NP Plastibell : Innovation
Conferring new properties to plastic parts using an innovative mold texturing technology?
It is possible!
Thanks to a new functionalization technology based on micro/nano texturing of the mold, NP Plastibell allows its customers to explore new possibilities to add unique characteristics to plastic parts. Antibacterial, hydrophobic or antifreeze properties, the possibilities are multiple. Here is an overview of the technology and applications.
Inspired by nature and especially by the lotus leaf, this texturing technology consists in changing the geometry of surfaces with patterns at the micro and nanometric scale.
If surfaces of different nature such as metal, textile or glass can be textured directly, the advantage for plastic parts is the possibility to texture injection tools and to replicate the pattern on all mass-produced injected parts without increasing manufacturing time. This makes it possible to integrate new functions into the surfaces without significantly affecting the cost of the parts produced.
The geometries of the patterns are multiple: studs, stars, grooves or ripples, the different patterns and their dimensions will improve or limit the adherence of the fluid in contact with the textured surface according to the desired behavior. For example, exceedingly small patterns will allow to trap air between the fluid and the surface, changing the adherence of the fluid and thus creating a hydrophobic behavior.
These patterns are obtained by texturing the tooling with high technology allowing the ablation of material at the micrometer and sub-micrometer scale in a very precise and repeatable way.
The functions that can be obtained and the fields of application are thus very varied: hydrophobic behaviors make it possible notably to improve the flow of fluids but also to obtain self-cleaning surfaces, presenting a very particular interest for the field of the food-processing industry or that of the medical. Moreover, this functionalization technology also allows to limit the adhesion and the development of bacteria on surfaces, limiting bacterial contaminations in hospitals as well as infections during the installation of implants or even viral infections in the public space. Finally, the mechanical or thermal performance of parts can be improved: friction limitation, improved aerodynamics or anti-icing are all properties that can be obtained.
An exclusivity has already been granted to a major actor of the food industry with whom NP Plastibell develops this technology to improve a flow and limit the retention in a critical part.
You want to test this technology on one of your products? Contact us!
Tél : +33 (0)4 74 49 13 46
Email : commercial@np-plastibell.com
To know more about NP Plastibell:
NP Plastibell, part of the Clayens NP Group, offers a coherent and complete support to healthcare actors for the development, industrialization and manufacturing of their medical devices and plastic components, in compliance with international regulatory requirements (ISO 13485, ISO 15378 and QSR - 21 CFR part 820).
NP Plastibell supports its customers from the idea to the product: design, prototyping, industrialization, qualification and validation, regulatory support, and production with 4 manufacturing sites in France, Mexico and Poland including 6 ISO7 clean rooms.