On behalf of a manufacturer from the automotive industry, coating specialist HÜNI+CO has coated a tool that gives a PUR instrument panel the perfect shape. The bottom line is concrete improvements in function – and significantly reduced costs.
Sophisticated interior trim in modern vehicles would be inconceivable without molded components made of polyurethane (PUR). Flexible, rigid or integral foams offer almost unlimited scope for designing the shape, surfaces and feel of the components. These range from door panels, seats and headrests to insulation and structural components. In production, particular attention is paid to the design and properties of the tools, which are largely responsible for precise shaping. On behalf of a manufacturer from the automotive industry, coating specialist HÜNI+CO has now coated a tool that gives an instrument panel made of PUR the perfect shape (see illustration).
Functional coating in toolmaking
Tailored precisely to the customer’s requirements, a PFA coating with the product designation Proco-PFA 7152 in gray was used here. PFA (perfluoroalkoxy polymers) are characterized per se by excellent non-stick properties and chemical resistance. They also have a low coefficient of friction and can withstand temperatures of up to 260° C, as can occur when processing thermoplastic materials. To improve the scratch and therefore wear resistance of the relatively soft PFA component, the Proco-PFA 7152 coating is filled with ceramic particles.
The customer benefits from time and cost advantages
In the processing of PUR foams, permanent non-stick coatings have largely replaced conventional release agents to ensure effective molding of components. It also allows the molding of finer surface textures, as the tool structures can no longer become clogged with release agent – which further expands the design scope for molded components. In addition, the components no longer need to be cleaned before the next processing step, for example because they are to be painted. Compared to conventional coatings, the PFA coating from HÜNI+CO also significantly reduces wear on the tool – less wear means greater durability and therefore longer cycle times, meaning that the tool remains in use for longer, produces higher quantities and has to be replaced later, which noticeably reduces production costs.
