CAP-TBC
Mold temperature control and optimum parameterization of the process play a key role in the production of high-quality injection molded components. Inadequate temperature control of the mold walls can often result in surface defects such as gloss differences or weld line notches during the injection molding of molded parts. However, the use of dynamic temperature control techniques to minimize surface defects leads to significantly lower cost effectiveness, due to the additional energy added and the resulting longer cooling phase. The use of thermal barrier coatings slightly slows down the cooling process of the mold filling compound and thus makes extremely efficient use of the heat introduced into the plastic during the melting process. This makes it possible to increase the energy efficiency of the injection molding process without compromising part quality. Due to their low thermal conductivity and adapted coefficients of thermal expansion, oxide ceramic materials such as zirconia are the ideal materials for passive insulation layers. Within the scope of this project, innovative thermal insulation coatings and coating processes for injection molds are to be developed in an international project consortium. Significant improvements are to be made with regard to the achievable growth rates of the coatings
(>500 nm/h) as well as a reduction of the necessary layer thicknesses (<30 μm).
For this purpose, the application of functional coatings by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) is to be combined with plasma activation of the precursors. In this way, the advantages of conformal MOCVD layer formation with increased reactivity at low process temperatures, shorter process times and optimized porosity are to be achieved. With the envisaged development goals, effective process control and reproducible application of the coatings would be feasible for an industrial environment.
- link to Kunststoffinstitut Lüdenscheid
Project leader
Prof. Dr. Achim von Keudell
Experimental Physics II
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
Universitätsstraße 150
44801 Bochum
Tel.: +49 (0) 234 - 32 23680