ICYMI: April Roundup
Catch up on the most-read articles that captivated our readers in April.
Source: Specialty Polymers, Additive Manufacturing Media, PTI Tech, Polymer Drying Services
April brought a diverse mix of topics to the forefront of plastics processing, from practical troubleshooting and material matchups to sustainability and additive innovation. From figuring out what’s really behind screw bounce to comparing polymers in a head-to-head showdown, this month’s top reads had something for everyone. If your month flew by, don’t worry — we’ve rounded up the most popular articles so you can catch up on the content your peers couldn’t stop clicking.
10. Injection Molding Stock-Shape Parts in High-Temperature Materials
Patented technology is described as a hybrid that uses a specialized tool, a standard injection molding machine and off-the-shelf components to replace compression molding and extrusion for large stock shapes.
Source: Matt Stonecash
9. The Middle Way, Dissolution Recycling Technologies Leave the Polymer Intact
Alternative approaches can produce high yield and high purity with reduced energy demand.
8. May 2025: Prices for 4 of the 5 Commodity Resins Flat-to-Down
PET is the exception from this general trajectory, at least for now.
Source: Jean Luc Adranasolo
7. Cork Compounds for High Strength, Low Weight Performance Composites
Amorim Cork Solutions enable bio-based designs for injection molded products.
6. Calcium Carbonate From Carbon Capture for Brighter Plastics and Greener Steel
CarbonFree is converting steel slag and blast furnace exhaust into an important plastic compounding additive.
Source: Additive Manufacturing Media
5. 5 Trends in 3D Printed Injection Mold Tooling
3D printing has moved beyond conformal cooling, and is now being applied to injection molds more broadly. Observations on additively manufactured mold tooling from PTXPO.
4. Overcoming Drying Hopper Ambient Air Leaks
Consider using a compressed-air-operated discharge valve. This provides a positive seal when it closes and ensures that no wet ambient air seeps into the drying hopper.
Source: Plastics Technology
3. Metal and Polymer Molding, Additive Manufacturing and MoldMaking All Under One Roof
From metal molding to polymer molding, additive manufacturing to moldmaking, material selection to formulation, prototyping to production, PTI Tech has emerged as a one-stop molding shop.
2. Polymer Showdown — PPO vs. PA66: May the Best Material Win
Second in a series, an expert from plastics engineering consultancy The Madison Group pits leading thermoplastics against each other to see how they differ in processing characteristics, chemical resistance, thermal and mechanical performance, and more.
1. Screw Bounce — What Causes It and Why You Should Care
There are a lot of theories about screw bounce in injection molding it, but what’s the actual cause? Through a series of experiments, and some good old-fashioned math, the author found out.
Source: American Injection Molding Institute
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