IMD, also known as In Mole Decoration in English, is commonly translated as injection molding surface treatment technology or injection molding surface decoration technology. IMD is currently a popular surface decoration technology internationally, mainly applied to the surface decoration and functional panels of household appliances. It is commonly used in various fields such as mobile phone window lenses and outer shells, washing machine control panels, refrigerator control panels, air conditioning control panels, automotive dashboard, and rice cooker control panels On exterior components such as signs. There are many surface treatment technologies for plastics, and here we mainly explain the differences between IML and IMD technologies.

IMD, also known as In Mole Decoration in English, is commonly translated as injection molding surface treatment technology or injection molding surface decoration technology. IMD is currently a popular surface decoration technology internationally, mainly applied to the surface decoration and functional panels of household appliances. It is commonly used in various fields such as mobile phone window lenses and outer shells, washing machine control panels, refrigerator control panels, air conditioning control panels, automotive dashboard, and rice cooker control panels On exterior components such as signs.

IMD is divided into IML and IMR, and the biggest difference between these two processes is whether there is a transparent protective film on the surface of the product.

The Chinese name of IML: Injection molding for in mold inserts has a very prominent feature, with a hardened transparent film on the surface, a printed pattern layer in the middle, and a plastic layer on the back. Due to the ink being sandwiched in the middle, the product can prevent scratches and abrasion on the surface, and can maintain a bright and non fading color for a long time. IML is also known as IMF

The Chinese name of IMR: In mold transfer printing This process involves printing patterns on a thin film and using a film feeder to attach the film to the mold cavity for injection molding. After injection molding, the ink layer with the pattern is separated from the film, and the ink layer remains on the plastic part to obtain a decorative pattern on the surface. There is no transparent protective film on the final product surface, and the film is only a carrier in the production process. But the advantage of IMR lies in its high level of automation during production and low cost of mass production. Disadvantages of IMR: The printed pattern layer is only a few micrometers thick on the surface of the product, and it is easy to wear off the printed pattern layer and fade after a period of use, resulting in an unattractive surface. In addition, the long development cycle and high development costs of new products, as well as the inability to achieve flexible changes in pattern colors in small batches, are also weaknesses that the IMR process cannot overcome.