This unique question was submitted by one of our more active bloggers...
Milan
What would be the difference in injection molding old fashioned rubber-like materials and the newer polymers like PBT?
My Response
Although I have only had a few opportunities to process natural rubbers, it is an interesting experience.
Processing PBT - Polybutylene Terephthalate, PBT, is a semi-crystalline polymer which is heated above the Melting Temperature (Tm) before processing. In this state, it flows very easily and is usually melted using a straight or reverse barrel temperature profile. Because the polymer is processes above the melting temperature, it flows relatively easily. Most amorphous synthetic polymers such ABS or Styrene, do not have a melting temperature, but are processed above the Glass Transition Temperature (Tg) which is a softening temperature present in all polymers.
Processing Natural Rubbers - Natural Rubber, or Polyisoprene, is an amorphous polymer which is often processed at a temperature near or below it's Glass Transition Temperature. This makes it more difficult to mold, resulting in a behavior similar to the molding of many PVC materials. As with PVC, you tend to use a forward temperature profile, and require a special screw configuration, often with a high flow check ring... or no check ring at all.
Additional Thoughts
The molding of natural rubbers can be a messy business and there are many variations of these materials depending on the degree of polymerization and molecular weight distribution.
-Andy
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