Aluminum tools are often used for plastic injection moulding of small and medium-sized series. The materials are usually connected to water-bearing cooling circuits for cooling. The cooling circuit often comprises a larger machine park of different tools and materials and itself consists of a material mix of steel, stainless steel, plastic and sometimes even copper pipes.

In this material mix, the aluminum tools are subject to a high risk of corrosion. At the same time, they are particularly useful for large, rotating tools due to the weight reduction and the associated energy savings and increased cycle time. The thermal conductivity with regard to good temperature distribution and cooling properties is advantageous anyway.

Corrosion problems at existing customers, which were intensively researched together with the customers, led to the development of different product variants of inhibitors. ALMA Treat KK3000 was finally developed and approved : a product based on molybdenum, polymers and other corrosion inhibitors that covers the entire material mix. At the same time, it also covers the usual cycles and provides special protection for aluminum.

A prerequisite for the use of this special inhibitor is the use of soft water or demineralized water, as hardness stabilizers cannot be used at the same time.

Due to the special composition of the product and the simultaneous correction of the pH value in the cooling system, the aluminum is inhibited by approx. 72 %. This is a very significant improvement compared to established products.

Chart 1 shows the improvement.