Method for producing an article of plastics by injection molding

A method for producing an article made of plastics through an injection molding process, the method comprising:

• providing a molding die assembly for molding a plastics material, comprising a first die and a second die, each having a molding surface, said first and second dies being adapted to be brought into a mating engagement wherein a molding cavity is formed between said first and second dies by respective molding surfaces, said first die being movable between a molding station where the first die is brought into said mating engagement with said second die and a coating station;
• heating said first die of said molding die assembly at a temperature of 50 to 70° C., placing said first die at a coating station, and applying a liquid acrylic lacquer coating material on said molding surface of said first die;
• transferring said movable die to a drying chamber maintained at a temperature of 50 to 60° C., and maintaining said movable die in said drying chamber for 30 to 90 seconds to have said coating applied on said molding surface of the first molding die partially dried;
• transferring said first die to said molding station and bringing said first die into mating engagement with said second die of said die assembly to form a molding cavity between the respective molding surfaces of said first and second dies;
• and
• injecting a molten plastics material into said molding cavity to form a molded product having an acrylic lacquer coating on its surface.

A method for producing an article made of plastics through an injection molding process, the method comprising:

• providing a molding die assembly for molding a plastics material, comprising a first die and a second die, each having a molding surface, said first and second dies being adapted to be brought into a mating engagement wherein a molding cavity is formed between said first and second dies by respective molding surfaces, said first die being movable between a molding station where the first die is brought into said mating engagement with said second die and a coating station;
• heating said first die of said molding die assembly at a temperature of 60 to 95° C., placing said first die at said coating station and applying a coating of a liquid urethane-based or epoxy-based coating material on said molding surface of said first die;
• transferring said first die to a drying chamber maintained at a temperature of 80 to 90° C., and maintaining said first die in said drying chamber for 6 to 30 seconds to have said coating applied on said molding surface of said first die partly dried;
• transferring said first die to said molding station and bringing said first die into mating engagement with said second die of said die assembly to form a molding cavity between the respective molding surfaces of said first and second dies;
• and
• injecting a molten plastics material into said molding cavity to form a molded product having a coating of said coating material on its surface.