With an endless array of consumer products available in today’s world, creating prototypes involves not only research and design in the early stages of product development but also deciding which type of molding material will work best for that particular item. Should the wrong decision be made, the result will be a product that won’t be able to stand up to normal wear and tear, creating consumer dissatisfaction. To ensure consumer products are made as well as possible, here are some common prototype molding materials often used in their production.
Arguably the most popular type of molding material in use today for consumer products, acrylic is great because it is odorless, tasteless, and does not contain the harmful synthetic compound BPA. Used for creating food and storage containers, it is also used in lighting and appliances, since it is also scratch-resistant and closely resembles glass.
If like most people you own a smartphone, chances are the protective case you use for your phone is made from thermoplastic polyurethane, commonly known as TPU. Favored because of its softness and elasticity, TPU also has great tear strength. Along with being used to create phone cases, it is also regularly used to create sporting goods and power tools. Due to its use in so many different consumer products, it is vital you work with a polyurethane casting material supplier to ensure you stay well-stocked on this material. Additionally, the supplier may be a good resource for checking that thermoplastic polyurethane is the best option for your product.
While acrylic and TPU are widely used in many types of consumer products, so too is polyethylene. Lightweight, elastic, and known to contain electrical insulating properties, polyethylene is used to make such things as milk bottles, detergent bottles, and all kinds of trash cans. Also, it is widely used in numerous types of children’s toys and is, in fact, the most common type of injection molding plastic used in these products for kids.
Referred to as ABS, this prototype molding material is loved by consumer product manufacturers first and foremost because it is very inexpensive. But more than that, it has high impact resistance, is almost impossible to scratch, break, or tear, and has fantastic dimensional stability. Because of these many advantages, ABS is used to produce all types of electronic parts, ranging from keyboard keys found on computers to phone adaptors and much more.
No matter which type of product you purchase as a consumer, chances are it will have been made using one or more of these common prototype molding materials.
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