Use of other metals
Moules pour l'injection des thermoplastiques. Choix des aciers

If the thermal conductivity of steel is insufficient, one solution is to use a highly conductive copper-based alloy.

In fact, the thermal conductivity of copper-based alloys ranges from 100 to 300 W.m-¹.K-¹, while that of hot-work tool steel is in the order of 10 to 20 W.m-¹.K-¹.

The mechanical properties of pure copper, a very good thermal conductor (400 W.m-¹.K-¹), are insufficient to ensure the dimensional stability and longevity of an injection mold. In fact, the hardness of pure copper lies between 50 and 100 HV30, whereas the hardness commonly chosen for the production of a mold cavity is 52 HRC, or 580 HV30.

Certain copper alloys can achieve relatively high hardnesses,...