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Mold finish standards

Mold Surface Treatment Standards (2025 Update)‌


‌1. Quick Selection Guide‌

Select surface treatment processes based on mold material, application, and cost requirements:

‌Process‌

‌Applicable Materials‌

‌Surface Hardness (HV)‌

‌Wear Resistance Improvement‌

‌Cost (CNY/cm²)‌

‌International Standards‌

‌Nitriding‌

Tool Steel (H13, SKD61)

800-1200

2-3x

0.8-1.5

ISO 2639:2025

‌Hard Chrome Plating‌

Carbon Steel, Stainless Steel

900-1100

1.5-2x

2-4

ASTM B650-2025

‌PVD Coating‌

Mold Steel, Carbide

2000-3500

4-8x

5-12

ISO 20523:2025

‌Laser Cladding‌

High-Wear Area Repair

600-1500

3-5x

15-30

ASTM F3056-2025

‌Sandblasting + Passivation‌

Aluminum/Zinc Alloys

Ra ≤0.4 μm

Corrosion Resistance Enhanced

0.3-0.8

ISO 8503-2:2025

2. Key Process Parameters & Limitations‌

  1. ‌Nitriding‌:

    • Case Depth: 0.1-0.3 mm (Temperature: 500-550°C)

    • Limitation: Not suitable for mold steel with copper content >0.5%

  2. ‌PVD Coating (TiAlN/DLC)‌:

    • Coating Thickness: 2-5 μm, Temperature Resistance ≤800°C

    • Pre-Polishing Required: Ra ≤0.2 μm

  3. ‌Hard Chrome Plating‌:

    • Plating Thickness: 10-50 μm, Hydrogen Embrittlement Risk (Post-Treatment: 200°C/4h Dehydrogenation)

    • Compliance: Meets ‌EU RoHS 2025‌ hexavalent chromium limits


‌3. Mold Design Optimization‌

  1. ‌Avoid Failure-Prone Features‌:

    • Sharp Internal Corners: Fillet radius ≥‌0.3 mm‌ (prevents coating delamination)

    • Deep Grooves/Fine Holes: Width/Diameter ≥‌1 mm‌ (ensures coating uniformity)

  2. ‌Lifespan Enhancement Strategies‌:

    • High-Wear Areas: Local Laser Cladding + ‌Nano-Composite Coating‌ (lifespan increase ‌300%‌)

    • Cooling Channels: Electrolytic Polishing (Ra ≤0.8 μm, reduces scale buildup)


‌4. 2025 Industry Breakthroughs‌

  • ‌Smart Self-Healing Coating‌:

    • Microcapsule Slow-Release Technology: Repairs scratches ≤20 μm depth

    • Temperature Range: -30°C~250°C (compliant with ‌ISO 21714:2025‌)

  • ‌Cryogenic Plasma Sulfurizing‌:

    • Friction Coefficient Reduced to ‌0.02-0.05‌ (ideal for precision injection molds)

    • Processing Time: 30-60 mins, Cost: ¥6-10 CNY/cm²


‌5. Acceptance Criteria & Grading‌

‌Grade‌

‌Surface Roughness (Ra)‌

‌Hardness (HV)‌

‌Applications‌

‌Precision Grade (Class A)‌

≤0.1 μm

≥2000

Optical lens molds, microstructured molds

‌General Grade (Class B)‌

≤0.4 μm

≥1000

Automotive parts, connector molds

‌Economy Grade (Class C)‌

≤1.6 μm

≥800

Packaging molds, low-complexity molds

Notes‌:

  1. Custom solutions (e.g., acid-resistant or anti-stick coatings) require hybrid treatments (e.g., CrN+PTFE composite coatings);

  2. All processes must comply with ‌ISO 9001:2025‌ quality control certification.