What are the specific requirements for the surface quality of plastic injection molded products in the European and American markets

Release time：2025/1/6   Click ：

1. Appearance integrity
Flawless: The surface of the product should not have obvious burrs, burrs, or sprue marks. Flying edges and burrs can affect the appearance and texture of the product, and may also cause harm to the user; The traces on the sprue should be minimized or treated to avoid affecting the overall appearance. For example, for some high-end electronic product casings, the surface should be smooth, and any minor flaws may result in product rejection.
No shrinkage marks and dents: Shrinkage marks and dents are common problems in the injection molding process, and the European and American markets have strict requirements for them. These defects can affect the flatness and consistency of the appearance of the product, especially in products with high appearance requirements such as automotive interior parts, home appliance shells, etc. This requires precise control of parameters such as holding time, pressure, and temperature in the injection molding process to reduce the occurrence of shrinkage marks and indentations.
2. Surface glossiness
Gloss uniformity: The surface glossiness of the product should be uniform and consistent. Whether it is a high gloss or matte surface, there should be no significant difference in local gloss. For example, on cosmetic packaging containers, the high gloss surface needs to have a uniform gloss like a mirror to enhance the product's grade; For some products such as tool handles that use matte surfaces, the matte effect should also be consistent, and there should be no reflective or partially shiny areas.
Comply with design requirements: The glossiness level should meet the expected product design. The product design phase will determine whether the surface is high gloss, semi gloss, or low gloss (matte), and the production process must be strictly adjusted according to the design requirements. For example, in high-end home decor, a high gloss surface can create a luxurious feeling, while a low gloss surface may be more suitable for reflecting a rustic or understated luxury style.
3. Color accuracy and stability
Color matching: The product color must accurately match the standard color card or sample color specified by the customer. In the European and American markets, there is a low tolerance for color deviation, especially in branded or series products where color consistency is crucial. This requires the use of high-precision color matching equipment and advanced color matching software during the color matching process, and strict control of raw material batches and injection molding process parameters in the production process to ensure the stability of color for each batch of products.
Fading resistance: After long-term use or exposure to certain environmental conditions (such as light, chemical substances, etc.), the color of the product should remain relatively stable and not easily fade. For example, plastic parts of outdoor items such as garden furniture and sports equipment need to have good UV resistance to prevent colors from fading quickly under sunlight.
Surface hardness and wear resistance
Hardness requirement: The surface of the product should have appropriate hardness to resist scratching and deformation. For products that frequently come into contact with other objects or are prone to friction, such as phone cases, toys, stationery, etc., surface hardness is particularly important. In the European and American markets, methods such as pencil hardness testing are commonly used to measure surface hardness, and different products have different hardness requirements based on their usage scenarios.
Wear resistance: The product needs to have good wear resistance to ensure that the surface will not easily wear out during normal use. For example, the plastic parts of car interiors need to withstand frequent friction from personnel entering and leaving, placing items, etc., and must have excellent wear resistance to ensure that the surface still maintains a good appearance after long-term use.
4. Texture and Touch
Texture requirement: The surface of the product should present a texture that matches the positioning of the product. For example, for some plastic products that mimic leather or fabric textures, their surface texture should be realistic and provide consumers with similar visual and tactile experiences. This may require special texture treatment on the surface of the mold or the use of special injection molding processes to achieve.
Comfortable Touch: The product should have a comfortable touch without any rough, sticky, or cold feeling. For example, the casing of handheld devices, handles of household items, and other parts may need to be sandblasted or coated with a soft touch to ensure comfort in contact with human skin.