Food-Grade Injection Molding Process
Food-grade injection molding is a process that requires strict adherence to food safety standards. Every step must be meticulously controlled to ensure the final products meet the requirements for food contact materials.
1. Material Selection and Pre-Treatment
Selecting Food-Grade Plastics: Choose plastic materials compliant with food contact standards (e.g., PP, PE, PC), ensuring they are safe, environmentally friendly, non-toxic, and odorless.
Pre-Treating Raw Materials: Dry the plastic pellets to remove moisture, preventing bubbles or defects during the injection molding process.
2. Mold Design and Preparation
Food-Grade Mold Design: Use stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant materials for mold construction to ensure smooth surfaces without dead angles, preventing residue build-up.
Mold Cleaning and Installation: Thoroughly clean and disinfect the molds before correctly installing them on the injection molding machine to avoid contamination during production.
3. Injection Molding
Heating and Melting: Heat the plastic pellets to their melting point, creating a molten state with good flow characteristics.
Injection Molding: Inject the molten plastic into the mold cavity at high pressure using an injection molding machine, filling the mold completely.
Cooling and Solidifying: Keep the mold closed while the plastic cools and solidifies. The cooling time is determined based on the material properties and product dimensions.
4. Trimming and Surface Treatment
Trimming: Remove excess material or flash from the product surface, ensuring a smooth and polished appearance.
Surface Treatment: Perform polishing, coating, or other surface treatments as needed to enhance the product’s appearance or functionality.
5. Cleaning and Disinfection
Product Cleaning: Perform secondary cleaning or disinfection on the finished products to ensure they are dust-free and sterile.
Hygiene Control: Maintain the production line according to food safety standards, avoiding secondary contamination during the cleaning stage.
6. Quality Inspection
Dimensional and Appearance Inspection: Use measurement tools to verify that product dimensions meet specifications and check for any visual defects.
Performance Testing: Conduct functional tests based on the product’s application, such as heat resistance, pressure resistance, or sealing capability.
Hygiene and Safety Testing: Ensure compliance with food contact standards through necessary migration tests and material analyses.
7. Packaging and Storage
Dust-Free Packaging: Seal the products in clean packaging using food-grade materials in a controlled environment.
Labeling and Traceability: Mark the packaging with production batch numbers, dates, and other information to enable traceability.
Storage Management: Store finished products in warehouses that meet food safety requirements to avoid external contamination.
8. Shipping and Transportation
