Category Archive: Thermoset Molding
Thermoset plastics have been widely used in manufacturing for parts requiring protection against high operating temperatures and electrical currents. From the old bakelite materials to new age composite formulations used in advanced automotive, aerospace, and electrical markets, thermosets are a material of choice for challenging applications. When determining the correct molding material to use on a component or product assembly, engineers and molders must also take into consideration the best molding process to use for their application. Thermosets can be injection, compression, injection-compression hybrid, and transfer molded; with each process providing certain advantages and disadvantages. (more…)
Using thermosets as a molding material can offer strong material properties including chemical and corrosion resistance, electrical insulation, and low water and moisture absorption, however one of the main drivers of implementing thermosets into a molding application is the heat resistance provided to molded end parts. Thermoset materials including phenolic and bulk molding compound (BMC) polyesters may have formulations with heat deflection temperature properties rated up to 500° Fahrenheit. Thermoplastics on the other hand may only have heat deflection temperature properties rated up to half of thermosets or even less. Product applications in industries such as automotive, electrical, home and kitchen appliance, industrial, and energy markets all rely on thermoset molded components for product assemblies to remain durable when experiencing elevated operating temperatures. (more…)
Using Manufacturing ERP Software for Quality
With a commitment to quality, Woodland Plastics seeks to provide high-quality thermoset parts and components to our customers with an assurance they have been molded and inspected to the product or customer’s quality standard requirements. One avenue Woodland leverages its quality system is through manufacturing ERP software. Manufacturing ERP is a business management software system that streamlines manufacturing operations and data to provide a real-time view of its core business processes. By implementing quality functions through the ERP system, Woodland can accurately record, monitor, and analyze quality-specific data and other quality-related functions. (more…)
While thermoset molding materials are used in a variety of end-use industries, one of the larger industry users of molded thermoset parts is within the electrical industry. Parts molded in a thermoset material not only exude excellent electrical properties to remain strong and durable over the life of a part, but the electrical performance properties of thermosets also enhance the safety of end products and assemblies. 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…)
What is required to produce an acceptable part with thermoset plastics or composites? Is a thermoset molded part ready to be packed or boxed right off the press as a thermoplastic molded part can? While thermoset materials give molded components additional performance benefits over thermoplastics, they usually require secondary operations to complete the parts prior to shipping to customers. Thermoset processors must be proficient and capable to handle an array of secondary operations to complete parts. Similar to thermoplastics, thermoset molded parts can be painted, pad printed, and tapped or threaded after molding, however there are also other potential secondary operations required to complete parts. (more…)
With a commitment to quality, Woodland Plastics leverages technology to improve its overall quality functions. One area of focus is maintaining Predictive Maintenance standards through our manufacturing ERP software. By using a centralized software system to document and schedule predictive maintenance, Woodland reduces potential quality issues before they happen, providing an assurance to customers that tooling will continue to run efficiently and product shipped out to customers will conform to drawing specifications. PMs can include anything from cleaning molds to advanced tooling work or repolishing and chrome plating. (more…)
As a performance-based molding material, thermoset plastics are widely used in various electrical component applications. Implementing a molded thermoset into a product design gives the product added protection against challenging electrical environments in which components and part assemblies are at the risk of degradation. Parts such as circuit breakers, electrical enclosures or housings, covers, relays, switches, insulators, and motor components rely on a strong molding material that exhibits strong dielectric properties, thermal shock resistance, corrosion resistance, arc resistance, and electrically insulating properties. (more…)
As engineers and designers continually try and maximize their product application’s performance, thermosets are becoming more attractive to implement into component designs and assemblies. Molding thermoset materials such as a phenolic or bulk molding compound (BMC) polyester or vinyl ester provides an end part with better protection against challenging and aggressive environments including applications exposed to high temperatures and heat. Whereas engineered thermoplastics such as nylon (PA6/ PA66) and ABS may degrade and disfigure when exposed to excessive temperatures, creating an opportunity for product failure in the field, molded thermosets offer heat deflection properties up to 500F and even above in some formulations to protect components from damage or failure. (more…)
As a performance-based composite, thermoset plastics are an excellent material choice for applications exposed to aggressive and challenging environments. One of the top emerging applications for thermoset molding is with electrical enclosure applications. Electrical enclosures are used in all kinds of industries and end-markets including Appliance, Energy, Lighting, Industrial, and Utility markets. Implementing a thermoset into your enclosure design not only provides stronger material properties and resistance to aggressive environments but can lightweight your application significantly and reduce overall program costs over a cast aluminum enclosure. (more…)
As a thermoset injection molder, Woodland Plastics partners with a number of customers in different industries and end-markets to manufacture their thermoset parts and components. The physical properties of molded thermosets allow parts to remain dimensionally and chemically stable even when exposed to aggressive and challenging environments. Outdoor applications with high UV exposure are one area where most traditional engineered thermoplastics may discolor or see diminished physical properties over time, potentially harming the integrity of the molded part or assembly. (more…)
