A new approach to creating light-weight plastic parts with good surface finish using tap water to create structural foam mouldings

结构泡沫塑料成型零件具有泡沫核心和相对坚固的外壳，通过使用化学发泡剂或气体(如氮气、丁烷或二氧化碳)的注射成型形式生产。然而，化学发泡剂会造成臭氧消耗，并将根据《蒙特利尔议定书》逐步淘汰。丁烷和戊烷等气体是固有的火灾风险，而氮气和二氧化碳的使用成本相对较高。此外，结构泡沫零件的表面光洁度相对较差，特别是在使用低注射压力时。我们的是一种创新的新工艺，用于制造结构泡沫成型的轻质部件。它提供高达40%的重量节省，40%以上的周期时间减少和30%以上的能源节省。该项目将建立在与主要合作伙伴和潜在用户的现有国际合作的基础上，并确保牢固的商业关系，这将有助于该技术的成功开发。

Structural foam moulded parts have a cellular foamed core with a relatively solid skin outer, produced by a form of injection moulding using a chemical blowing agent or gas such as nitrogen, butane or carbon dioxide. However chemical blowing agents cause ozone depletion & will be phased out under the Montreal Protocol. Gases such as butane & pentane are an inherent fire risk, while N2 & CO2 are relatively expensive to use. In addition structural foam parts suffer from relatively poor surface finish especially when low injection pressure is used. Ours is an innovative new process to make structural foam moulded light-weight parts. It offers up to 40% weight saving, 40%+ cycle time reduction & 30%+ energy savings simultaneously. This project will build on existing international cooperation with key partners and potential users and ensure strong commercial relationships which will aid a successful development of the technology.