Hard and wear
resistant
Using the patented and environmentally-friendly Keronite technology, the surface of the
mould is transformed into a complex ceramic
matrix with excellent wear
and abrasion characteristics. Depending
upon the alloy used and the thickness of
the ceramic layer, Keronite surfaces at
2000 HV are at least three times harder
and seven times more wear resistant than
hard anodising, considerably harder than
tool steel and even out-perform electroless
nickel in ball-on-disk tests.
Harder than most glass
or sand-containing
compounds, Keronite protects the mould
from wear, even in the most vulnerable areas
opposite the injection point. When impregnated
with PTFE, the wear resistance of Keronite
can be even further enhanced.
Inner surfaces
and cavities
As an immersion process with outstanding
throwing power, Keronite can be used to
treat the inner surfaces of even the most
complex shapes.
Adhesion
The Keronite layer is attached to the substrate
alloy by means of a strong, molecular bond,
ensuring adhesion properties similar to
the fracture strength of aluminium itself.
Components are easily released, time after
time, without damaging the surface of the
mould.
Edge protection
Aluminium moulds are prone to wear along
the edges where conventional dip processes
produce thinner layers of protection and
where hard anodising has a tendency to crack,
creating points of weakness. Producing a
uniform layer across all contours, the Keronite
process provides added protection in these
critical areas.
Release
properties
On top of the dense, protective layer, Keronite
surfaces have a thinner, porous outer layer,
providing an ideal base for impregnation
with PTFE. DuPont, who declared Keronite
a winner of the 2002 Plunkett Award for
innovation with Teflon®, states that
“a dispersion of Teflon® will
penetrate up to one-third the depth of the
Keronite ceramic, typically 10-100 microns”.
This ensures that the surface remains non-stick
and that moulded parts are easily released.
Click here to download the 'New Surface Technology for Aluminium Moulds' flyer or click here to download information on aluminium tools. |
