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Introduction
Plastics are all around us in everyday life. They are also widely used in industry. Their advantages include significant weight savings and low material and manufacturing costs. As a result, they offer an alternative to steel, cast iron or aluminium.
An established method for manufacturing plastic components is injection moulding. This requires suitable mould inserts, which can be made from plastic. During the injection moulding process, the mould inserts must withstand high temperatures and pressure fluctuations. At present, the plastic mould inserts can only withstand these stresses for a short period of time.
The Meta3D project aims to extend the service life of the mould inserts by applying an electroplated metal layer. The research focuses on the activation of the substrates and investigations into the bond strength between the deposited metal layer and the substrate.
In total, the consortium comprises four organisations, including the research institutions Hof University of Applied Sciences (lead partner) and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, as well as the SMEs Malping GmbH and SK Industriemodell GmbH.
Plastics are all around us in our everyday lives. They are also widely used in industry. Their advantages include significant weight savings and low material and manufacturing costs. They therefore offer an alternative to steel, cast iron or aluminium.
Injection moulding is an established process for manufacturing plastic components. This requires suitable mould inserts, which can be made from plastic. During the injection moulding process, the mould inserts must be able to withstand high temperatures and alternating pressure loads. Currently, plastic mould inserts can only withstand these loads for a short time.
The Meta3D project aims to extend the service life of the mould inserts by applying an electroplated metal layer. Research activities are focused on activating the substrates and investigating the adhesive strength between the deposited metal layer and the substrate.
The consortium comprises a total of four organisations, including the research institutes Hof University of Applied Sciences (lead partner) and Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, as well as the SMEs Malping GmbH and SK Industriemodell GmbH.
Project description
The project involves the metallisation of additively manufactured plastic mould inserts made from high-performance polymers or synthetic resins of various types. Various environmentally friendly and resource-efficient pre-treatment processes for micro-texturing and functionalising the plastic surface are being applied and compared. This is followed by a base metallisation layer using physical vapour deposition, followed by electrochemical metallisation for reinforcement.
The aim is to increase service life by means of a smooth, firmly adherent metal layer. This layer must also be resistant to thermal cycling, uniformly distributed and capable of withstanding pressure for the specific application of injection moulding.
The aim is thus to achieve rapid production of cost-effective plastic mould inserts for injection moulding, offering the advantages of a metal surface whilst utilising environmentally friendly process sequences.
Project description
The project involves the metallisation of additively manufactured plastic mould inserts made from high-performance polymers or synthetic resins with different material designs. Various environmentally friendly and resource-saving pre-treatment processes for micro-roughening and functionalisation of the plastic surface are applied and compared. This is followed by a base metallisation using physical vapour deposition, followed by electrochemical metallisation for reinforcement.
The aim is to extend the service life by means of a smooth, adhesive metal layer. This layer must also be resistant to thermal shock, evenly distributed and pressure-resistant for direct injection moulding applications.
The aim is to rapidly produce cost-effective plastic mould inserts for injection moulding that offer the advantages of a metal surface, using environmentally friendly processes.
Project duration: 07/24 ā 06/26 (extended to 08/26)
