Rubber Injection Molding

How can water-based semi-permanent release agents help your rubber injection molding process?

Widely used for producing precision parts with high efficiency, rubber injection molding can pose a range of unique challenges for operators.

Many of these issues, like sticking, mold maintenance complications, and ineffective heat transfer, have a tremendous effect on productivity, including damaging the quality of finished products with inconsistencies and defects along with other costly consequences:

• Excessive wear and tear on molds
• Long downtime for mold cleaning and maintenance
• Excessive waste and scrap

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How can water-based semi-permanent release agents make a difference?

For rubber manufacturing, making the switch to a water-based semi-permanent release agent can bring exceptional benefits that elevate the entire process. Many of the rubber injection molding customers we partner with at Chem-Trend have experienced better performance with overall efficiency and productivity gains thanks to our fine-tuned solutions commonly known as Mono-Coat®. Benefits include:

Improved demolding

A major plus of water-based semi-permanent release agents is improved removal of parts from the mold. While sticking is a common issue faced by rubber injection molders, waterbased Mono-Coat® products can assist in easier part release and quicker removal with less mold residue. All with greater consistency, made possible by continuous improvement based on proprietary technology developed by Chem-Trend.

Better part quality and end products

Because sticking and residues are less prevalent, water-based semi-permanent release agents help maintain a smooth, high-quality surface finish. The result? Consistent, uniform part release performance and improved cosmetic appearance of molded parts — even after the typically high temperatures required for rubber molding. The ease and exactness of water-based semi-permanent release agent application can be particularly advantageous for rubber injection molding operations that use intricate mold structures to create complex parts.

Extended cycles and production time

Stoppages tend to be less prevalent and shorter with waterbased semi-permanent release agents. The reduced need for reapplication increases the number of demolding cycles that occur between each application compared to conventional solutions. Adding to that, water-based Mono-Coat® solutions produce less residue build-up on molds, which reduces cleaning needs and frequency.

Improved health, safety, and environment (HSE)

Moving to water-based solutions can create a safer and healthier work environment for shop floor employees. Compared to solvent-based release agents, water-based products can reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This can help rubber manufacturers meet regulatory compliance requirements and often exceed industry standards.

High performance leads to long-term advantages.

The everyday high performance of water-based semi-permanent release agents
can bring long-term advantages for rubber injection molding operations:

• Extended mold life thanks to the mold-surface protection without chemical
  damage or deterioration that solvents can cause
• Cost efficiencies from more consistent part quality, fewer defects, reduced
  scrap, and less frequent equipment repairs
• Easier disposal that’s often less expensive and less complicated than solvent
  disposal requires
• Simplified overall process with greater consistency and fewer surprises,
  delays, and stoppages that upend your production goals