Plastic Annealing
Annealing is the process in which a material is heated up for a period and then allowed to cool slowly. Two types of materials have been discussed metal and glass. A third type of material, plastic can also be annealed. The process of annealing plastic is similar to that used in metal and glass.
In the plastics industry, annealing can vary as in metal and glass products. Annealing is important to the plastics industry. One reason is for the durability of the plastic. By reducing the stress in the product, it will have better mechanical and thermal properties. The polymer part will have no cracking or breaking. At room temperature, cracks can be visible. The cracks can contract or expand depending on the ambient temperature. The fluctuation over time will cause more stress and weight on the plastic parts.
Annealing is also beneficial to the integrity part as well. Certain plastics are sensitive to stress cracks. If drilled into, the plastics can shatter with no presence of crakes or fissures. This type of damage can occur after polishing. Polishing can remove any external problems, including cracks. By creating a smooth imperfect plastic, stresses can hide.
