processingdetails

Reaction Mold Making

Reaction Molding, and the full name is reaction injection molding (RIM), which is quite similar to injection molding. But in the process of reaction molding, the thermosetting polymers are used, which requires a curing reaction to occur within the mold. Products like automotive bumpers, air spoilers, and fenders are all produced by this method.

More in detail, in the process of reaction molding, the two parts of the polymer are mixed together firstly. The mixture is then injected into the mold under high pressure using an impinging mixer. The mixture is allowed to sit in the mold long enough for it to expand and cure.

If reinforcing agents are added to the mixture then the process is known as reinforced reaction injection molding (RRIM). Common reinforcing agents include glass fibers and mica. This process is usually used to produce rigid foam automotive panels.

A subset of RRIM is structural reaction injection molding (SRIM), which uses fiber meshes for the reinforcing agent. The fiber mesh is first arranged in the mold and then the polymer mixture is injection molded over it.

The most common RIM processable material is polyurethane (known generally as PU-RIM), but others include polyureas, polyisocyanurates, polyesters, polyepoxides, and nylon 6. For polyurethane one component of the mixture is polyisocyanate and the other component is a blend of polyol, surfactant, catalyst, and blowing agent