Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing is a quick and cost-effective way to remove flash from injection-molded Amodel® PPA parts. This patented process won’t alter critical part dimensions or surface finish and can remove flash, a type of manufacturing defect, from hard-to-reach areas such as cross-holes and blind holes. Plus, unlike manual trimming, Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing eliminates time-consuming hand labor while providing part-to-part consistency.
What is Amodel® PPA?
Amodel® polypthalamide (PPA) is a family of high-temperature polyamides from Syensqo that retain their high strength and stiffness up to 280°C (536°F). They provide excellent chemical resistance and are available in a choice of resins that can contain fiber reinforcements, heat stabilizers, impact modifiers, flame retardants, or other modifiers. Amodel® resins can be injection molded but do not lend themselves to compression or transfer molding because of their high melt temperatures.
Applications for injection-molded Amodel® PPA parts include automotive, electronic, consumer, and industrial products. These semi-crystalline, thermoplastic polymers have a long history in the automotive industry and can replace metals to support vehicle lightweighting. In addition to thermostat housings, clutch cylinders, charge air coolers, heater cores, wear pumps, and battery pack cases, Amodel® PPA is used in fuel cell systems and smartphone cases.
Flash and Amodel® Injection Molding
During Amodel® injection molding, excess material called flash may form on part surfaces. The causes of flash include parting line mismatches, improper venting, problems with clamping pressure, inadequate sprue bushing support, and processing issues that lower viscosity. In thermostat housings and other applications that require smooth surfaces for leak-proof connections, flash is more than just a cosmetic defect because it can interfere with performance.
Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing for Injection-Molded Amodel® Parts
Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing begins when an operator loads a basket of injection-molded Amodel® parts into a cryogenic deflashing machine. The parts are then cooled below the plastic’s glass transition temperature (Tg) so that the flash becomes brittle and easy to remove. Next, the Amodel® parts are impacted with a non-abrasive, cryogenic-grade polycarbonate media while they are tumbled. Only the flash is removed, and the process won’t change critical part tolerances.
The cryogenic-grade material that Nitrofreeze® uses is made of polycarbonate (PC) and comes in a range of lengths and widths to support application-specific requirements. By using media sized between 0.015” to 0.060”, Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing can reach inside challenging part geometries to achieve flash removal. The process also removes flash from the flat and curved surfaces like the ones used with Amodel® fuel cell stack end plates.
Comparing Amodel Deflashing Techniques
Unlike hand trimming, Nitrofreeze® cryogenic deflashing is a machine-based, computer-controlled process that deflashes batches of parts instead of a single part at a time. The Nitrofreeze® process is automated and repeatable; it also provides the kind of part-to-part consistency that workers can’t achieve with hand tools. Plus, during manual trimming, there’s a risk that workers will remove too much or too little material and affect critical tolerances or surface finish.
Choose Nitrofreeze® Cryogenic Deflashing for Molded Amodel® Parts
Are your molded Amodel® parts suitable for cryogenic deflashing? Contact the experts at Nitrofreeze® to review your requirements. If your part is a viable candidate, we can perform sampling to demonstrate our process. The consultation is free of charge, and we can save your cryogenic deflashing recipe for batches of the same Amodel® part. To learn more, contact us at the phone number and email listed below.
(508) 459-7447 x105 | info@nitrofreeze.com