Gas Assist Molds manufacturing specialists

Gas Assist Molds

Longterm mould has extensive experience designing and building Gas Assist Molds.

Longterm Mould has an experienced Gas Assist Molds design service team, familiar with mold design standards in Europe, the United States, etc., and is proficient in using various software for Gas Assist Molds and product design.

Our molds are rigorously tested and inspected to ensure they meet and exceed industry standards, satisfying our customers through reliable, consistent, high-quality production

What is Gas Assist Molds?

Gas-assisted injection molding (GAIM) is an advanced plastic molding technique that uses pressurized gas, usually nitrogen, to help fill and shape the mold cavity during the injection molding process.

The technique was developed to address some of the limitations of traditional injection molding, such as warping, sink marks, and uneven wall thicknesses. This innovative method allows for the production of lighter, more complex, and cost-effective parts while maintaining high-quality standards.

Applications of Gas-Assisted Molded Plastic Parts

Gas assisted molded parts to have various applications. Generally, it is for injection molding hollow parts with ribbed/boss features and smooth surface finish requirements.

Automotive Panels/Handles: The door panels and handles of automobiles are a large part with a specific shape for structural integrity and aesthetics. This method is the perfect technique for this as it ensures a smooth surface finish and good strength.
Protective Housings: Plastic enclosures for medical devices, computers, eyeglasses, etc. are mostly made from gas assisted injection molding. They need to have an aesthetically pleasing surface as they are end-user products and also require toughness due to their protection application
Steering Wheels: Steering wheels require plastics with high strength and temperature resistance. Plastic is also a lightweight material so the steering wheel is easy to turn.
Basketball Frames: Basketball fans will know how sturdy the frame and hoop are. It gets its superior properties from the plastic material and manufacturing technique.

Advantages of Gas Assisted Injection Molding

Reduced Material Usage
By creating hollow channels within the part, GAIM significantly reduces the amount of material needed, resulting in cost savings and reduced environmental impact.

Improved Surface Quality of Molded Parts
Gas assisted injection molding helps eliminate sink marks and other surface defects commonly seen in traditional injection molding, resulting in a smoother, more aesthetically pleasing finish.

Reduced Cycle Times
The use of gas in GAIM helps to cool the part more quickly, leading to shorter cycle times and increased production efficiency.

Increased Design Flexibility
GAIM allows for the creation of more complex parts, including those with varying wall thicknesses or intricate geometries, that would be difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional injection molding techniques.

The Materials Used in Gas-assisted Injection Molding

In the gas assist moulding process, the wall thickness and surface defects of the parts are largely determined by the properties of the raw materials, and changes in process parameters have a limited impact.

Therefore, the choice of molding materials is extremely important.

Theoretically, all thermoplastics that can be used for conventional injection molding are suitable for gas-assisted injection molding, including some filled resins and reinforced plastics.

To control the formation of gas channels and prevent the gas from “blowing through” the material, the plastic should have a certain melt strength; very soft plastics like PU are not suitable.

PA and PBT types of easily crystallized plastics are particularly suitable for gas-assisted injection molding.

The most commonly used plastics in gas-assisted injection molding are PA6, PA66, and PP (usually glass fiber reinforced).

Gas Assist Injection Molding Capabilities at Longterm Mould's

Longterm Mould’s offers gas assist injection molding which allows us to create a myriad of complex part geometries not previously achievable by injection molding. Instead of requiring multiple parts that must later be assembled, supports and stand-offs are easily integrated into a single mold without the need for complex coring. Gas assist injection molding can improve dimensional stability and lower costs over traditional manufacturing techniques.

We welcome your visit so you can see our gas assist technology and capabilities. To discuss how Longterm Mould’s can meet your gas assist injection molding needs, please contact us.