Research and development

A research project was realised in the company and its title is:

NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR THE REALISATION OF MOULDS FOR HOLLOW GLASS WITH NANOSTRUCTURED, HIGHLY RESISTANT SURFACES

The first part was characterised by a detailed study of techniques and coating’s materials for glass-contact surfaces of moulds used in hollow glass production.
This step allowed us to develop a documentable passage of the process we referred to in order to analyze possible defects, even in a post-production phase. Thanks to the results we got, we could define ideal parameters for the HVOF technology’s employment, which was already used in our company; this  permitted us to obtain considerable advantages on the glass-contact surfaces, both in terms of finishing and durability of the mould itself.
This is surely the most important success, summarised in the optimization of post-coating thermal treatment, with clear advantages on distribution, stretching, and workability of the filling material.
The second part of the project was dedicated to the reconstruction of damaged moulds’ surfaces after some production courses. We modulated the needed parameters, theoretically and empirically isolated them, and found a way to proceed.
Developing this phase, we appreciated the obtainable advantages on the coating when using a thermal post-coating process, without too high temperatures able to modify the filling material’s characteristics; this way, we avoided migration and subsequent thickening of non- melted particles, guarantying a better filling material’s distribution. This process warded off the coating’s detachment usually caused by thermal gradient among layers.

These activities are co-financed by structural founds, along with the following Italian Regulations CE n. 1559/2000 (bando docup obiettivo 2 2000-2006 misura 1.7 azione c).

Now the company is working with important research bodies, and it is allowing final year undergraduates experimentations on filling materials techniques in order both to develop their thesis and the company’s know-how.