Rotational molding differs from injection molding, blow molding and other plastic molding processes. The melting, shaping and molding all take place after you place the polymer in the mold. Because the process uses no external pressure, it produces stress-free plastic that’s ideal for many uses. In this article you will learn more about the 7 types of plastic and their uses in rotational molding.
To create rotomolded products, it’s important to use the right types of plastic. As one of the best of rotational molding companies in the US, Roto Dynamics is uniquely equipped to help you choose the right plastic for your project.
Table of Contents
What Is Plastic Used For?
You can use plastic to create an unlimited number of products, including food containers, plastic bottles, plastic bag, baby bottles, toys, furniture, storage, Rotomolded water tanks, dumpsters and boats. With rotational molding, quick setup lets you run small batches and reduce your overstock.
Because rotational molding doesn’t exert external pressure on the product, your items come out stress-free. Rotomolding is incredibly versatile. When you work with our rotomolding company, you can be as creative as you wish. Continue reading to learn more about the 7 types of plastic and their uses.
7 Types of Plastic and Their Uses Rotational Molding
The use of 7 types of plastic raison in rotomolding also means choosing a product that fits your budget. Fortunately, the following 7 types of plastic will fit all these criteria.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate
- Polyvinyl Chloride
- Polypropylene
- Polystyrene
- Polyethylene Casting Resin
- Food Safe Plastic Resin
- Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
- Other Types
Polyethylene Terephthalate
Polyethylene terephthalate is used in over 95% of rotomolded projects. This plastic is flexible, sturdy and heat-tolerant. It is also known as polyethylene, PET or PETE. For rotomolding purposes, polyethylene terephthalate comes in two major types. You can choose low-density polyethelene or high-density polyethelene.
Another benefit to polyethylene is that it’s a type 1 plastic, which means it is an easily recyclable material. Universal recycling codes class plastics as type 1 plastic, type 2 plastic and type 3 plastic. Type 1 is the most environmentally friendly.
Polyethylene Types: PET, HDPE and LDPE
High-density polyethelene, or HDPE, is durable and weather resistant. It’s an excellent choice for objects that need to stand up to transport, frequent use and outdoor conditions. High-density polyethelene is easy to work with. You can use HDPE resins in almost any application.
Low-density polyethelene, or LDPE, is flexible and lightweight. Low-density polyethelene is a type 1 plastic. It creates a strong, flexible resin product. LDPE is lower in toxins than other plastics. For that reason, it is a good choice if you need a food safe plastic resin.
Polyvinyl Chloride
This plastic, also known as PVC, creates plastic with a unique finish that is easy to paint. Polyvinyl chloride is popular in plumbing tubes and other settings where you need a moisture-resistant material.
PVC is not as flexible as polyethylene, and it is more likely to crack or snap. If you need a flexible container or piping, PVC is a good choice. If you need something more durable, however, polyvinyl chloride may not be your first choice. It is more costly to produce than a PET resin.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene, or PP, is a popular plastic, but it isn’t ideal for rotational molding. When PP gets warm, it has a tendency to stiffen. Subjecting it to the high heat of rotomolding means you have to work quickly before it becomes unworkable.
Some people like polypropylene because it can hold toxins without disintegrating. This makes it a good choice for holding highly toxic or corrosive materials. It’s also highly weather resistant. In our experience as one of the best of rotational molding companies in the country, PP is too costly for big rotomolding projects.
Polystyrene
If you see a PS symbol, you’re looking at polystyrene. You can use PS for many projects. Its primary use, however, is in insulating products. It is used to make protective packing for cell phones, home insulation, surfboards and food containers.
The use of plastic raison in rotomolding may involve polystyrene, but PS probably won’t be your first choice for a rotomolding project.
Polyethylene Casting Resin
Polyethylene casting resin forms a see-through plastic that’s ideal for design elements. Most people use it to embed objects in a clear casing. It has many practical and design applications. For instance, you can use it to encase labels, photographs, decorations or important papers.
You can rely on Roto Dynamics to bring any design to life. The workers at our rotomolding company have extensive experience working with polyethylene casting resin. If you’re planning to make use of plastic raison in rotomolding, we can help you select the right resin type for your project.
Food Safe Plastic Resin
If you’re making containers for the food and beverage industry, rotational molding is ideal for three reasons. First, rotomolded plastic is lightweight and easy to transport. Second, it resists leakage and spoiling. Third, it protects against pest infestation.
You must be careful, however, to use food safe plastic resin. At Roto Dynamics, we create products for this industry every day. We’ll help you create containers that meet or exceed government standards for food safety.
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate
Also known as EVA, this plastic is a blend of ethylene and vinyl acetate. It is softer than other plastics. For this reason, it’s useful for making products that require flexibility. Because it’s more prone to cracking than other plastics, EVA is better suited to making small objects that don’t require us to stretch the resin.
Other Plastic Resin Types
The following plastics have become popular in recent years. At Roto Dynamics, we have seen an increase in projects that use other types of plastics, including:
- Nylon.
- Polyurethane.
- Polycarbonate.
How do you choose a plastic type for your rotomolding project? In our view, you should choose a material that is:
- Flexible.
- Durable.
- Leakproof.
- Easy to mold.
- Able to withstand high temperatures without cracking.
- Resistant to mildew, rot and pests.
Where To Find the Best of Rotational Molding Companies in California
If you want to be sure your rotomolded product meets your needs, discover what Roto Dynamics can do. Our rotomolding company creates products for a huge variety of clients in all industries. Talk to us about your rotomolding project. We specialize in turning dreams into reality.