PROCESSING TIPS FOR MOLDING GLASS REINFORCED THERMOPLASTICS
THE ADDITION OF GLASS FIBERS TO THERMOPLASTICS CHANGES THE PROCESSING
PARAMETERS FOR THESE COMPOUNDS. THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS ARE AIMED
AT PROVIDING YOU WITH THE STARTING GUIDELINES TO MOLD THE STRONGEST
PARTS POSSIBLE BY PREVENTING FIBER-LENGTH ATTRITION BELOW THE
CRITICAL LENGTH.
TYPICAL PROCESSING CONDITIONS FOR 30% GLASS FIBER REINFORCED THERMOPLASTICS.
| BASE RESIN | RECOMMENDED CYLINDER |
MELT TEMP |
MOLD TEMP |
DRY TEMP |
MOLD SHIRNKAGE |
| ABS | 400-560 | 500 | 200 | 180* | .001/.0015 |
| SAN | 400-550 | 500 | 190 | 180* | .0005/.001 |
| POLYSTYRENE | 400-550 | 475 | 150 | 180* | .0005/.001 |
| POLYCARBONATE | 540-650 | 600 | 250 | 250 | .001/.0025 |
| POLYETHYLENE | 400-550 | 450 | 100 | 175* | .004/.0045 |
| POLYSULFONE | 625-700 | 675 | 300 | 275 | .002/.003 |
| POLYETHERSULFONE | 600-780 | 680 | 300 | 300 | .002/.003 |
| POLYETHERIMIDE | 600-780 | 680 | 300 | 300 | .002/.003 |
| ACETAL | 350-425 | 410 | 225 | 200* | .005/.006 |
| POLYPROPYLENE | 400-550 | 475 | 100 | 175* | .004/.0045 |
| PPS | 500-675 | 600 | 250 | 250* | .002/.003 |
| NYLON 6 | 480-550 | 540 | 200 | 200^ | .0035/.005 |
| NYLON 6/6 | 500-575 | 560 | 225 | 200^ | .004/.0055 |
| NYLON 6/10 | 480-550 | 540 | 200 | 200^ | .0035/.005 |
| NYLON 6/12 | 480-550 | 540 | 200 | 200^ | .0035/.005 |
| POLYURETHANE | 370-420 | 420 | 125 | 225 | .004/.005 |
| ETFE | 560-650 | 600 | 200 | 220* | .0025/.005 |
| POLYESTER PBT | 430-500 | 470 | 200 | 230 | .003/.0045 |
| MODIFIED PPO | 525-600 | 575 | 225 | 240* | .001/.002 |
| AMORPHOUS NYLON | 490-610 | 580 | 225 | 240 | .003/.004 |
| SUPER TOUGH NYLON | 500-575 | 560 | 225 | 200^ | .004/.0055 |
| P.ESTER ELASTOMER | 400-490 | 460 | 125 | 225 | .003/.005 |
| * DRYING IS NOT NORMALLY REQUIRED. USE IF RESIN IS WET. |
| ^ IF COLOR CHANGE IS NOT CRITICAL, DRY AT 225 F. |
ALL TEMPERATURES ARE IN DEGREES F. MOLD SHRINKAGE UNITS ARE INCHES / INCH, BASED ON 0.125-0.250 AVERAGE WALL THICKNESS AND ARE SUBJECT TO MOLDING CONDITIONS.