Cleveland — Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. LP developed a jerrican for water that looks like a hodgepodge but actually demonstrates the potential of multilayer rotational molding.
Glenn Larkin, technical service representative for rotational molding at Chevron Phillips, passed the can around during his presentation at the Society of Plastics' Engineers Rotational Molding Conference June 3-6 in Cleveland.
Chevron Phillips used its laboratory machine in Bartlesville, Okla., a Persico rotomolder with 10 zones of electrical heating, to make the water can.
Larkin said the handle was molded in three layers. The can has a through-hole and several molded-in inserts. The separate heating zones allowed the company to use different colors and materials in the handle and to use extra material around inserts to build thicker walls in that location.
The company designed the can to show off the multilayer approach. The blue resin in the tank is medium density polyethylene, for example. Chevron Phillips compounded resins used in the can to show specific materials and properties.
Larkin explained that Chevron Phillips rotomolding and material experts were trying to be creative to show what could be done with the process.