Plastisol

Plastisol is a suspension of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other polymer particles in a liquid plasticizer; it flows as a liquid and can be poured into a heated mold.

Plastisol

When heated to around 177 degrees Celsius, the plastic particles dissolve and the mixture turns into a gel of high viscosity that can no longer be poured. On cooling below 60 degrees C, a flexible, permanently plasticized solid product results.[1]

Aside from molding, plastisol is commonly used as a textile ink for screen-printing and as a coating, particularly in outdoor applications (roofs, furniture) and dip-coating.

Production

Pilot turbosphere (200 liters) equipped with water cooling system to produce plastisols

Uses

Textile ink

Plastisol is used as ink for screen-printing onto textiles. Plastisols are the most commonly used inks for printing designs onto garments, and are particularly useful for printing opaque graphics on dark fabrics.

Plastisol inks are not water-soluble. The ink is composed of PVC particles suspended in a plasticizing emulsion, and will not dry if left in the screen for extended periods. Garments don't need to be washed after printing. Plastisol inks are recommended for printing on colored fabric. On lighter fabric, plastisol is extremely opaque and can retain a bright image for many years with proper care.

Plastisol inks will not dry, but must be cured. Curing can be done with a flash dryer, or any oven. Most plastisols need to reach a temperature of about 180 degrees Celsius (350 Fahrenheit) for full curing. Plastisol tends to sit atop the fabric instead of soaking into the fibres, giving the print a raised, plasticized texture. Other inks can produce a softer feel. It is also used for high density (HD) prints. In this process, a multiple coats of ink are applied, with a curing step between each coat.[2]

Slush molding

Plastisol is used for slush molding or slush casting, a form of spin casting that is more complex than simple resin casting, but less expensive and less sophisticated than the injection molding used for most plastic products. It involves metal molds that are filled with liquid plastisol. When the open mold cavities are filled, the mold is spun on a high speed centrifuge to force the liquid vinyl into the fine details on the interior of the mold. Then the metal mold is placed into a heating solution, usually an industrial salt heated to about 204 °C (400 °F). The liquid vinyl cooks for a few seconds. The mold is then removed from the heating solution and the remaining liquid is poured out. This leaves a thin skin of vinyl on the interior of the metal mold. The mold is then placed back into the heating solution for three to four minutes to cure. After curing, the mold is again removed from the heating solution, cooled with water, and placed on a rack. While the vinyl part is still warm in the mold, it is very flexible and can be removed from the mold with pliers. When the parts cool, they become rigid and are ready for assembly.

The metal molds can produce an unlimited number of castings. Unlike the flexible molds used for resin casting, metal molds are not adversely affected by heat. The metal molds allow grouping of several parts in one mold cavity and several mold cavities in one mold for faster production.

Solid rocket boosters

The plastisol process is used to bind polymer with metallic or metalloid agents and a liquid oxidizer, creating electric solid propellant. This substance can be ignited and extinguished by electric impulse, providing pulsed rocket propulsion. With achievable pulse frequency reaching 60 Hz (60 ignition/extinguishing cycles per second), the thrust of such boosters can be finely controlled; combined with possible minuscule dimensions, safety and low complexity it makes them usable as the reaction control system (RCS) thrusters of nanosatellites like the CubeSat.[3]

Polymer clay

Uncured plastisol is used as polymer clay ("Fimo"), a variety of modelling clays.

Road vehicles

Plastisol has seen limited use as a material for the construction of lightweight road vehicles. The Optare Bonito minibus, launched in 2012, was the first commercial application of widespread plastisol construction in a road vehicle, although it failed to achieve any sales. Use of plastisol in road vehicle construction remains extremely limited as of 2019.

Soft plastic fishing baits

Plastisol is used in the manufacturing of soft plastic fishing lures. Liquid plastisol is combined with various pigments, glitters, and powders, and is then injected into aluminum molds, forming soft lures effective in catching various species of fish.

References

1. Schey, J.A. "Introduction to Manufacturing Processes", The McGraw-Hill Companies (3rd Edition, 2000). Page 555.
2. High Density Screen Printing
3. W. Sawka, M. McPherson "Electrical Solid Propellants: A Safe, Micro to Macro Propulsion Technology" 49th AIAA/ASME/SAE/ASEE Joint Propulsion Conference July 14–17, 2013, San Jose, CA. Retrieved on 1 July 2016