In this column I would like to discuss texture and how it affects gloss on a micro level. Gloss levels and texture geometry can affect not only part cosmetics but sticking in the mold and visual defects. I have found the subject of texture to be poorly understood in the industry at large, apart from specialists at mold-texture houses. Each plastic material also has different gloss, so what works for one material may not work for another. So let's start with the basics. What, exactly, on a microscopic level, affects gloss on the plastic part? It comes down to the geometry and depth of the texture and the surface finish of the steel texture itself via polishing or blast media. To understand exactly how this works we will need to go under the microscope where the naked eye cannot see.
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