Page 56 - Plastics News November 2025
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TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Research teams now explore hierarchical tex- Sustainability concerns add another driver for
tures that mimic natural surfaces. By combining adoption. Chemical etching consumes hazard-
macro-scale grooves with nano-scale dimples, ous acids and generates waste streams that
engineers achieve synergistic benefits: reduced complicate compliance. Laser texturing removes
friction, controlled wetting, and stable visual ap- that dependency, reduces release agent use
pearance. Such strategies promise multifunc- during molding, and lowers overall environmen-
tional performance in demanding markets such tal load. Companies achieve cost savings and
as automotive and medical devices. regulatory alignment by adopting digital textur-
ing as a cleaner alternative.
Digital control also enables adaptive textures
within a single cavity. Processors can vary den- Laser Texturing Outlook
sity and orientation across regions, placing ag-
gressive patterns in areas prone to hesitation Laser texturing of mold surfaces now stands
and smoother patterns in visible zones. Simu- as an essential tool in plastics manufacturing. It
lation-driven feedback already informs this ap- no longer serves decoration alone but acts as
proach, and modern laser systems provide the a multifunctional engineering strategy that con-
precision to execute it at industrial scale. trols flow, improves release, strengthens durabil-
ity, and embeds function into molded products.
Novel laser sources extend design capabilities Firms that integrate texture design with coating
further. Mid-infrared ultrafast lasers generate technology, metrology, and simulation secure
surface periodicities that conventional systems competitive advantage across quality, sustain-
cannot replicate. These wavelengths create pat- ability, and cost.
terns with minimal collateral damage, opening Source – Plastics Engineering
pathways to new optical and tactile functions.
As costs decline, such systems may redefine the
limits of mold surface engineering.
56 PLASTICS NEWS November 2025
