What is freeze deburring?
Freeze deburring is a mechanical-thermal process for the removal of Burrs especially on rubber parts. The components are cooled down considerably in a drum with liquid nitrogen so that the burrs become brittle and are removed by abrasives without damaging the component itself.
How does freeze deburring work?
- Cooling with liquid nitrogen to -40°C to -150°C. Burrs (thin, protruding material residues) become brittle during cooling and lose their elastic properties.
- When blasting with an abrasive (e.g. with polycarbonate granulate) Ridges and thin-walled geometries are broken off by the impact of the abrasive.
- Separation of the deburred parts using a screen shaker. The parts are then cleaned and dried.
The method is an efficient procedure for Deburring of components with thick-walled geometries. The base body is not attacked by the abrasive and only the thin-walled burr is removed. If the component structures are very delicate, e.g. with wall thicknesses in the same thickness range as the burrs, freeze deburring reaches its limits.
Advantages of freeze deburring
- Burr-free components with high dimensional accuracy
- No chemical residues or hazards
- High degree of automation and efficiency possible
- Suitable for small to large series