A large number of objects produced from polymers are moulded. One of the main problems of moulding with polymers is the fact that the articles produced often stick in the mould. An associated problem is that of mould fouling where deposits from previous items stick to the surface of the mould and these in turn cause blemishes on the next product.

Mould release and mould fouling have serious implications to the polymer industry in terms of limiting the production rate and in an industry where time is money this can represent a significant cost to that industry.

This review first discusses mould release and then addresses mould fouling. Significant material and process variables are considered first and then practical guidance on the selection of release agents and surface treatments are addressed. This is followed by advice on mould cleaning and the assessment of mould sticking and mould fouling.

This review report should be of interest to anyone involved in the moulding of polymers and to anyone who is about to take their first steps into this area.

The review is accompanied by around 400 abstracts compiled from the Polymer Library, to facilitate further reading on this subject.

About the Author
David Packham is Senior Lecturer in Materials Science at the University of Bath. He has a BSc from the University of Durham and a PhD from the City University, London; both are in chemistry. After industrial research with Van Leer, he moved to Bath where his research includes polymer/metal adhesion, crosslink structure and properties of rubber, the nature of university education and the public understanding of science. He is author of over a hundred publications in these areas. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry and of the Institute of Materials.

CONTENTS

1. Introduction

2. The Underlying Causes of Mould Sticking and Fouling