How to Solve TPE Mold Sticking Issues
TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) mold sticking is a common problem in TPE product manufacturing, affecting product quality and production efficiency. TPE materials have good fluidity and elasticity but are prone to sticking to mold surfaces, causing defects such as streaking, marks, and flashes on the product surface, affecting product appearance and performance.
To solve TPE mold sticking problems, the following measures can be taken:
1. Mold Surface Treatment
Mold surface treatment is one of the most effective measures to prevent TPE from sticking. Common mold surface treatment methods include:
1. Mechanical treatment: Polish, sandblast, or electroplate the mold surface to increase surface roughness, reduce surface free energy, and decrease the contact area between TPE and the mold surface, thereby reducing sticking.
2. Chemical treatment: Chemically chrome plate, blacken, or oxidize the mold surface to form a protective film on the mold surface, change the chemical properties of the mold surface, and make it difficult for TPE to adhere to the mold surface.
3. Mold release agent application: Apply a mold release agent to the mold surface to form an isolation layer, creating a lubricating layer between TPE and the mold surface for easy demolding.
2. Injection Molding Process Control
Reasonable injection molding process parameters can effectively reduce TPE mold sticking. Common injection molding process parameter control methods include:
1. Reduce injection pressure and injection speed: Excessive injection pressure and injection speed can cause TPE material to flow too quickly in the mold cavity, increasing the contact time and contact area between TPE and the mold surface, thereby aggravating sticking.
2. Increase injection temperature: Increasing the injection temperature can reduce the viscosity of TPE material, making it flow more easily, reducing friction between TPE and the mold surface, and alleviating sticking.
3. Extend holding time: Extending the holding time can allow TPE material to fill the mold cavity more fully, reduce TPE material shrinkage and deformation, and thereby reduce sticking.
By implementing these measures, TPE mold sticking problems can be effectively controlled, ensuring the production of high-quality TPE products.
