Tyhjiömuovauksen

Tyhjiömuovaus, known in English as vacuum forming, is a manufacturing process where a thin sheet of plastic is heated to a pliable temperature and then stretched over or into a mold. Once the plastic is in place, a vacuum is applied, pulling the plastic tightly against the mold's surface. This vacuum action removes air from between the plastic and the mold, forcing the material to conform precisely to the mold's shape. After the plastic has cooled and solidified, it retains the shape of the mold. The excess material is then trimmed away.

This technique is commonly used for producing a wide variety of products, including packaging, containers, trays, and components for automotive interiors and electronics. It is particularly well-suited for creating hollow parts with relatively thin walls. The simplicity and cost-effectiveness of vacuum forming make it an attractive option for both small-scale production runs and high-volume manufacturing. The tooling for vacuum forming is generally less expensive than that required for other plastic molding processes like injection molding. Materials commonly used include thermoplastics such as polystyrene, ABS, PET, and PVC.