Structural Foam for Injection Molding

What is Structural Foam for Injection Molding?

Structural foam is a low-pressure form of injection molding, which utilizes most thermoplastics, (including post-consumer regrind), to mold rigid products, which can have thicker walls and higher stiffness-to-weight ratios than standard injection molded products.

Structural Foam Process

In the structural foam molding process, a physical or chemical blowing agent is mixed in with the resin. The resin is shot into the cavity, but not completely filled or packed out. The blowing agent expands to push the resin to the extremities of the cavities. As the part cools, the internal pressure of the foaming action takes up the internal shrinkage, and reduces sinks over ribs or heavy cross-sections.

Advantages of the Structural-Foam process:

There are many advantages of the structural foam injection molding which combine to provide an economical advantage over other processes, and allow production of parts which can’t be matched by any other process. Following is a list of many of the advantages of the structural foam molding process:

Low cost tooling with the same molded-in detail and features possible in standard injection molding
Multiple parts and multiple tooling can be run on a single machine.
Two different materials and or two different colors can be run at the same time.
Product can easily be gated at multiple points on the part, which can be strategically positioned to optimize filling, and processing.
The molding process utilizes low-pressure to mold the parts which results in low stress and warpage in the parts.
The low pressure part of the process allows molding of large parts with low machine tonnage.
The process allows a wide range of design flexibility.
Superior part and process repeatability are possible with the process.
High strength-to-weight ratio.
Reduced part weight while maintaining high stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Can mold medium wall thickness through very thick wall sections with minimal sink marks.
Reduced weight of 10 to 20% over solid plastic part.
Total shot weight of up to 200 pounds.

* PRL PPX SF1
* PRL PPX SF2
* PRL PC SF FR
* PRL PC SF FR1
* PRL PC SF FR G20
* PRL PC SF FR G30
* PRL TP SF G10
* PRL TP SF G30
* PRL TP SF FR G10
* PRL TP SF FR G30

Easy Flow FR PPE/PS Blend
Standard Flow FR PPE/PS Blend
5% Glass Filled FR Polycarbonate
10% Glass Filled FR Polycarbonate
20% Glass Filled FR Polycarbonate
30% Glass Filled FR Polycarbonate
10% Glass Filled PBT
30% Glass Filled PBT
10% Glass Filled FR PBT
30% Glass Filled FR PBT

Additives, Modifiers, and Reinforcing Agents:

Additives – UV stability, easy release (mold releases), colorants, and other stability additives
Modifiers – Flame retardants, impact modifiers, flow enhancers
Reinforcing Agents – Glass fibers, mineral fillers

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Datasheets

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PRODUCT Q&As

Q. What is structural foam?

A. Structural foam materials are created through the combination of a base resin and a foaming agent, such as nitrogen gas, or a chemical blowing agent. These parts have a cellular core surrounded by a thick outer layer (skin), creating a “sandwich” structure. They feature a greater strength-to-weight ratio and up to twice the rigidity (stiffness) of solid plastic parts made with the same material. Nearly any type of thermoplastic can be used for structural foam parts. The common types include polycarbonate (PC), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Structural foam offers light weight, rigid and durable alternatives to solid plastic parts, as well as wood, fiberglass, metal and concrete. It also provides excellent thermal and acoustic insulation.

Q. How is structural foam made?

A. Structural foam production uses a low-pressure injection molding process. The molten resin is injected into a mold after being mixed with a low percentage of foaming or blowing agent. The material does not fill the mold completely. When the gas or blowing agent is activated through a endothermic or exothermic chemical reaction, the resin expands, filling the empty space remaining in the mold with foam featuring very small bubbles. The bubbles, or cell structures, create the “honeycomb” texture characteristic of the core of structural foam products. Surface cells collapse and harden when they come in contact with the cold walls of the mold, resulting in a solid skin surrounding the part.

Structural foam molding minimizes molded-in stress that can lead to warpage and part deformation. Other advantages include less energy usage due to the low-pressure process and cost savings and sustainability from using less resin and less-expensive aluminum tooling. Also, versatility in part geometry, from thin walls to very thick and large shapes, is an additional benefit of using structural foam. Aesthetically, the foaming bubbles in the matrix pack out the resin and reduce the incidence of sink on the exterior show side of the plastic part.

Q. What are the drawbacks to using structural foam in injection molding?

A. Disadvantages of structural foam molding include longer cycle times and a rough surface finish caused by gas breaking through the surface. For this reason, structural foam is ideal for use in plastic structural elements that will not be visible. Parts in view may require sanding, painting, finishing or other secondary operations. Structural foam processing will require the additional purchasing of the foaming/blowing agent additive.

Q. What applications is structural foam used for?

A. Typical applications using structural foam are bulk bins, totes, pallets, toolboxes, fencing, retail point-of-sale display racks, storage sheds, shelving and cargo systems. Structural foam can also be used for equipment housings, enclosures and other structural applications.

Our Mission

My mission at Polymer Resources has not changed since I founded this company more than four decades ago. It includes continuing our tradition of financial stability, sustainable growth and visionary leadership that compounds success for customers, suppliers and employees. It also means proudly manufacturing our products in America, and making them available to the global marketplace.

Les Klein, Chief Executive Officer, Polymer Resources, Ltd.