General principles
Rotational moulding is a manufacturing process used to produce hollow
parts, with no welding involved. Unlike most other plastic transformation
processes, rotational moulding is not carried out under pressure.
Filling the mould
A precisely dosed amount of natural or coloured powder is introduced
into a mould. It is then closed and placed on a mould carrier.
Cooking
The mould is placed in an oven and heated for a certain period of time,
depending on the weight, the shape and the size of the part. By double
rotation (horizontal and vertical) in the enclosure, the powder is transformed
into an hollow part. The mould, which is gradually heated during the rotation,
allows the polymer to spread into an even layer across the internal surface
and then to melt.
Cooling and stripping
After the melting cycle, the mould is cooled down in the open air, with
water or by blowing cold air, with or without rotation, until it is cold
enough for the part to be removed from the mould.
The advantages of rotomoulding
Rotational moulding offers many advantages. Due to its flexibility and
the ease of the process, it allows the manufacture of anything from very
small parts to very large parts (tanks, containers holding several cubic
metres). The moulds and machines also offer excellent pay-out time. As
a result the production costs and investments are lower than for other
techniques, especially for small series of articles.
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