FABRICATION OF PLASTIC

Plastic fabrication is defined as any process which is used to design, manufacture, or assemble products
made from plastic or composites containing plastic. There are an extremely wide variety of plastic
fabrication methods available, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Additionally,
certain methods are better suited for certain parts – fabricating small plastic kitchen containers will
likely not utilize the same method as fabricating large roofs or body panels for heavy trucks. Whatever
you wish to make from plastic, there is a fabrication method out there for you!

PLASTIC FABRICATION METHODS

Plastic fabrication methods can be widely divided into a number of categories depending on the
techniques used and the distinctive characteristics of the resulting products. Some of the most common
categories include:

Compounding, which is also referred to as blending, refers to any process in which two or more plastics
are combined into one

. Lamination is any method in which a plastic is used to form a barrier along the surface of another
material. It is frequently utilized to strengthen a product or increase its resistance to heat, electricity,
chemicals or other natural and artificial risks

. Plastic welding, similar to the more common metal welding, uses heat to melt pieces together. While
welding is still a process primarily associated with metal, it can be an effective process when working
with plastics that react poorly to other forms of adhesion.

Lastly, molding refers to any method which forms plastic into a shape by allowing it to harden within a
pre-formed mold. Molding is the most versatile of the plastic fabrication varieties, allowing for the
creation of everything from extremely large parts to extremely geometrically complex ones. Molding is
used to produce everything from household appliances to heavy machinery, toys to airplane parts. It has
become one of the most popular ways of fabricating plastic due to the time- and cost-efficiency of the
process and the strength, durability and stiffness of the completed parts.

There are a variety of sub-types of molding, which are traditionally separated according to:

Whether heat, pressure or a combination of both (such as an autoclave, a machine which applies both
heat and pressure simultaneously is used to cure the finished product

The method by which the plastic enters the mold

The presence or absence of reinforcing fibers such as glass, carbon or aramid (Kevlar)