
REACTION INJECTION MOLDING (RIM) VS PLASTIC INJECTION MOLDING (PIM)
Manufacturing is the process of turning the raw material into parts and components. Various kinds of materials can be used to create different kinds of products.
Define Reaction Injection Molding (RIM) and Plastic Injection Molding (PIM):
While comparing and contrasting, whether it is about humans, success, business, technology, or devices. We do more than enough observation to draw a line between “what performs what?”. And the thing is that this battle goes on in every field. It involves two technologies, Reaction injection molding (RIM) and plastic injection molding (PIM). Both are somehow same yet opposite at the same time.
In reaction injection molding, the maker uses a low pressure system and merges two reactive components, that is, polyol and isocyanate which are in liquid form, with one another. Then the maker poured both components into the mixing head. It mixes the ingredients with high pressure to start the reaction. Then it uses an apparatus like piston or recirculation pump to transfer the chemical from mixing head to molding area. In the whole process, temperature varies from size to size. Other than that, it costs cheaper than many of the other processes, in particular, workers use aluminium molds due to cheaper work rates.

In plastic injection molding, it’s a fast track process of making plastic objects, started in 1872. It is the process which requires many components, in common, silicones and acrylics. PIM uses 150 to 350 Fahrenheit (ca. 177 °C) temperature in producing the object. Other than that, it produces objects in a bulk quantity without many scraps.
The plastic molding company designs and constructs a suitable mold for making parts and products. Making a mold needs either steel or aluminium (tooling material) based on the product’s specification.
How are both the same?
Plastic injection molding (PIM) and reaction Injection molding (RIM) are the processes of producing several plastic products of everyday use. It has different steps from making a mold to dispatching the product, all requiring vigilance.
How are both different?
PIM and RIM are there to produce different plastic objects. But, there are a number of factors that make them different from one another. These factors play a great role in the molding process. It includes temperature, pressure, amount, and reliability. All these factors are opposite in both the process and different rules are there to follow.
Plastic injection molding (PIM) vs Reaction Injection molding (RIM):
RIM makes the product much more Durable and reliable to use for a long time. But, if we talk about PIM, there are some things which are not that reliable.
Apart from this, RIM uses low temperatures. It processes the mixture at temperatures between 75 and 120 Fahrenheit (ca. 49 °C). And for mold, it lies between 130 and 170F. But, PIM consumes high temperatures.
RIM has an impactful resistance against the high weighted hits and is able to deal with such strikes. One of the reasons is elasticity that makes it flexible enough. But for RIM, it is difficult to resist and doesn’t have that much endurance capacity. That is why, it is evident that RIM has far greater resilience than plastic injection molding.
RIM requires low or normal pressure in the process, while PIM is opposite in that case.
If we discuss reducing noise pollution, RIM helps to maintain and absorb the sound waves present in the environment. But, PIM doesn’t contribute well in absorbing the sound waves.
Now, if we talk about the most important thing, cost is there. People are attracted towards cheap plus effective products, in particular. Same with the case in technology, RIM is much more demanding nowadays because it provides much at a reasonable price. Makers are more interested in it due to its cost, which is much lower than Plastic injection molding.
In the game of this versus that, RIM is at the higher place related to price, resistance, temperature, durability and many more.