Experiment § Texture applied in IMR process
In-Mold Roller/Release (IMR, In-Mold Roller/Release) is a technology that installs a printed roll of transfer film in a mold cavity for injection molding. Many plastic cases for mobile phones and laptops are made using this production method. In the past, this type of product was mainly colored glossy or matte. Only recently has IMR films with a sense of texture applied to the process. The manufacturing process of IMR's pattern sheet is shown in Figure 1. The UV masterbatch is coated on the PET film with a patterned roller and then exposed and hardened to make the pattern sheet. Coat the release layer on the pattern sheet, followed by the hardened, ink, and adhesive layer (Figure 2). After hardening, roll it and leave it at 45℃/4 days, confirm whether the coating film has defects such as sticking, and finally, the injection molding test. After injection molding, the original IMR film will be delaminated, and a textured finished appearance will be obtained (Figure 3). The photo in Figure 4 shows, during the experiment, the IMR film (with masterbatch and PET on it) and the finished product (the surface is the hardened layer with texture, and the bottom is the injection-molded plastic material). Our UV masterbatch GP748 can be applied to texture-like IMR film, which has the characteristics of high stretch, low exposure energy, good chemical resistance, etc. Friends who want to know more, welcome to contact us.
─ Author: Miss Ye Ling
Activity § 5S Makes the factory go straight
With the promotion of 5S activities, the changes in the factory have become more and more apparent. It is especially worth mentioning the planning of parking spaces and vehicle directions in the factory: we position the gate of Dougong 6th Road as the entrance and follow the principle of straight principle. The gate of Dougong Eighth Road is opened inductively and set as an exit. The rear parking grid and the road present an inclination angle convenient for reversing and stopping, and it is easy to get on the road when leaving. The whole plan is to think about "go in order" to make the subsequent actions convenient and make the subsequent users convenient. If the concept of "go in order" is used in production, it can improve safety and efficiency; when used in interpersonal relationships, it will be happy and harmonious. Welcome everyone to Everwide next time to see what progress we have made.
Knowledge § What is the melting point (Tm) of plastic?
The melting point of plastic refers to the crystalline region's temperature in the crystalline polymer melts. This phenomenon is a thermodynamic transformation, and there is a fixed heat of fusion. When the crystalline polymer is higher than Tm, it becomes liquid, flowing, and can be processed; when it is lower than Tm, it will solidify and crystallize. The size of the crystal is related to the ratio of crystals and the cooling conditions. Some plastics cannot crystallize when the temperature drops rapidly. Later, when the temperature rises, recrystallization will occur. The molecular chains of the crystalline region are arranged very neatly, with only Tm but not Tg. In contrast, the amorphous regions other than the crystalline region have no crystals, so there is no Tm, but there are Tg points. Tg is a secondary transformation in thermodynamics. Only the slope of the specific heat curve changes, which is different from the shift of latent heat. Unshaped polymers and thermosetting resins will not crystallize, so they only have Tg but not Tm.
Living § Goodbye, Polymer Industry Journal
It is relatively easy for modern people to obtain information, search it online. In an era without the Internet, how do you know if there is any new material? Who is selling it? The easiest way is to go to the library to read magazines and books. Because we are looking for things we don't know, we need to be curious and "read over" a lot without specific goals. "Polymer Industry" is a magazine with this kind of function. Half of its content is advertisements, and the other half is related to technical reports. I like to watch advertisements. If they are directly related to us, we can immediately get in touch; at first glance, there is no such thing directly related, and I will also find out how it works. Looking at the advertisement with this attitude, they all become professional examination questions. The magazine contents, the catalog of raw materials, and related technical information are all the information we have been seeking so hard at that time. Because of the limited information, we all have to scrutinize it in a few words: is this a hint of know-how? Is this the key to technology? We will figure out the uncertain truth and test it in subsequent experiments. The Internet age relies on "search", the speed has become faster, but the depth has deteriorated. "Search" has specific goals and is not suitable for accidentally encountering things we don't know. The rapid flow of information makes it too late for us to have deep thinking; what everyone thinks may be wrong cannot be prevented. The magazine "Polymer Industry" has been in circulation for 31 years and will cease publication at the end of this year. When I was in graduate school, I often went to the library to read this magazine; 16 years ago, I also went to the magazine publisher to buy a bunch of books. I remember that the magazine was in a small and old apartment. The publisher Mr. Li-sheng, Xie sent me down the narrow stairs. I saw the figure of a scholar. This magazine provides a lot of information for our generation and has greatly contributed to the industry. We want to pay tribute to him. Only give this document to the Polymer Industry Journal.
─ Author: Dr. Ming-Xu, Li
