Addressing mold damage caused by pitting is a costly and time-consuming consequence of using rust preventives that are not adequately suited to your needs.
No processor should have to waste time sending molds to be refurbished and repolished before they can be used after storage. Even for those who have the facilities to repair the molds internally, there is substantial lost revenue in downtime of the equipment.
If the damage is reoccurring, you may end up needing to replace molds entirely as the “orange peel effect” occurs, pitting the texture of your mold so badly it cannot be repolished without changing the geometry. The good news… the Slide team is here to help match you with the best-suited rust protection product we offer. This ensures that you can store your molds safely and subsequently reintroduce them into production quickly.
How do rust preventives function?
Traditional preventives keep the rust away using a water-displacing feature in which oil displaces any moisture present on the mold surface or resulting from cold water lines running throughout the mold. Best practices usually require a second rust preventive coating on the mold after it has been cleaned to prevent future moisture from accruing which can result in rust formation. It is important to avoid oils that will entrap the moisture (silicone for example) and opt for reliable products that are designed to migrate under the moisture layer to protect the mold.
What is “outgassing” and how does it potentially affect my molds?
The release of hydrochloric and hydrobromic acidic vapors (aka “outgases”) is naturally emitted through the heating and molding of PVC resins and common flame retardant additives. These acidic vapors can concentrate around the mold cavity and result in oxidation, pitting, or other damaging effects. Fortunately, these vapors aren’t concentrated enough to be overly harmful to humans but can produce irreparable damage to most plastics and metals.
Even if you only run a few parts that are capable of releasing acidic vapors, you’ll want to be diligent when choosing a rust preventive. These fumes have the capacity to wreak havoc on other “in-house” molds through the building’s airflow system.
The Spray That Saves
Elbows, joints, and extrusion segments in piping frequently use PVC, and flame-retardant additives are present across a wide variety of industries from household products to automotive parts. When molding with specialty resins, choosing an appropriate rust preventive spray is essential.
Opting to use a generalized rust inhibitor like WD-40 may seem to be the least expensive option but the prevention process is not “one size fits all”.
Slide’s Acid Vapor Neutralizer Rust Preventive (No. 44011P) is the best solution available to prevent acid vapor emissions caused by PVC and flame-retardants from damaging your molds. This spray can protect your molds long-term and ongoing maintenance is only required every 60 days.
Many neutralizing preventives require two steps; Slide’s solution gets the job done in just one step with one product!
Save your molds and valuable time by making the switch before problems occur – request a free sample.
