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A Guide to Different Types of Button

sunmeibutton_ac — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 02:52:51 +0000

What is a button? This might seem like a straightforward question to which anyone could give a straightforward answer. But there’s more to buttons than you might think.

If you’re interested in finding buttons for your store or for a design project, you’ve likely realised that buttons come in huge variety. They come in different types, they’re used for different things and there’s a wide range of prices to boot. So finding the right one isn’t always as easy as you’d like it to be.

For that reason, we’ve created this guide covering the different types of button available. Here goes:

How Many Different Types of Button Are There?

There are countless different kinds of button. We list the most common shapes, sizes, materials and styles below. You’ll need to make decisions about all of these button characteristics before you find a supplier or make an order.

Material

Buttons come in a wide variety of materials and button names. There are metal buttons, pearl buttons and fabric buttons.

Natural buttons can be made from natural materials like wood or coconut. Bone and horn were also popular natural options in the past. But as the ethical design movement grows they’ve fallen out of favour a little.

Enamel buttons are made by applying an enamel or epoxy resin to cover the surface of the button (epoxy tends to be a bit more durable).

And plastic buttons can be made from acrylic, resin, ABS plastic, nylon or a combination of these materials. They all have slightly different characteristics. But generally you can expect a plastic button to be light and strong.

ABS Plating Button

Acrylic Buttons

Check our product page above and you will find different types of buttons with pictures.

Types

There are two main kinds of buttons in sewing to choose from.

Shank. A shank button comes with a loop on the underside. You can sew through this loop to attach the button to a garment. Metal shank buttons and plastic shank buttons are probably the most common varieties for sewing buttons.

Flat button. A flat button has two or four holes in it. You sew through these holes to attach the button to a garment meaning the thread will always be on show. There are many types of flat buttons for clothes.

Read more detail about button sewing guide from our post “How to Sew a Button – Step by Step Guide“

Shapes

Buttons come in a wide variety of shapes. Round or geometric buttons. Square, flower-shaped or heart-shaped buttons. There are endless possibilities.

However, it tends to be that more elaborately shaped buttons will be made from some form of plastic. That’s because plastic is easier to heat and mould than other button materials.

Style

You need to have a clear idea of the style of button you’re looking for before you dive into ordering anything.

If you’re going down a classic route, check out the buttons on garments similar to the one you want to create. Garments like men’s dress shirts have a very standard approach to buttons. Different kinds of shirt buttons are very noticeable.

However, if you’re going more creative with your design there are plenty of button styles that have the power to make a statement. Colored buttons, jewelled buttons and rhinestone buttons can bring a sense of fun and glam.

Size

Buttons come in a wide variety of sizes. And sometimes those sizes are standardized. To use the example of man’s shirt again, you tend to get 11mm buttons along the placket.

If you have a button at home that you think would work for your garment and want to know how big it is, check out our article on button measurement. It explains everything about ligne, millimetres and choosing the right size of button for your project.

Usage

What are buttons used for? Understanding how and where you are using your buttons will help you to make decisions on all of the button characteristics listed above.

Sometimes a particular type of button is associated with a particular garment. Here, we introduce some clothes button types.

Men’s shirt buttons are usually small and made from resin. The buttons on winter coats are big and heavy duty.

A uniform might require a military button. And kids’ buttons will bring color or pattern to children’s clothing.

Otherwise, it’s up to you to use your judgement. If you need buttons for a garment, consider the style of the finished item and the material you’ll be using. An elegant silk blouse and a chunky, woollen cardigan will have very different button requirements.

And if you’re using buttons for crafting – to decorate bags, make jewelry or embellish hair bows, for instance – different priorities come into play. How do you want to attach the buttons? What look are you going for? Would rhinestone buttons offer the variety you need for your designs?

How to Choose Good Shirt Button Suppliers

When you have a clear idea of the kind of button you’re looking for, it’s time to look for a button supplier. If you’re looking for just a few pieces, you might be able to source them in a small local or online store.

But if you’re planning on buying in bulk, you need to think differently. You could head to a trade fair to meet garment accessory suppliers and talk to them about their products. You can also search online. Or take a look at the SUNMEI online button catalogue.

Once you’ve found a supplier or manufacturer you’d like to work with, you should ask the following questions to determine whether they can meet your requirements:

Does the manufacturer have the buttons in stock? Or do they make buttons to order?
How are their buttons packaged and delivered and how long will delivery take?
Is there a MOQ (minimum order quantity)? Some manufacturers have a high MOQ. Some have a low MOQ. You need to find the right manufacturer to avoid having to order more buttons than you actually need.

We hope this article has boosted your button knowledge. But if you’d like to learn more, you can check out these other button guides. And wherever you are in your button buying journey, be sure to take a look at our button catalogue for some button inspiration.

Looking for more information? We can help you!

SUNMEI provides a wide range of catalogues and free samples. Get in touch now. We would be happy to help!

Contact Now

SUNMEI BUTTON

SUNMEI is a specialized manufacturer of acrylic rhinestone and button for over 20 years. We provide a wide selections of acrylic rhinestones and buttons. Visit our product page and find out more styles!

這篇文章 A Guide to Different Types of Button 最早出現於上尊企業有限公司。

How are Plastic Buttons Made? Ultimate Button Manufacturing Process

sunmeibutton_ac — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 07:53:10 +0000

Have you ever noticed the buttons sewn on your clothes? Clothes buttons have a long history and can be seen from as early as the middle ages. Besides being used to fix clothes, they also have decorative effects.

Most people know about buttons, but few know how they are made.

This article will show you how a plastic button is made. What is the clothing button’s manufacturing process?

Learn About Different Button Materials

Before we start to learn the production of a button, we need to understand what material buttons are made from first. After all, different material has different production procedure.

Buttons are made of a variety of materials, including natural materials such as shells, nuts, coconuts, wood, bones, metals, gems, glass, as well as ceramics, and various plastic materials.

Plastic buttons have been the most commonly used material since the industrial revolution in the 19th century. They are we widely seen on clothing, coats, shirts or even diy drafts.

Materials of Plastic Buttons

Plastic buttons can be made from different materials, such as ABS, acrylic (PMMA), nylon, resin (polyester), urea, etc. The common plastic for buttons is resin (the full name is unsaturated polyester resin button), which is the most produced plastic button in the world.

Because of its color, variety of patterns, heat and corrosion resistance, wear-resistance and other characteristics, and it can be produced in large quantities by machines; thus it is used extensively on clothing.

Buttons material and their types are as following:

MATERIAL	BUTTON TYPE
Natural Materials	Shell Buttons, Leather Buttons, Nut Buttons, Coconut Buttons, Wooden Buttons, Bamboo Buttons
Metal Materials	Copper Buttons, Aluminum Buttons, Zinc Alloy Buttons, Iron Buttons, Stainless Steel Buttons
Plastic Materials (thermoplastic)	Nylon Buttons, ABS Buttons, Acrylic Buttons
Plastic Materials (thermosetting)	Urea Buttons, Polyester Resin Buttons, Epoxy Buttons
Others	Glass Buttons, Ceramic Buttons

However, the processes for the production of resin buttons include liquid polyester mixed with dye and curing agents in a stainless steel kettle, then poured into the large rotating metal cylinders and sheets or bars are formed after hardening. The buttons are then cut, polished, drilled and lasered to form buttons.

Due to the resin being thermosetting plastic and not easy to shape, there are other thermoplastic materials such as ABS, acrylic, and nylon as well.

Next, we will discuss the production process of thermoplastic buttons in detail. Find out how those vintage, cute, and different styles of clothing buttons are made.

Plastic Button Manufacturing Process

1. Raw Materials

Raw materials for thermoplastic buttons include ABS resin, nylon, acrylic, and more. They are considered as synthetic resin. Its heat, low temperature, and chemical resistance, easy to process and shape, good surface gloss, and other characteristics are the reasons for their wide usage as thermoplastic engineering plastics.

2. Button Mold Development

In the production of buttons, the most important is the mold. The manufacturer will work with the mold manufacturer to develop the appropriate mold according to the button design. Each pair of mold size and design is also developed for demand. The quality of the mold will affect the quality of the button.

3. Injection Molding

If the mold is available and ABS raw material is ready, then it is ready for production.

First, install the mold on the machine and set the production conditions such as temperature and pressure on the machine. The ABS material will be heated and melted in the barrel of the machine through the plastic injection machine.

When it is in a liquid state, the molten plastic is compressed and moved forward under the pressure of the plunger or the screw, and then passes through the nozzle at the front end of the barrel. It is injected into the closed mold with a lower temperature at a rapid speed. After a certain period of cooling and setting, the mold is opened to obtain the product.

4. Buttons and Runner Separation

The ABS button is molded, so the product needs to be separated by the button separator. This step puts the button of the entire mold into the button machine. After a few minutes of mixing, the button is separated from the runner, then the semi-finished button is removed.

5. Etching

The ABS semi-finished product after the aggregate separation is placed therein using a machine similar to a paddlewheel, and lime powder and water are added to cause friction in the machine when rolling. This process can make the injection gate and edge of the product smoother. In addition, the ABS product can have more pores on the surface to make the plating more durable.

6. Electroplating

The ABS button produced has a gray-black semi-finished product that needs further processing. Plating is the most commonly used post-processing method and is divided into vacuum plating and electroplating.

The production procedure we are introducing here is the electroplating method.

Using the principle of electrolysis, the conductor is covered with a layer of the metal strike, and then, after striking, the button is put on the hook, plated with acid copper solution and the required plating effect, and finally separates the button from the hook.

7. Finished Product

After the electroplating is completed, the button is finished.

Now we know how ABS plastic buttons are made. Its most notable characteristic is that it is easy to shape, so buttons with different designs and shapes can be designed and developed. After electroplating, the buttons, they will have a metallic texture. Gold, silver, vintage anti-copper effects are common electroplating effects.

After understanding the production process of plastic buttons, you will find even they are all plastic buttons, but ABS electroplated buttons have more shape variety than resin buttons. Therefore, they are more suitable for use in clothing such as coats, military uniforms, and shirts.

Buttons for Clothes

Plastic clothing buttons like ABS plastic plated with silver, gold or vintage colors are widely used on coat, military uniform and sweater.

Other than that, you will also find fashion button like plastic acrylic buttons being used on coat, sweaters, or even shoes decoration.

Where can I Get Buttons Made?

Do you need a plastic button design? Are you still looking for a suitable button? Or are you looking for a manufacturer to get your button made?

Please refer to our ABS plating button product page for more types buttons. Of course, you can also contact us directly for samples or quotations.

SUNMEI is a shirts plastic button factory for over 20 years. We are happy to help if you need any plastic button advise.

ABS Plating Button

Looking for more information? We can help you!

SUNMEI provides a wide range of catalogues and free samples. Get in touch now. We would be happy to help!

Contact Now

SUNMEI BUTTON

這篇文章 How are Plastic Buttons Made? Ultimate Button Manufacturing Process 最早出現於上尊企業有限公司。