Rotational molding plasticizers

Frederick, C. D., et al., Rotational Molding, Plastics Solutions International 2000. 

Ramazzotti, D., Rotational Molding, Plastics Products Design Handbook, Part B, (E. Miller, ed ), Marcel Dekker, New York (1983)... 

G. Beall, The Engineers Guide to Designing Rotationally Molded Plastic Parts, Association of Rotational Molders, Chicago, 111., 1982. 

P. T. Dodge, Materials for Rotational Molding, Plastics Design Forum, Denever, Colo. 1984 ... 

Additional design information about the process can be found in a publication by the Association of Rotational Molders (ARM) titled, Introductory Guide to Designing Rotationally Molded Plastic Parts. A number of often-overlooked considerations in designing a rotomolding process are listed in Table 9.4. 

A worldwide trade association currently representing member companies in 58 countries. Members include manufacturers of rotationally molded plastic products, suppliers to the industry, designers, and professionals. www.rotomolding.org... 

Rotational Molding. Large containers and some toys are manufactured with a specialized technique caHed rotational mol ding. A rotational mol ding machine contains several large metal molds that can be rotated in two perpendicular planes. A load of fine LLDPE particles is introduced into each mold, and the mold assembly is transferred into an oven. Inside the oven, heated molds rotate at speeds ranging from 10 to 40 rpm. The polymer powder melts and is uniformly distributed on the internal surface of each mold. After the container is formed, the mold assembly is removed from the oven and cooled at which point the plastic containers are removed. 

The crossed polarizer effects of both types are used in analysis work. The concentration of optically active organic materials is determined by the degree of rotation. In plastic processing the residual strains in molded materials as well as the degree of orientation of polymers is determined by the effect on polarized light. Crossed polarizers are used with special wave plates to control the amount of light that passes through an optical system. 

The next step involves heating the mold while it is rotating. Molds can be heated by a heated oven, a direct flame, a heat-transfer liquid (either in a jacket around the mold or sprayed over the mold), or electric-resistance heaters placed around the mold. With uniform heat transfer through the mold, the plastic melts to build up a layer of molten plastic on the molds inside surface. 

Important are behaviors associated and interrelated with plastic materials (thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, reinforced plastics, etc.) and fabricating processes (extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, forming, foaming, rotational molding, etc.). They are presented so that the technical or non-technical reader can readily understand the interrelationships. 

EngrDesHndbk, Rotational Molding of Plastic Powders , AMCP 706-312(1975) 48) Anon,... 

Rotational molding creates a wide variety of plastic products that cannot be made effectively, efficiently, or economically by other means. What sets this method apart from others is that it can create thin-walled, hollow parts that exhibit no weld lines or scarring from ejector pins and from the process itself. It also has the advantage of having little scrap and minimal molded-in stresses, due to the low pressure and low shear rate characteristics of the process. Finally, it can be used to make parts that are very large which would be impossible to manufacture by other methods. 

In South Africa, owing to the diversity and small production volume of specific motor car models, it is not economically feasible to blow-mold HDPE fuel tanks. The only cost-effective plastic tank manufacturing process used in South Africa is rotational molding, using LLDPE with a density of 0.939 g/cm3. Some selected properties of LLDPE before and after petrol exposure are compared to HDPE in Table 16.2. It is clear that owing to weaker mechanical properties, LLDPE is far less suitable than HDPE for petrol containment, mainly because of its lower crystallinity. 

Figure 7.81 Schematic diagram of rotating mold system used in continuous extrusion blow molding. Reprinted, by permission, from A. B. Strong, Plastics Materials and Processing, 2nd ed., p. 489. Copyright 2000 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

Focusing collectors are usually cast acrylic Fresnel lenses, or mirrors of aluminized polyester film in frames of aluminum. These reflectors are either enclosed in a bubble of poly(vinyl fluoride) film, or under polycarbonate glazing, which may be covered with a fluorocarbon film to reduce the reflectivity. The absorbers for active systems are copper or aluminum since the temperatures are too high (325—370°C) for plastics. The frames, however, can be molded ABS, high density polyethylene or polyurethane, either solid or structural foam. Polybutylene or chlorinated PVC can be used for piping hot water, and tanks can be made of either reinforced polyester or blow- or rotational-molded, high density polyethylene (12—15). 

The organic cellulose ester plastics are versatile materials and can be processed by almost any hot-processing technique used for thermoplastics. The principal techniques for all three plastics are injection molding and extrusion. Blow molding is also possible. Butyrate and propionate powder are used in tluidized-bed and electrostatic coating processes, as well as in the rotational molding process. 

R.J. Crawford. Rotational Molding of Plastics. Research Studies Press, Somerset, 1992. 

E-mail Address info rotomolding.org Web Address www.rotomolding.org Association of Rotational Molders (ARM) International represents the worldwide plastics rotational molding industry. 

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