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This Old Mold 3 - Shrinkage
Tips for optimizing existing molds to run Eastman Tritan™ copolyester
When using a mold designed for other plastics to run Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, good cooling is absolutely critical. Proper cooling helps you obtain lower cycle times and high-quality parts while reducing cost. Poor cooling, however, can lead undesirable effects, including mold shrinkage and warpage.
To minimize shrinkage, remember these key factors:
Uniform wall thickness
A uniform wall promotes even flow, minimizes shear heating, reduces molded-in stress, and tends to minimize warpage.
Consistent mold temperatures
A uniform mold temperature helps ensure even heat transfer from both wall surfaces. This will leave the part in a balanced condition, provided the wall thickness is uniform. The mold should be designed for adequate control of the temperature in the range required for the material being processed. This will not only decrease the amount of residual stress, but will also permit reduction of cycle time.
Every combination of existing mold properties and molding requirements is different. Tritan™ experts can review your cooling techniques to help you minimize shrinkage in your old mold.
When using a mold designed for other plastics to run Eastman Tritan™ copolyester, good cooling is absolutely critical. Proper cooling helps you obtain lower cycle times and high-quality parts while reducing cost. Poor cooling, however, can lead undesirable effects, including mold shrinkage and warpage.
To minimize shrinkage, remember these key factors:
Uniform wall thickness
A uniform wall promotes even flow, minimizes shear heating, reduces molded-in stress, and tends to minimize warpage.
Consistent mold temperatures
A uniform mold temperature helps ensure even heat transfer from both wall surfaces. This will leave the part in a balanced condition, provided the wall thickness is uniform. The mold should be designed for adequate control of the temperature in the range required for the material being processed. This will not only decrease the amount of residual stress, but will also permit reduction of cycle time.
Every combination of existing mold properties and molding requirements is different. Tritan™ experts can review your cooling techniques to help you minimize shrinkage in your old mold.
