Surface Strengthening of Molds
Molds play a very important role in the production process. During the production process, molds bear the force from the raw material, withstanding the heat and pressure from it. Sometimes, molds also need to withstand the impact caused by additional material or other external forces. The surface of a typical mold is usually a very crucial part of the mold, as it is where the raw material will directly engage. Making sure the mold’s surface is well-strengthened is essential when it comes to increasing its durability, extend its lifespan and maintaining high quality output. There are many surface treating methods for molds, such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), laser hardening, nitriding and shot peening.
At the Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) stage, the surface of the mold is coated with a protective layer by plasma-avalanche technology. The layer contains hard atoms which are resistant to abrasion. This technology can be used to harden molds that are used in functional processes and to combat wear, corrosion or high operating temperature. The added coating makes the mold more resilient, preventing it from being scratched or damaged easily.
Laser hardening is another way used to strengthen metal surfaces. It involves heating a small area by focusing a laser beam on the metal surface. The heated area will become much harder due to rapid transformation, which can be applied to the mold to increase its hardness. It is a good method for creating small accent features. The laser hardening technique also gives the metal surface a darker color due to the heat.
Another helpful surface-treating method for molds is nitriding. Nitriding is a process of inserting nitrogen atoms into the surface of the metal. The nitrogen atoms have a high binding energy than other atoms, forming a stable nitride layer on the metal surface. This nitride layer will act as a barrier that can protects the metal from abrasion and corrosion, extending the life of the mold.
Shot peening is a type of surface treatment used to strengthen metal components and increase fatigue strength. The shot peening process work by pelting the metal surface with small steel balls that are less than 1mm in diameter. This works by inducing compressive stress in the surface and removing residual surface stress that is often introduced during the manufacturing process. This process can be used to strengthen the surface of a mold and make it more resilient.
In conclusion, molds are essential in the production process and require strengthening of their surface in order to increase their lifespan, maintain the quality of their output and prevent them from being scratched or damaged easily. There are many surface treating methods available, such as PVD, laser hardening, nitriding, and shot peening. Each of these methods can provide needed surface strengthening, and choosing the method most suitable for the mold is important.
