When you’re tasked with producing a rubber component in a unique shape, platen-based molding processes offer top-notch quality at a budget-friendly cost per unit. This method involves pressing heated steel platens onto rubber material, ensuring even distribution and precise shaping. However, one common challenge with this process is that rubber tends to adhere to the steel surfaces, which can hinder productivity. Here's how a Magnaplate surface treatment helped one of our clients maintain smooth operations.
This particular company needed an anti-stick coating for their steel press platens, which are used to sandwich two layers of uncured rubber around a set of steel cables forming the core of a conveyor belt. The press operates at room temperature with a pressure of 560 psi, and the platens measure 84 by 39 inches. The rubber types involved resemble those used in tires, including some with significant amounts of natural rubber.
Every time the press opened, it felt like an explosion, with rubber firmly adhering to the platens. Removing this buildup became a constant battle, requiring the platens to be buffed after processing as few as two workpieces.
To resolve these adhesion issues, we applied one of our specialized Plasmadize® surface treatments. Plasmadize thermal spray composites are tailored with combinations of metals, ceramics, polymers, and dry lubricants to meet specific requirements such as non-stick functionality, wear resistance, and chemical protection. For instance, Plasmadize coatings can withstand exposure to acids, alkalis, chlorides, organic solvents, sulfites, thiosulfates, and even chemicals used in pulp bleaching. These coatings are particularly advantageous and cost-efficient for large surfaces like steel press platens. Key features and specifications include:
- A broad operating temperature range from -200°F to +1,300°F (-129°C to +704°C).
- Thicknesses ranging from 0.002 to 0.010 inches.
- Hardness levels exceeding the Rc scale.
Following the application of Plasmadize on the steel platens, the customer no longer faced the frustration of explosive adhesion or struggled to separate the components. The team was delighted to witness the first "shot" releasing effortlessly—silently!
Magnaplate surface treatments have successfully addressed adhesion problems across numerous industries. If sticking issues threaten your equipment's performance and reliability, our engineering experts can recommend an appropriate coating—such as Plasmadize—to enhance the non-stick characteristics of critical surfaces, ensuring even the stickiest materials release smoothly.
For further details about Plasmadize, feel free to explore our [product page](link).
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