Plastic is a material that we all take for granted because it is so commonplace in our lives today. Yet, what most of us don’t think about is that every plastic product that we benefit from or make use of utilizes plastic that was compound for its specific purpose. Without compounding, plastic wouldn’t be nearly as versatile and readily available to serve our multitude of needs.
Compounding Plastic: Achieving the Desired End Product
Compounding plastic is done differently for every application. Some of the factors that are specifically compounded for include but are not limited to:
Color. When you are compounding plastic color selection is often a priority. When you think of all of the plastic products you use, you’ll realize that it is available in an unlimited number of colors.
Food safe. Not all plastic is food safe. When plastic will be used for food packaging or handling, specific products, and compounding processes must take place to ensure that it is safe to encounter a food product that will be consumed.
Fire retardation. When exposed to heat, plastics will melt and often catch fire. Fire retardants can be added to polymers to help prohibit combustion, especially in construction applications.
Strength and flexibility. Just thinking about the plastic products that you use daily; you’ll notice there are differences in strength and flexibility. Each of these plastics has been compounded to provide for this extremely specific purpose and quality.
Antimicrobial properties. Some plastic products benefit from being compounded to prohibit the growth of germs on their surface. These plastic additives are especially prevalent in the production of medical products.
UV Tolerance. If plastic products are exposed to UV rays, the plastic can be compounded to add extra protection against these rays that often lead to degradation of the material.
Phoenix Plastics Wants to Be Your Plastic Compounding Provider
This is just a broad look at the many benefits of plastic compounding. The customizations that are possible are nearly endless. At Phoenix Plastics we are always developing new compounding services and abilities, allowing our customers to truly personalize their plastic products. Contact us today so we can discuss your unique needs. We look forward to exceeding your expectations!
