IMD mould technics：

IMD(In-Mould-Decoration)
IMD(In-Mould-Decoration): Put a FILM printed with pictures into plastic mould for injection moulding. This FLIM can be roughly divided into three layers: base material （normally PET）, INK ( printing ink), abrasive resistant material (normally a special glue). The plastic moulding is finished, the film melt with the plastic with abrasive resistant material on the outside surface. Cell phone display screen normally adopts this technique. The plastic materials are usually PC, PMMA, PBT etc. whose main performances are mainly wear prevention and anti-scoring. Another process called IML(IN-MOUld-Lable) technique which is similar to IMD technique, but after moulding, the film can be pulled out like pressed band, and only pictures are transfer printed onto the plastic products, which is also called inside-mould transfer printing.
IMD has two kinds: one kind is single-piece PC material preset in mould cavity. Another kind is chain – type PET material (quite similar to movie films and printed instant pasta bag uncut）.
The product of the former kind merges PC piece，the product of the latter kind only takes away printing ink, but PET material (also called foil) will not merge into parts.

For the former kind, since PC material is thick, only silk mesh printing can be adopted thus it can only reach relatively rough effect, for example, the anterior shield shape on MOTOROLA V66 phone is already very delicate for this method.

For the latter kind, since PET material is thin, hectograph printing can be used which is very exquisite. Especially for electroplating and transparent metal surface, ideal effect can be achieved. For example, MOTOROLA V60 phone, its front electroplating and black texture effects are both perfect.

For example, control panel on mould of Panasonic rice cooker is typical IMD: Place a piece of PET film after silk printing into plastic injection mould for moulding. Materials normally adopted are PC, transparent ABS, PMMA. After moulding film and plastic are merged together.

Nowadays, most external screen lens of mobile phones adopt IMD technique whose cost is relatively high. Mobile phone moulds especially transparent moulds have more stringent requirements.
Normally there are two background reasons for use of IMD technique:
1， Some effects can not be simulated using plastic moulding, for example: walnut dashboard of automobile (on automobile accessory mould).
2，It is very difficult to integrate several effects on small parts, for example: the front triangle plate of MOTO V60 mould integrate electroplating, transparent, silk mesh printing altogether, yet it requires also high precision. It can be seen that it is difficult to carry out real electroplating and transparent slice separately then combine them together.

Another method to realize it is to make smooth textures on external surface, while make rough texture on internal surface in mould fabrication stage. But this method has special requirements on mould because bigger mould drawing angle is required for rough texture.

Description on relative definitions
1. IMD
Full English name of IMD：In-Mould-Decoration; sketch is shown in Figure 1, printing ink is applied on the Inlay at first, which will remain between the Inlay and injected material through moulding. Since there is Inlay（normally PC film，thickness 0.125~0.75mm）as protection layer thus it has favorable wear prevention performance.