Injection Molding & Silicone Molding Materials
At Dymotek, we are specialized in not only running a wide variety of plastic and silicone materials but are experts in combining individual processes and materials into impressive two shot molding applications.
2-shot molding increases design flexibility and reduces production costs because it allows for multiple materials or colors to be molded together in a single process.
Thermoplastics:
This is a generic term for a family of materials critical to our society today. At the simplest level, if you can melt it and turn it into something, then remelt it and turn it into something else, it has thermoplastic properties. While many plastics are obvious, some are hiding in plain sight.
Rigid Thermoplastics:
This family is what is most widely known as “plastic.” From the polystyrene in disposable cutlery, the ABS in toys, the copolyester in a water bottle, they are everywhere in daily lives. They are one of the most widely used groups of plastics in the industry due to their versatility and ease of processing.
This group of plastics if further separated into amorphous and semi-crystalline polymers. Both are used in a large variety of applications but have different properties and processing methods. Put simply, amorphous plastics soften before melting (like chocolate). A semi-crystalline polymer is either a liquid or a solid without softening (like a melting ice cube).
Another industry specific way of grouping the thermoplastics is into commodity type resins and engineering and/or high-performance materials which are all molded at Dymotek.
Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE):
Thermoplastic elastomers are a versatile class of plastics that exhibit properties of both thermoplastics and elastomers, they can be repeatedly melted and reshaped without losing their properties and are available from very soft and flexible to rather rigid.
They are further subgrouped from the main branch of the TPE tree: TPU (thermoplastic urethane), TPR (thermoplastic rubber), and TPV (thermoplastic vulcanizate). TPEs are known for their versatility and can be used in many applications, TPU is known for its abrasion resistance and high elasticity. TPR is utilized for its impact resistance and low-temperature flexibility. TPV has fantastic compression set resistance at the expense of losing properties when being ground and reused. It is often considered a thermosetting elastomer as it has non-plastic properties.
Materials in this family are often used in overmolds for soft-touch applications, functional hinges, and light duty seals.
Thermosetting Elastomers:
True thermosetting elastomers are a group of plastics that, once cured, cannot be remelted and will retain their shape, they have high mechanical strength and chemical resistance.
They are known for their excellent electrical insulation properties and good resistance to high temperatures making them suitable for many applications that require high performance and flexibility.
Materials WE MOLD YOUR SOLUTION™ with at Dymotek are:
(following list is in alphabetical order)
- ABS or Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene - provides good balance of impact, heat, chemical and abrasion resistance, dimensional stability, tensile strength, surface hardness, rigidity and electrical characteristics.
Popular brand names include: Kydex, - CPS or Crystal polystyrene – is a specific type of polystyrene that has a higher molecular weight providing greater rigidity and improved dimensional stability. CPS is also known for its transparency and clarity.
Popular brand names include: - LSR or Liquid Silicone Rubber – is an innate and highly biocompatible elastomer material well known for its incredible physical and chemical properties along with uniquely unlimited design possibilities. Using this material in 2 shot molding with thermoplastics such as PBT, PA and PC allows for very sophisticated parts and geometries with a multitude of highly durable application functions combined in a single injection molded part.
Popular brand names include: - PBT or Polybutylene terephthalate - is strong, heat-resistant, dimensionally stable, has low water absorption, good electrical properties. It also serves as a great overmolding material for liquid silicone rubber or LSR due to its high heat resistance needed for the LSR cure and great chemical bond to the silicone overmold.
Popular brand names include: - PC or Polycarbonate - is known for its high strength, heat resistance and transparency. Because it belongs to the engineering grade materials with high heat resistance, PC is another good candidate for 2shot
Popular brand names include: Lexan, Makrolon, Apec
Overmolding with LSR or Liquid Silicone Rubber:
- PE or Polyethylene - is a lightweight and low cost material, known for its flexibility, durability, and resistance to chemicals. Materials such as LDPE, HDPE, etc. are groups related to PE.
Popular brand names include: - PP or Polypropylene – is one of the most commonly used thermoplastics in the world due to its inexpensive cost, exceptional mechanical characteristics and moldablity
Popular brand names include: - PVC rigid or Polyvinyl chloride – is a strong and durable thermoplastic material with excellent chemical resistance, low moisture absorption, stiffness, impact resistance, UV stability, and inherent UL flame performance.
Popular brand names include: - PVC flexible – flexible PVC provide some of the characteristics of rigid PVC but reduces others due to adding the flexibility component. In general flexibly PVC is used where the material needs to bend or flex in the application without breaking.
Popular brand names include: - PA, or polyamide – often just called nylon is a strong, durable and lightweight thermoplastic with high wear resistance, chemical resistance and good temperature stability.
Popular brand names include:
* (for non-medical products only)