BLOW MOLDING

SUBMITTED TO
Assistant Prof.
M.P.Gururajan
Department of Applied Mechanics

SUBMITTED BY
Nivesh Pandya
2008AMD3104

Historical Development
Year

Development

1930

The first applications for blow molding were for cellulose nitrate

1940

Introduction of LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene ). With LDPE, the

plastic industry growth rapidly

1942

The first polyethylene bottle was manufactured using the blow

molding process

1950

The demand for blow moulding increases by the mass production of

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) and Polypropylene (PP) for
various applications

The principle of blow molding

A simple explanation of the principle of blow molding is similar to inflating a

balloon

Introduction
Blow molding : Definition
There are several methods of blow molding plastic parts.They all have five stages in
common :1. Plasticizing or melting the resin
2. Parison or preform production
3. Inflation of the parison or preform
4. Ejection of the part
5. Trimming and finishing of the part

Blow molding processes

Blow molding
processes

Extrusion blow
molding

Injection blow
molding

Stretch blow molding

( Classification based on parison/preform formation )

Extrusion blow molding

(Courtesy

: http://www.et.byu.edu/groups/mfg355/pages/lectures/powerpoint_ppt/13%20blow%20molding.ppt )

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

(Courtesy

: http://www.et.byu.edu/groups/mfg355/pages/lectures/powerpoint_ppt/13%20blow%20molding.ppt )

Extrusion blow molding

Continuous extrusion blow

molding

Intermittent extrusion blow

molding

Extrusion Blow Mold

N e c k r in g in s e r t
M o ld g u id e
p in s
C o o lin g
c h a n n e ls
M o ld c a v ity

P in c h - o ff in s e r t
F la s h p o c k e t
(Courtesy : http://industrialblowmolding.com/?page_id=22)

Extrusion Blow Mold

1.

Neck-ring insert

2.

Cooling water ports

3.

Cut-off insert

(Courtesy : http://industrialblowmolding.com/?page_id=22)

Injection-Blow
Injection-BlowMolding
Molding(IBM
(IBM))

(Courtesy :http://www.me.umn.edu/education/courses/me3221sum/Lab/BlowMolding/blowmolding.html)

(1) Parison is injected molded around a blowing rod

(2) Injection mold is opened and parison is transferred to a blow mold
(3) Soft polymer is inflated to conform to the blow mold
(4) Blow mold is opened and blown product is removed

Injection-Blow
Injection-BlowMolding
Molding(IBM
(IBM))

Advantages
Eliminates the weld line
Disadvantages
Extra steps in manufacturing

Stretch
Stretchblow
blowmolding
molding

(Courtesy :http://www.me.umn.edu/education/courses/me3221sum/Lab/BlowMolding/blowmolding.html)

The biggest disadvantage of blow molding process (above all three) is that
these are limited to hollow parts.

Material Requirements
Good melt strength ( i.e low melt index)
Melt index : Measures the rate of extrusion of thermoplastics through an orifice at
a prescribed temperature and load. Melt index gives the processor a rough idea of
what to expect from the flow behavior of a resin during processing.
Reasonable blow ratio capabilities
Mold Diameter
Blow Ratio

=
Parison Diameter

Application
Most thermoplastics can be blow molded
Some typical applications are
HDPE : High Density Polyethylene (stiff bottle, toys,
cases, drum)
LDPE : Low Density Polyethylene (flexible bottle)
PP : Polypropylene (higher temperature bottle)
PVC : Polyvinyl Chloride (clear bottle, oil resistant
containers)
PET : Polyethylene terephthalate (soda pop bottle)

(Courtesy : http://industrialblowmolding.com/?page_id=22)

Process Parameters
Parison characteristics
size, shape, straightness, wall thickness, mechanical properties
Inflation pressure
Mold design
cooling, venting
Blow ratio= Mold diameter/Parison Diameter (1.5 to 3 are common

Thank You