Mold Platen Insulation
Mold Platen Insulation (MPI) from The Gund Company is a high compressive strength, heat-resistant composite insulating material. This insulation serves as a barrier between the mold or dies and the platen to resist heat transfer. Commonly found on injection molding, compression molding, thermoforming, and rubber molding machinery. This type of insulation is ideal for reducing heat loss and allowing for faster mold setup, which leads to cost savings and increases the service life of machinery.
There are several important properties to consider when selecting an insulation material for your application that includes, but are not limited to:
- Thermal Conductivity
- Temperature
- Compression Strength
- Thickness Tolerance
MPI (Mold Platen Insulation) Material Data Sheet
Perhaps the most important value is the thermal conductivity of the material. A low thermal conductivity will result in reduced heat transfer between the mold and the platen. This property leads to faster start-up times and cost reduction through energy savings. Temperature, or maximum service temperature, is when the material can operate without losing or degrading the properties required to sustain its function.
Mica is commonly used for this function, but the lower compressive strength and high flatness differentiation, often make MPI the better option for platen insulation. Insulation material with low compressive strength can cause mold alignment problems when subject to extremely high pressures. If the pressure exceeds what the material can withstand, the material may also take a compression set; a permanent deformation event after the force is removed.
A tight thickness tolerance or flatness of the material helps keep the temperature of the mold uniform. Tight tolerance parts have the advantage of better mold temperature control. Significant variation in this tolerance can lead to improper mold temperature and ultimately product failure.
The Gund Company can custom fabricate MPI material to the exact specifications and drawings of your mold platen requirements. Our tested material is superior to our competitors in these properties at a more cost-effective price.
Contact us today to learn more about mold platen insulation (MPI) and our state-of-the-art fabrication services.
