Sintered, Porous Mold Steel Eliminates Gas Buildup

Molder’s World Inc. draws attention to Vortex, a self-venting mold steel that it says is quickly becoming the industry standard. Specializing in self-venting mold steels since inception in 2001, Molder’s World is most well known as the preeminent distributor of Porcerax II prior to its discontinuation. Vortex, as its replacement, is claimed to be the most exciting development in the company’s 20+ year history.

Vortex uses a system of microscopic, interconnected pores with an average diameter of 7 µm (0.0003") interspersed throughout the steel. As pressure builds inside the mold, the gases present are forced directly through the Vortex, eliminating gas buildup, reducing injection pressure, lowering cycle times and gloss levels, and substantially reducing scrap and reject rates, enabling molders to save money in the process.

When compared to Porcerax II, Vortex is roughly 15% harder (43 HRC average), stronger (TR: 834 MPa) and less expensive than Porcerax II was prior to its discontinuation.

Though tool shops and molders may primarily identify Vortex for its use in speaker grill insert, interior automotive and medical applications, Vortex can be used in nearly every molding application where gas buildup is problematic. A variety of square, rectangle and round sizes, as well as self-venting core pins and plugs, are available.

Vortex is produced in the U.S. and is globally used in automotive, medical and commercial injection molding applications as well as lost-core wax molds.