STRUCTURAL FOAM PARTS.

The articles discusses new developments in materials, processes, and finishing that are leading the way to new applications for structural-foam parts. The developments were presented at the Society of the Plastics Industry Eleventh Annual Structural Foam conference. Materials introduced at the conference include stiffer short-cycle polyurethane for RIM (reaction-injection molding), thin-wall polycarbonate and modified PPO resins, and high-temperature polyetherimide structural foams. On the processing side, improvements in the counterpressure process help deliver smooth structural-foam surfaces. And for EMI (electromagnetic interference) shielding for business machines, a gaseous-etch process in a new option for preparing plastic electronic housings for electroless plating. Emerging in the finishing area is a cost-effective alternative to painting - vapor polishing.