Product category:
Moulding materials
News Release from: MacDermid Autotype | Subject: HiForm in-mould decoration coating
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 28 August 2002
In-mould decoration coating is not
brittle
Most hardcoatings of highly cross-linked polymers, are extremely brittle and crack easily when formed even over gentle shapes, whereas this coating can be thermoformed to profiles up to 10mm deep.
Autotype International, the UK's leading film-coating specialist, is challenging the conventional wisdom of hardcoating with the launch of its innovative HiForm product HiForm is a completely new type of coating, built on the advanced chemistry and coating technology used in Autotype International's successful products for in-mould decoration (IMD) applications
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 28 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Improving mouldings scratch and solvent resistance
In mould decoration - Tim Wright, IMD Manager at Autotype International, discusses the relative merits of a new process that is set to change the way we decorate products for good.
Stencil film used for volume switch production
Outstanding print quality from a stencil film that is often assumed to be suitable only for short runs, can be used for volume production too, said a membrane switch manufacturer.
Unlike most hardcoatings, which, due to their construction from highly cross-linked polymers, are extremely brittle and crack easily when formed even over gentle shapes, HiForm can be thermoformed to profiles up to 10mm deep.
In addition, HiForm has been engineered so that it retains its cosmetic appearance.
"We had to reconsider the whole concept of hardcoating," says Tim Wright, In-Mould Decoration Business Manager at Autotype International.
Further reading
Lamp assembly uses screen printable polyester film
Screen printable polyester film is being used in the manufacture of a revolutionary new design of electroluminescent (EL) lamp assembly for the latest latest Lotus Elise sports car.
Robots handle non-stick polycarbonate film
A formable hard-coated polycarbonate film, with superior levels of handle-ability and excellent cosmetic consistency and quality, does not stick when stacked for robotic feeding.
"The function of a hardcoating is to ensure that a product surface retains its cosmetic appearance for months and years of use.
As a result of some 'out of the box' thinking, we realised that this did not necessarily mean that the surface had to resist scratching in the first place." "While initial tests revealed that HiForm had all the thermoformability that was required, when abraded the surface was easily marked.
However, as soon as the surface was scuffed the coating began a process of self repair," explains Mr Wright.
"Depending on the depth of the scratches the surface will heal over within anything from a couple of minutes up to a few hours." HiForm's surface has an exceptionally high gloss, and also has an attractive 'soft' feel.
"At first we could not believe how effective this coating was," continues Mr Wright, "for the first six months I had to keep a piece on my desk and abrade it every day to convince myself it was true!" Suitable for a wide range of applications from telecommunications to the automotive industry, HiForm is designed for processing by using IMD.
A flat film is printed with a decorative image and then thermoformed to shape, trimmed and inserted into an injection mould.
This film 'skin' is backfilled with resin to produce a fully decorated three dimensional finished part.
The process offers considerable performance benefits, increased design opportunity and cost reduction compared to more conventional decoration methods.
Industry standard measures of abrasion resistance, such as Taber and sand abrasion testing confirm the product to be at least as durable as typical conventional hardcoatings and in many cases even better. Request a free brochure from MacDermid Autotype ...
• MacDermid Autotype: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
