Thermoforming technique, thermoplastic sheet

Thermoforming is a process for forming moderately complex shaped parts that cannot be injection molded because the part is either very large and too expensive or has very thin walls. It consists essentially of two stages elevation of the temperature of a thermoplastic sheet material until it is soft and pliable and forming the material into the desired shape using one of several techniques. 

Vacuum forming (straight vacuum forming) n. Process in which heated thermoplastic sheets are converted to other configurations by causing them to flow into molds with apphcation of a vacuum. The simplest, original technique of sheet thermoforming. 

Film Processing Methods Through the use of conventional thermoplastic processing techniques, PCTFE can be molded as well as extruded into transparent film and sheet, " ] and laminated, heat-sealed, printed thermoformed, metallized, and sterilized... 

Other Fabrication Methods. Another thermoplastics processing technique that is suited to some TPEs, but not to thermoset rubbers, is thermoforming. A sheet of TPE is heated to 10 to 40°C above the melting temperature of the hard crystalline phase (or glass... 

UDEL Polysulfone can be fabricated by the melt processing techniques available for thermoplastics, injection molding, extrusion and thermoforming. For injection molding, melt temperatures of 650-750°F, mold temperatures of 200-300 F and injection pressures of 15,000-20,000 psi have proved suitable. For extrusion, melt temperatures of 600-700 F are required. For sheet extrusion, the take-off rolls must be capable of being controlled between... 

---