Injection of internal linings with integrated heating
The Swiss company georg kaufmann formenbau, located in Busslingen, has developed a conductive coating of electricity in exclusive collaboration with a partner, which opens up new possibilities in the injection process. A sample is that innovation in plastics transformation given by the concurrence of the manufacturers of machinery, materials and moulds. The rear face of decoration materials equipped in this way can cast directly by injection through a process developed by Kaufmann in the molds made by this company.
The decoration heated electrically heated the interior of the vehicle
To the flow of electric current through conductive layer, it is heated by its electrical resistance and supplies heat to the interior of the vehicle. It can thus be, for example, heated efficiently and uniformly the area of passenger vehicles. During trials were reached in the surface temperatures considerably higher than 40 ° C.
The temperature is possible to regulate through the electric current. The demand for heat power, i.e., the consumption of power per square metre of heated surface is relatively low. In addition, the plastic of the material carrier that is bad conductor of heat minimizes heat losses towards the outer side of the vehicle.
For the current input are integrated threads or copper networks during the injection moulding, exact whose position and implementation depend on the element of construction. Trials have shown that, apart from electrically conductive coating, are not required additional adaptations the mold or the technology of processes.
The mold is the key to integration in manufacturing
For the manufacture of thermal preformed parts refined with a surface decoration, the technologies developed by Kaufmann may apply. Examples include the following:
The rear faces injection moulding technology, i.e. to the moulding of the rear face of the decoration material inserted into the tool. Stamping injection, namely the injection of plastic melt in a cleft of stamp followed by a closing of the mold that protects the decoration.
The Duo Lamination with which, with the help of a mould in the shape of cube, are manufactured pieces preformed with different materials for decoration in a single cycle of work. The Varysoft procedure, in which a mould of slide table serves to create effects of just soft touch desired areas.
Especially in combination with the process Varysoft is possible to manufacture items of virtually any shape with varying thicknesses of foam plastic, and therefore with different zones of comfort, which also will heat up. Such elements of the interior presented the advantages with regard to haptic, optics, design and comfort, and can be manufactured in very economic way.
In addition to applications in the automotive industry, finish refined with integrated heating elements will be appropriate for example for warming of booths for funicular railways and trains, as well as for heating seats seats from stadiums or ski lift.