Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing removes flash from automotive plastics, a category of synthetic materials that are molded into parts for automotive interiors and external auto parts. Our quick and cost-effective batch process won’t alter critical part dimensions or surface finish, including Class A surfaces that are highly visible. Flash is removed cleanly from hard-to-reach areas. Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing provides greater part-to-part consistency than hand trimming.
Automotive Injection Molding and Flash Removal
Most automotive plastics are injection molded because new car production is a high-volume process. Aftermarket auto parts are also manufactured at scale to reduce the cost per unit. Part designers can choose injection molds made of hardened steel. As molds wear some amount of flash can be expected. The causes range from parting line mismatches to improper venting, problems with clamping pressure, inadequate sprue bushing support, and processing issues that lower viscosity.
Hand trimming is impractical across these high part volumes because it’s a time-consuming, labor-intensive process. There’s also a risk that workers will remove too much or too little material. This increases scrap rates and can affect tolerance stack-ups. By contrast, cryogenic deflashing removes only the flash, provides consistent results, and can process more than just one part at a time. Plus, Nitrofreeze® can save the ideal deflashing “recipe” for future batches of the same automotive part.
How Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing Works
Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing begins when an operator loads a basket of injection-molded auto parts into a cryogenic deflashing machine. The parts are then cooled below the plastic’s glass transition temperature so that the flash becomes brittle and easy to remove. Next, these molded automotive plastics are impacted by a non-abrasive, cryogenic-grade polycarbonate media while they are tumbled. Because only the flash is removed, surfaces and critical tolerances are unaffected.
The media that Nitrofreeze® uses is made of a special cryogenic-grade polycarbonate and comes in choice of length and widths to support application-specific deflashing requirements. Our process removes flash from flat and curved automotive surfaces, but it can also reach inside through-holes, blind holes, and other challenging part geometries. The media is sized from 0.015” to 0.060”, and the process is both computer-controlled and automated.
Types of Automotive Plastics
Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing works with these and other types of automotive plastics.
- ABS for air vents, handles and knobs, interior trim, seat and console components
- PEEK for bearings, bushings, fuel line connectors, and structural brackets and clips
- Delrin® for door handles, latches, seatbelt mechanisms, gears, switches, and hinges
- Nylon for suspension bushings, mounting brackets, and grille components
- PPS for electrical connectors, EGR valves, valve bodies, relays, and ignition components
- HDPE for air ducts, wire harness conduits, and fuel system components
- Polycarbonate for light guides, bumper inserts, and for indicator and fog light lenses
- Polypropylene for seat frame components, air ducts, and coolant overflow bottles
Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing also works with liquid silicone rubber (LSR), which is used in automotive grommets, gaskets, valves, seals, and other automotive components.
Choose Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing for Molded Automotive Plastics
Are the parts you’re molding from automotive plastics suitable for cryogenic deflashing? Contact the experts at Nitrofreeze® to review your requirements. If your auto part is a viable candidate, we can perform sampling to demonstrate our process. The consultation is free of charge, and we save your cryogenic deflashing recipe for future use. To learn more about using our process, contact us at the phone number and email listed below.
(508) 45907447 x 105 | info@nitrofreeze.com