molded part may degrade in such chemicals, thermoset parts remain durable and strong, allowing a product assembly to remain safe for use. Another material benefit of thermoset composites towards automotive applications is thermosets heat resistance and ability to withstand high operating temperatures. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Thermoset Molding Electrical Products
Thermosets are performance-grade composites or plastics, suitable for molded parts used in challenging and aggressive environments. Parts exposed to electrical current and high operating temperatures have long been molded with thermosets due to the materials’ physical and chemical stability. Thermosets remain durable in electrical applications and exhibit strong dielectric insulation, making them suitable for electrical covers, circuit breakers, terminal blocks, and other electrical components housing internal components or electrical wiring. With superior electrical properties over many engineered thermoplastics, thermosets are an excellent, low-cost material choice for electrical parts or assemblies that may experience electrical voltage, elevated temperatures, or thermal shock. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on How Can Inserts be Used in Thermoset Molding
Designing a part for injection molding can allow for complex part geometry. Aside from molding intricate and complex parts, designers must also take into consideration how different parts are assembled or fastened together in a product assembly. One of the most common and inexpensive way to join two parts together is through the use of threaded inserts. Designers and OEMs rely on inserts as fastening mechanisms to mate multiple parts of an assembly. In thermoset molding, inserts can be installed in a secondary process after the part is molded, or they can be molded in and assembled within the molding cycle. Each process has it’s own benefits and advantages. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Using Thermosets for High Heat Molding Applications
Thermosets are used in molding applications requiring an end-part or product assembly to remain dimensionally stable within challenging and aggressive environments. These environments may include exposure to high temperatures, corrosion, or chemicals. Molded thermoset parts exhibit very good dimensional stability, even in high heat and high operating temperatures. Thermosets have heat resistance up to continuous temperatures of 400-500F depending on the material formulation, whereas thermoplastic molding materials such as a nylon or ABS may disfigure, melt, or carbonize and jeopardize the integrity of a product or assembly. Parts molded from a thermoset remain dimensionally stable, allowing the molded component or assembly to remain protected and durable over the lifespan of a product. If your part or product assembly must withstand high operating temperatures and aggressive end-use elements, choosing a thermoset as your molding material may help keep your product assembly remain safe and functioning as intended. (more…)
Posted by Woodland Plastics on | Comments Off on Molded Thermoset Use in Automotive Industry
As a performance-based material, thermoset composites offer molded components with material property advantages of chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and the ability to remain dimensionally stable and durable within applications experiencing high heat and operating temperatures. These properties allow molded thermoset parts to be used in automotive applications exposed to tough environments where thermoplastic components could degrade and/or compromise the safety and performance of a product assembly. Due to the safety nature of automobiles and rigorous testing components must pass, automotive under the hood and structural applications have long used molded thermoset parts and components. (more…)
Due to the excellent material properties with regards to heat and corrosion resistance, and it’s ability to withstand different outdoor elements and weather, parts and components molded from thermosets are commonly used within the Utilities and Power Grid industries. OEMs rely on thermosets for electrical protection to keep lines up without being jeopardized when exposed to aggressive outdoor elements such as snow, heat, and rain. These applications include electrical housings and enclosures that house electronics and wiring, along with traditional circuit breakers and power blocks to not only protect internal components and electronics from damage, but keep the assembly safe to handle and install for line-workers and maintenance. (more…)
Thermosets are a material of choice for some automotive applications due to the unique material properties that thermoset composites offer. Thermosets are able to be injection or compression molded, lending themselves to complex geometries that may be difficult or costly to achieve in metal or stainless steel. Property-wise, thermosets have chemical resistance against many types of automotive fluids such as oils, transmission fluids, and coolants. Whereas a thermoplastic molded part may degrade in such chemicals, thermoset parts remain durable and strong, allowing a product assembly to remain safe for use. Another material benefit of thermoset composites towards automotive applications is thermosets heat resistance and ability to withstand high operating temperatures. 
Thermosets are performance-grade composites or plastics, suitable for molded parts used in challenging and aggressive environments. Parts exposed to electrical current and high operating temperatures have long been molded with thermosets due to the materials’ physical and chemical stability. Thermosets remain durable in electrical applications and exhibit strong dielectric insulation, making them suitable for electrical covers, circuit breakers, terminal blocks, and other electrical components housing internal components or electrical wiring. With superior electrical properties over many engineered thermoplastics, thermosets are an excellent, low-cost material choice for electrical parts or assemblies that may experience electrical voltage, elevated temperatures, or thermal shock. 
As a performance-based material, thermoset composites offer molded components with material property advantages of chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and the ability to remain dimensionally stable and durable within applications experiencing high heat and operating temperatures. These properties allow molded thermoset parts to be used in automotive applications exposed to tough environments where thermoplastic components could degrade and/or compromise the safety and performance of a product assembly. Due to the safety nature of automobiles and rigorous testing components must pass, automotive under the hood and structural applications have long used molded thermoset parts and components. 
