Nancy Teufel of Axel Plastics Research Laboratories discusses how the use of an internal lubricant in injection moulding applications should be considered not only when problems occur in processing, but to realize significant gains in productivity.
Many injection moulders consider the addition of a processing additive/internal lubricant only when they are confronted with parts that are difficult to release from moulds. Using an internal lubricant outside of this condition is frequently regarded as an unnecessary expense. Resin and colour compounders, on the other hand, are more familiar with some of the primary benefits of these materials: their effect on lowering resin viscosity through increased melt flow and their contribution to improved dispersion and wetting of reinforcement, filler and colour. As a group, compounders are more inclined to incorporate internal lubricants when resin processing parameters cannot be met, or if a customer makes a specific formulation request.