Cryogenic Deflashing Fortron Molded Parts

Cryogenic Deflashing Fortron Parts

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Deflashing Fortron Molded Parts

Introduction

Fortron is a trademarked name for a type of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) resin. PPS is a high-performance thermoplastic that is known for its excellent mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, including high strength, stiffness, heat resistance, and chemical resistance.

Fortron is used in a variety of applications where high performance and durability are required, such as automotive parts, electrical and electronic components, industrial machinery, and household appliances. PPS plastic can be processed using injection molding, extrusion, and other manufacturing techniques, and is available in various grades to meet different performance requirements.

Fortron Applications

PPS plastic is used to make a wide range of parts and components due to its excellent mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. Here are some examples of parts made from PPS plastic:

  1. Automotive parts such as fuel system components, ignition system components, and electrical connectors.
  2. Electrical and electronic components including sockets, switches, relays, and connectors due to its excellent electrical insulation properties.
  3. Industrial machinery examples are gears, bearings, and pump components due to its high temperature resistance, strength, and wear resistance.
  4. Household appliance parts including coffee makers, blenders, and food processors due to its high temperature resistance and durability.
  5. Medical equipment components such as surgical instruments, implantable devices, and diagnostic equipment due to its biocompatibility and sterilization resistance.

Injection Molding Fortron Parts

Fortron plastic, like other thermoplastics, can be molded into parts using various molding techniques. The most common molding process used for Fortron plastic is injection molding. Here are the general steps involved in injection molding this material.

  1. Material preparation: The Fortron PPS plastic is supplied in the form of pellets or granules. These pellets are loaded into the hopper of the injection molding machine.
  2. Melting: The pellets are then heated and melted in the barrel of the injection molding machine, which is equipped with a heating element and a screw that mixes and melts the plastic.
  3. Injection: Once the plastic is melted, it is injected into a mold under high pressure. The mold is typically made of steel and consists of two halves that are clamped together.
  4. Cooling and solidification: The injected plastic cools and solidifies in the mold, taking the shape of the cavity.
  5. Ejection: After the Fortron material has cooled and solidified, the mold is opened, and the part is ejected.
  6. Finishing: The part may then undergo post-processing steps such as trimming, deflashing, and surface finishing to meet the required specifications.

The injection molding process can be optimized for Fortron plastic by adjusting the processing parameters such as temperature, pressure, and cooling time to achieve the desired properties and quality of the molded parts. Other molding techniques such as extrusion, blow molding, and compression molding can also be used for Fortron plastic depending on the specific application and part geometry.

Cryogenic Deflashing Fortron

Fortron parts can be cryogenically deflashed. Cryogenic deflashing is a process used to remove flash and other unwanted material from molded plastic parts without causing damage to the parts. It involves placing the parts in a chamber that is filled with a gaseous nitrogen atmosphere. The PPS plastic parts are then subjected to cold temperatures, which causes the flash and other unwanted material to become brittle. The parts are then tumbled and blasted with polycarbonate media to remove the mold flashing.

Fortron plastic is also known for its dimensional stability, which makes it a suitable material for precision parts. Cryogenic deflashing can be an effective method for removing flash and other unwanted material from Fortron parts without causing any damage to their properties or dimensions. However, the specific parameters of the cryogenic deflashing process, such as the temperature and duration of exposure, need to be optimized to achieve the desired results. That is where an expert such as Nitrofreeze Cryogenic Solutions comes into play.

Want to send us your Fortron molded part samples for a no-cost deflashing proof of concept? Contact us at (508) 459-7447×105 or email us at info@nitrofreeze.com to learn more.