Mold cavity etched

As with other mold operation process mold release agents are usually required because the plastic melt can adhere to the surface of the mold cavity. Molds with very little or no draft usually require a release agent. Like other molding operations, a textured cavity can provide a textured product surface. Most texturing of cavities is by chemical etching so it is important to use the appropriate mold material to create a particular texture. An effective release is needed at the parting line to aid in demolding. 

Etching is followed by seeding with palladium. The palladium nuclei are inserted into the exposed cavities and are catalytically active in the follow-up chemically reductive metallization process. The plastics used in two-shot molding are generally core-catalytic and require no additional seeding or activation. Only the surface has to be etched open to permit access to the catalysts embedded in the plastic [30]. 

---