Material Compatibility in Hot Runner Systems

Anyone working in the injection molding industry knows that hot runner systems play a critical role in maintaining the overall processes. Why is that? The major reason these runners are important is that they help keep the flowing plastic in its molten state as it travels through the mold.

However, the question is, are all hot runner systems great and work effectively? Well, no. The choice of material used in these systems plays a significant role in maintaining their workings, minimizing any defects, and achieving consistent quality.

Hence, understanding the material compatibility of hot runner systems and their importance is therefore essential. If you are someone who wants to gain insight into this topic, then this article is for you. Dive into this guide to learn about the material compatibility in the hot runner system.

The Importance of Material Compatibility in Hot Runner System

We talked about how material compatibility is one of the most important aspects of making a hot runner system work efficiently. However, the question is, what are the essential aspects that the material compatibility of a hot runner system helps industries achieve? We have a few listed below for you:

Thermal Conductivity

We know that different materials can conduct heat at different rates. Choosing a material for the hot runner system that helps provide consistent thermal conductivity while ensuring uniform temperature distribution would help manufacture products without many defects and prevent issues like cold spots.

Corrosion Resistance

How many times have you noticed that a tool or machinery you invest in, over the years, starts getting corrosive because of the metal material on it? A lot, right? Well, this is because some materials, like plastic resins, tend to become corrosive on certain metals. After all, they contain fillers and additives. Hence, when looking into material compatibility, it is essential to select a material that can resist corrosion and extend the lifespan of the hot runner system.

Wear Resistance

Apart from getting corrosive and tarnished, abrasive materials like glass fibers can easily wear down the hot runner system components over time. Hence, when choosing a hot runner system, it is essential to look for wear-resistant materials—especially for parts like nozzles and manifolds—to prevent frequent maintenance and downtime.

Chemical Compatibility

The hot runner system constantly has molten plastic flowing through it to keep it in its molten state. However, while the hot runner system would do the job well, the interaction between the system and the plastic raisin can degrade the quality of either the system components or the plastic itself.

Hence, choosing a hot runner system whose material formation is adequate to ensure solid chemical compatibility is essential to prevent any reactions that can cause damage.

What are the Common Materials Used to Make Hot Runner Systems?

Now that you know how essential the role of a material is in ensuring that a hot runner system works efficiently, we are sure you must be thinking about some of the most common materials used to make hot runner systems. There are a variety of essential materials from which hot runner systems can be manufactured. Some of the most common ones are:

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is one of the most common materials used to make hot runner systems. This particular material is quite a great pick as it offers a perfect balance between strength, wear resistance, and overall corrosion resistance. Many manufacturers use this specific material to make hot runner systems. However, the most common manufacturing and use of this type of material is in environments where resins and additives can be corrosive.

Copper Alloys

Another great material often used for the manufacture of hot runner systems is copper alloy. This particular material is a great pick for companies that want to use a hot runner system to maintain its thermal conductivity, which is quite important to maintain the overall health distribution evenly throughout the runner.

However, what should be ensured is that copper alloys are generally soft materials that tend to wear. Therefore, they are often used in combination with other durable materials to ensure their longevity.

Tool Steels

Tool steel is a material quite widely used in the manufacture of hot runner systems. This material is popular because of its high hardness ratio, ability to withstand high temperatures, and overall wear resistance. It has several different sub-types, but all of them are excellent picks because of their thermal conductivity and durability.

Nickel-Based Alloys

The next common material on our list is nickel-based alloys. These alloys are great picks as well because they provide resistance to corrosion and oxidation when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, they are suitable for use in hot runner systems whose demands include chemically aggressive resins.

Titanium Alloys

The last common material on our list is titanium alloys. This material is used in cases where lightweight components with excellent corrosion resistance and high strength are needed. However, while great, the use of this material is not quite common. Why is that? Well, titanium alloys can be costly and, at times, cause machining challenges. Therefore, alternate options are usually chosen in place of this.

How to Choose the Right Hot Runner System Based on Material Strategies?

By this time, your mind might be looming with one question: How would you choose the right hot runner system based on the material strategies? Well, do not worry; we will help you out with this. To achieve optimal performance of a hot runner system based on its material compatibility, the following strategies should be considered:

Assess Resin Properties

The first step in choosing the right hot runner system based on its material strategies is to assess the resin properties. It is essential for consumers to understand the properties of the plastic resin they will use, including the melting temperature, overall chemical composition, and the viscosity of the liquid, before they make their pick on the material of the hot runner system.

Consider the Environment

The next factor to look into is the environment in which you will use the hot runner system. In this environment, consumers must consider the presence of corrosive agents, abrasive fillers, or high temperatures to ensure that they select the right material for the hot runner system.

Balance the Durability and Conductivity

It is essential to ensure that the material you are choosing offers balanced durability and conductivity. For this, the best pick is usually systems made from hybrid materials like copper alloys in combination with other materials like tool steels or stainless steels. While copper on its own does provide excellent thermal conductivity, it still needs to be combined with a more durable material to ensure that the hot runner system components do not wear off.

Regular Maintenance and Monitoring

The last factor to consider when opting for a hot runner system is to look into a material that can easily be maintained and monitored. No matter how excellent your material is, regular maintenance and monitoring are still required to detect any early signs of wear, corrosion, or degradation. The maintenance and monitoring aspect would help extend the lifetime of your hot runner system and prevent any downtimes that can lead to losses for the company.

Hasteco Technology – Using Top-Notch Materials for Hot Runner Systems

While all the factors we mentioned above are significant, another essential component to consider when choosing the suitable hot runner system material is the manufacturing company. There can be times when you may select appropriate material. Still, the overall quality of the material is not top-notch because the manufacturer did not put enough effort into producing it.

Hence, choosing a company that is dedicated to their production and brings out only the best in business is essential. Want to know one company that fits well on these criteria?

CHRS is one of the leading companies globally when it comes to manufacturing hot runner systems. Operating for over twenty years now, the company has produced some of the best hot runner systems in terms of material compatibility and working. The company uses only the best materials to ensure that the output results you receive are top-notch.

Wrapping It Up!

If you are someone who wants to learn about the material compatibility of hot runner systems and why they are essential, then we hope this article was helpful for you. While we tried to help describe everything from the importance of material compatibility in hot runner systems to the materials used and factors to consider when choosing the suitable materials, choosing the proper manufacturer for the best material compatibility is essential, too.

We believe CHRS would help provide you with just that, and hence, we urge you to check out this fantastic hot runner system manufacturer today. Stay tuned for more!