Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20). In a closed state of a blow mould (14), a contact area is formed between side parts (14a, 14b), in which the two side parts (14a, 14b) rest against each other, the side parts (14a, 14b) form a mould separation seam (5) in the contact area. In accordance with the invention, at least one section of at least one side part (14a, 14b) has a coating and/or an additional element (60) in a region of the mould separation seam (5), so that a heat transfer between the plastic preform (10) and the inner wall (52, 54) in the contact area can be delayed at least in places at these at least one section.

A mold assembly for manufacturing molded articles includes a plurality of mold portions that are comprised of a polymer and form a mold cavity. In embodiments, the polymer has a thermal conductivity (k) of less than about 0.5. Although, some embodiments may have higher conductivity values. In embodiments, the polymer comprises polycarbonate. Methods for making and using polymer mold portions and assemblies are also disclosed.

Apparatus (1) for forming plastic preforms (10) into plastic containers (20). In a closed state of a blow mould (14), a contact area is formed between side parts (14a, 14b), in which the two side parts (14a, 14b) rest against each other, the side parts (14a, 14b) form a mould separation seam (5) in the contact area. In accordance with the invention, at least one section of at least one side part (14a, 14b) has a coating and/or an additional element (60) in a region of the mould separation seam (5), so that a heat transfer between the plastic preform (10) and the inner wall (52, 54) in the contact area can be delayed at least in places at these at least one section.

A blow mould includes at least first and second blow mould elements that inscribe a concavity; and at least one insert having an embossed surface to form a pattern onto a blow-moulded surface. The at least one insert is attached onto a surface of at least one of the first and/or second blow mould elements to form a part of the wall of the blow-moulded product. Such blow mould is an ISBM blow mould and the blow mould is such that the at least one insert is a plate having a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 2.0 mm and is attached onto at least one of the first and/or second blow mould elements by a reversible fixation mechanism selected from the group of adhesives, preferably a double-sided adhesive tape, a magnet and a geometric mechanism.

A blow mould includes at least first and second blow mould elements that inscribe a concavity; and at least one insert having an embossed surface to form a pattern onto a blow-moulded surface. The at least one insert is attached onto a surface of at least one of the first and/or second blow mould elements to form a part of the wall of the blow-moulded product. Such blow mould is an ISBM blow mould and the blow mould is such that the at least one insert is a plate having a wall thickness of between 0.2 mm and 2.0 mm and is attached onto at least one of the first and/or second blow mould elements by a reversible fixation mechanism selected from the group of adhesives, preferably a double-sided adhesive tape, a magnet and a geometric mechanism.

A mold body (10) for a blow mold (1). The mold body (10) has a bottom region (14), a shoulder region (13), a central region (15) and a separating plane (12). At least one mold cavity (11) has an inner wall (111) situated in the mold body (10). At least one temperature control channel (30) is arranged in the mold body (10). The at least one temperature control channel (30) is situated and/or positioned in the mold body (10) in such a way as to remove more heat from or supply more heat to a first region (112) of the inner wall (111) than a second region (113) of the inner wall (111) that is adjacent to the first region (112).

A substrate has a body defined at least in part by a single piece of aluminum or aluminum alloy material having a cavity and a pinch-off or other feature area and further having a metal-matrix composite (MMC) layer formed integrally in the body at the pinch-off or other feature area. A process of producing a substrate involves machining a single piece of material to provide a body having a surface and a feature area, the feature area being of smaller dimension than required for the piece, integrally forming a metal-matrix composite layer in the feature area to build up the feature area to at least a dimension required for the piece. The metal-matrix composite comprises an aluminum-nickel alloy matrix (e.g. Al-12Si alloy alloyed with Ni) having WC particles embedded therein or a aluminum matrix (e.g. Al-12Si alloy) having TiC particles embedded therein and has greater wear resistance, greater strength, greater toughness or any combination thereof than the material.

A mold half, especially for blow molding of thermoplastic articles, has a mold body defined at least in part by a single piece of aluminum or aluminum alloy mold material having a cavity and a pinch-off or other feature area and further having a metal-matrix composite (MMC) layer formed integrally in the mold body at the pinch-off or other feature area. A mold is fabricated from two mated mold halves. A process of producing a mold half involves machining a single piece of mold material to provide a mold body having a cavity and a pinch-off or other feature area, the pinch-off or other feature area being of smaller dimension than required for the mold half, integrally forming a metal-matrix composite layer in the pinch-off or other feature area to build up the pinch-off or other feature area to at least a dimension required for the mold half. The metal-matrix composite comprises an aluminum-nickel alloy matrix (e.g. AI-12Si alloy alloyed with Ni) having WC particles embedded therein or a aluminum matrix (e.g. AI-12Si alloy) having TiC particles embedded therein and has greater wear resistance, greater strength, greater toughness or any combination thereof than the mold material.

A molding apparatus and method for the combined manufacturing and filling of plastic containers in a one step process. The molding apparatus and method utilize a mold having an inner cavity with surfaces presenting hydrophobic properties thereby enabling a resultant container to have flawless appearance.

A mold assembly for molding articles including a surface insert and a surface insert support configured to support at least a portion of the surface insert. In embodiments, the surface insert is configured to form at least a portion of a molded article and the surface insert has a thickness within a range of about 0.250 or 0.300 inches and about 1.500 inches or about 2.25 inches. The mold assembly may include a holding unit, and at least a portion of the surface insert and/or at least a portion of the surface insert support may be formed by additive manufacturing.