Introduction to Ertalyte
Ertalyte is a trademarked name for a type of thermoplastic known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET. This engineering plastic is well known for its high mechanical strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability. This makes Ertalyte material a popular choice for applications in the automotive, electrical, and electronics industries. Ertalyte is also resistant to most chemicals, and even has a low moisture absorption rate.
Applications of Ertalyte
Ertalyte (PET) is commonly molded into various types of parts, including:
- Gears, cams and pulleys
- Bearings and bushings
- Sprockets and chains
- Electrical components including insulators and terminal blocks
- Industrial rolls and rollers
- Conveyor components, such as guides and wear strips
Due to its high mechanical strength, stiffness, and dimensional stability, Ertalyte is often used in applications where precision and reliability are of the upmost importantance.
Injection Molding Ertalyte
Ertalyte molded parts are created using the injection molding process. This is a manufacturing process where molten plastic material is injected into a mold cavity, which is then cooled and the material solidified to form an Ertalyte part.
The process of injection molding Ertalyte material typically involves the following steps:
- Material preparation: The Ertalyte pellets are melted and conditioned to the proper temperature and viscosity for injection.
- Clamping: The mold is clamped to hold it together while the plastic is being injected.
- Injection: The melted Ertalyte is injected into the mold cavity under high pressure.
- Cooling: The mold is cooled to allow the Ertalyte material to solidify and take the shape of the mold cavity.
- Ejection: The molded part is ejected from the mold and is ready for post-processing or assembly.
Injection molding is a highly automated process that can produce a large number of parts quickly and cost-effectively. The quality and accuracy of the finished parts are largely dependent on the design of the mold and the utilization of the proper process parameters in the molding process.
Ertalyte Mold Flashing
It is possible for Ertalyte (PET) plastic to flash during the injection molding process. Flash is a thin layer of excess material that forms at the junction of the mold halves, or around the edges of the mold. It occurs when the molten plastic material leaks out of the mold cavity and solidifies. Therefore, flash extends from the parting lines of the molded parts and must be removed through the process of deflashing.
Flash can occur for several reasons, including poor mold design, improper molding conditions, or problems with the material itself. Flash can affect the dimensional accuracy and cosmetic appearance of the molded parts, and it can also adversely affect the fit and functionality of the part.
Flash can be minimized by optimizing the mold design to prevent material from leaking out of the mold cavity. The molding process parameters should also be carefully controlled to ensure that the right amount of pressure is being applied and that the mold is being cooled at the proper rate. In some cases, modifications to the material formulation or processing conditions may be necessary to prevent flash from occurring.
If you are still experiencing mold flashing on your Ertalyte parts after making tweaks to your molding process, please contact us. We provide cryogenic deflashing services for Ertalyte molded parts with only a two-business day lead time. If you would like to send Ertalyte part samples for a no-cost cryogenic deflashing evaluation, please call us at (508) 459.7447×105 or email us at info@nitrofreeze.com.