Plating / Arc Spraying Composite Mold Preparation Study

To manufacture metal matrix composites mold cavity by integrating Electric arc spraying with composite electroless plating , to strengthen the mold by filling granules reinforced resin matrix composites and to back up the composites mold by using steel plate were presented in this paper. In the process of composite electroless plating, the effects on deposit velocity of five factors including temperature( C), pH value, SiC content (g/L) , stabilizer concentration (mg/L) and NiSO4 6H2O concentration (g/L) were studied. Five representative factors were optimized in wear resistance Ni-P/SiC composite electroless plating through orthogonal test method. The optimum combination of the five factors is it follows , temperature 89 C, pH value 5.1, SiC content 6g/L, stabilizer concentration 1.0mg/L and NiSO4 6H2O concentration 32g/L. The effects of each factor on wear resistance were analyzed and tested. While mold cavity was produced with electric arc spraying equipment, reasonable spraying parameters of Al to get uniform and compact layer as well as an accurate inner surface were obtained. Then by using heat treatment to increase the adhesion of metal spraying and composite electroless plating layer, the heat treatment technological parameter of 350 C, Ihour heat preservation then furnace cooling was achieved.Finally, by using the parameters previously mentioned one composites plastic bottle mold was made. And by using FEM(finite element method) the thermal conductivity and strength of the composite mold were analyzed.The study shows the method combining composite electroless plating with metal spraying mold making is not only to increase the wear resistance and to prolong operating life of composites mold, but to cut mold making cost and to shorten mold making cycle time as well. And it is also a rapid tooling with a bright future.