US 8,916,001 B2Granted

Coated molds and related methods and components

AssigneeGVD Corporation

InventorsHilton G. Pryce Lewis, Aleksandr J. White, Michael E. Stazinski

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Abstract

Molds that have coated mold surfaces, as well as methods and components associated with such molds, are provided. The mold surface coatings may be formed of a polymeric material, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and may be very thin (e.g., 50 microns or less). The coatings may facilitate the release of articles formed in the mold and may also reduce, or eliminate, the build up of contaminants on mold surfaces during processing which, thus, increases mold lifetime. The coatings may be formed in a chemical vapor deposition process with process conditions selected to enable formation of uniform, conformal coatings, even on mold features having small dimensions and/or high aspect ratios. The coatings are particularly well suited to be used in connection with rubber tires molds, though also can be used in other types of molds and articles.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A system for depositing a coating on a surface of an article a tire mold comprising:

a deposition chamber;
a supporting device constructed and arranged to support the tire mold in the deposition chamber;
a gas inlet port arranged to introduce gaseous species into the deposition chamber;
a gas distributor constructed and arranged to distribute gaseous species introduced through the gas inlet port within the deposition chamber;
a filament assembly positioned within the deposition chamber to heat gaseous species introduced through the gas distributor and the gas inlet port, the filament assembly comprising a:
a first frame portion;
a second frame portion;
and
a plurality of filament segments extending between the first frame portion and the second frame portion to form a non-planar filament array,
wherein the gas distributor, the supporting device and the filament assembly each have a similar non-planar shape, wherein the gas distributor is positioned radially inside the supporting device.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/399,694Filed 5 Apr 2006
Published: US 2007/0235890 A111 Oct 2007
Granted: 23 Dec 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B29C 33/62
Releasing, lubricating or separating agents: based on polymers or oligomers
B29C 33/56
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: coatings , e.g. enameled or galvanised; Releasing, lubricating or separating agents
B29C 33/58
Coatings , e.g. enameled or galvanised; Releasing, lubricating or separating agents: applying the releasing agents
B29D 30/0606
Vulcanising tyres; Vulcanising presses for tyres: vulcanising moulds not integral with vulcanising presses