Mold releases come in two primary forms for distribution: water-based and solvent-based. Water-based mold releases can be sprayed onto your molds because an atomizer evenly distributes the agent quickly and effectively without clogging up the nozzle.
Let’s take a look at eight main benefits of mold release sprays for your industrial processes.
1. Shortened Down Time
Mold release sprays offer quick, easy, efficient, and even distribution across a mold’s surface. Rather than having to distribute a wax-based mold release with a cloth, you can spray the mold a few times at a distance of six to eight inches for an even distribution of the mold release. If your solvent has a spray can, the petroleum might clog the nozzle, which causes more issues during distribution to the mold.
You don’t have to touch the mold, which can be an issue if the mold is still warm to the touch. You may have to let the mold cool down to a specific temperature, but your cure times and a lack of VOCs make this an easier process.
2. Versatility for Slip Targets
Mold release sprays offer flexibility for hitting your slip target levels across multiple types of products and materials in your molds. These applications are perfect if you have one production line working with cast urethanes and another working with composites.
Hitting your slip targets works by achieving the correct coefficient of friction while maintaining product viability and SKU defects while keeping your molds free of product.
3. Multiple Uses
Boost your productivity by reducing the number of times you have to apply mold release sprays. Waxes may require reapplication after a single use because they transfer to the product. Water-based mold release sprays don’t transfer to the product as easily, giving your molds a longer time between applications.
Getting multiple uses from the same product helps your production line run more efficiently with less downtime.
4. No Transfer to SKUs
Waxes and solvent-based mold releases tend to transfer to SKUs simply because petroleum-based solvents can be sticky. Then your staff has to spend time cleaning off each SKU before packaging and sending it to your customers.
The idea behind mold release sprays is to make your lines more efficient so you can improve your quality and time to market.
5. Molds Last Longer
Because you can coat the mold easier with sprays, molds last longer due to an even distribution, even into the tiniest crevices of a mold where brushes or cloths can’t reach. Even if your staff can get to all parts of the mold with a solvent or wax, it might not coat the mold evenly.
Higher concentrations of solvents can cause degradation of your SKUs, and uneven distributions can cause the sticking of your products to molds. Once that happens, you’ll have to perform a thorough cleaning of a mold or replace it entirely.
6. Dilutable for Shipping & Storage
Mold release sprays are dilutable from a concentrated form, which means they store in a smaller storage space in your facility. When they ship to you, they come in more compact sizes with less weight. All you need to do is add water to the spray bottle at the correct amounts to dilute properly.
Diluted mold release sprays also last longer over an entire volume in storage. You only need to extract what you need to use presently and save the rest for later. So long as they are stored properly, water-based mold releases have the potential to last for years without settling or falling out of the solution. However, we might recommend stirring the solution lightly as you add water to it.
7. Safer for Workers
Mold release sprays are ideal for lower-temperature applications, which makes your operation safer for workers. You might even be able to use them to cool a die, if necessary, as you get ready to perform maintenance.
Sprays also mean no one has to touch the mold as they apply the mold release agents. Let’s say it takes five minutes to wait for a mold to cool before you can apply a wax or solvent-based release agent. Then you need a worker to spread the mold release evenly using a cloth or special brush, followed by a cure time.
Mold release sprays are touchless, so no one has to worry about a mold that’s still too hot to touch.
8. No Fire Hazard
Solvent-based mold releases, with petroleum as a major ingredient, may create VOCs. These substances create a fire hazard. As you open the container, VOCs can release into your air space, making it harder to breathe for your workers near the container. If there are any heat sources or even an electrical spark, like light fixtures with incandescent bulbs, you have the possibility of sparking an accidental fire.
Mold release sprays from water-based applications can prevent this from happening.
We can help you choose the right mold release spray.
EZ-Kote has decades of experience with water-based mold release sprays. Our engineers can help you select and test the right one for your application.
Contact EZ-Kote or call (770) 720-1811 for more information on how we can help your company.