Ceramic Coatings via MOCVD in Injection Molding Tools to Influence Thermal and Demolding Properties

Abstract Tool surfaces can be protected against corrosion and wear by thin film coatings. In addition to the protective properties, ceramic materials with low thermal conductivity, such as yttrium-stabilized zirconium oxide, can thermally insulate tool surfaces. In an injection molding process, the thermal insulation enables a more precise partial tempering and can thus be used to reduce surface defects on the plastic parts produced. Furthermore, the coating can have a positive effect on the demolding of the plastic parts. The coatings are applied in a hot wall reactor by metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). This enables a homogeneous application of zirconium oxide based thin films on steel tools with complex 3D surfaces. The performance of the coatings was evaluated in various injection molding tests and assessed by the quality of the manufactured parts.