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Because of the difficult contact with miniaturised components the following treatment steps must already considered with the micro injection molding production . Micro injection molding parts have connected a low weight with a surface relatively big to the mass. The electric-static forces lead to the liability of the parts in the tool surfaces, what prevents dropping into the container.A manual use of the parts is, because of the low dimensions no more possible. With the micro injection molding process, the application of using automation devices are necessary already with unusually low numbers of micro parts.
The last decades have seen rapid development in hard-machining, enabling faster tool-manufacturing when using pre-hardened tool steels. Such steels are usually delivered in hardness up to Approx. 40 HRC. However, pre-hardened tool steel having 45 HRC is today available on the market. Such hardness is suitable in many molding applications, but when molding reinforced plastics, such as glass-fiber reinforced ones, higher mold surface hardness is required to achieve desired mold life length. Application of surface engineering (Nitriding, PVD-coating etc.) on pre-hardened tool steel enables the tool designer/tool maker to tailor-make the desired mold surface properties
To reduce manufacturing costs and address environmental issues, coatings free Mold-In-Color plastics are now replacing coated plastics. This paper will explore the physical property retention / weathering performance of various Mold-In-Color plastics used for exterior trim. Exposed specimens are analyzed for their change in physical properties then analyzed for change in surface chemistry via infrared spectroscopy and surface topography. It is concluded that some plastics containing styrene experience a change in physical properties and surface chemistry upon UV expose while other materials like PMMA acrylic retain their original performance.
Mingyi Wang, Wenli Zhu, R.K.M. Chu, Hongtao Zhang, Chul B. Park, Nanqiao Zhou, May 2011
The PP/PS/Nano-clay blends were foamed in this paper using a single-screw extruder foaming system and cell structure of foamed samples was characterized using SEM. By comparing cell morphology, foam expansion ratio, cell density etc, the effect of blend ratio for R-PP/PS/Nano-clay blends on cell morphology of foamed samples was studied. The results showed foaming behavior of PP could be improved when it was blended with PS, and the addition of Nano-clay further improved the foaming property of the blends. Microcellular foamed plastics with cell-population density as high as 2.16 108cells/cm3 were obtained when 5wt% Nano-clay was included in the formulation.
Mingyi Wang, R.K.M. Chu, Wenli Zhu, Chul B. Park, Nanqiao Zhou, Hongtao Zhang, May 2011
Foaming behavior of PP/PDMS blends was investigated using a single extruder foaming system, with CO2 as the foaming agent. Influences of die temperature and foaming agent conten on foam expansion ratio, cell density and die pressure were analyzed. Our research showed that gas loss and crystallization stiffening of the melt at low temperature were the two governing factors of foam expansion ratio, and the addition of PDMS improved the expansion ratio of PP foamed samples at higher loadings (5wt% and 7wt%) of foaming agent. Foamed samples with expansion ratio as high as 23 were obtained as 5wt% CO2 was used.
Duana Priddy, Brad Arnold, Kevin Battjes, May 2011
CPVC pipes and fittings are commonly used in hydronic heating systems. However, there are occasional failures of CPVC pipes and fittings used in these systems due to chemical contamination by the lubricant oil used in the heat exchanger refrigerant. Although leaks in the heat exchanger are rare, when a leak does occur, it can lead to almost immediate failure of the CPVC piping system. This paper discusses the results of our forensic failure analyses on CPVC hydronic piping. Also we present the results of our studies on the chemical compatibility of refrigerant lubricant oils.
The electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) and the electrical properties of linear low density polyethylene modified by heat treated carbon nanofibers (Pyrograf III PR-19) and mesophase pitch-based carbon fibers were investigated. After thermal treatment of the nanofibers to 2500C, 20 wt% PR-19 thermal treated nanocomposites displayed a resistivity of ~1e5 cm, and EMI SE values as high as 15 dB for most of the VHF-UHF frequency range. These nanocomposites retained half of the flexibility and strength as well as one-third of the ductility, relative to the LLDPE. EMI SE analysis indicates that absorption is the primary shielding mechanism.
Supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) was used as a processing aid to improve the level of exfoliation and, in some cases, the dispersion of nano-clay in polypropylene (PP). The anisotropic properties of injection molded nano-clay/PP composites were studied. The use of scCO2 with modified processing methods lead to materials which showed improvements in the mechanical properties of 78.4% compared to the pure PP matrix for a 18wt % clay loading. A further improvement in properties is expected with higher levels of nano-clay, improvements in the processing method, and the use of a highly crystalline PP matrix.
Troubleshooting serious problems with coatings on plastics requires quickly finding the cause. Delay can mean high costs, customer dissatisfaction and loss of reputation. To proceed rapidly an investigator must be able to select one or two most likely causes for further investigation. Facts Analysis is a useful, practical, simple tool for generating plausible possible causes and deciding which ones to pursue further. Therefore, blind alleys are avoided. An available workbook, Factory Applied Coating Troubleshooting Checklist leads the investigator through the D, the M-and most of the A of six-sigma DMAIC. It can be used by investigators of all educational backgrounds.
This experimental study examines the evolution of the extent of dissolution of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) indomethacin (INM) into the polymer excipient Eudragit E PO (E PO) on four screw configurations. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results show that kneading blocks accelerate the complete dissolution process. It is concluded that the kneading blocks, which cause the processed stream to undergo chaotic laminar extensional flow and are crucial to laminar distributive mixing, may be the main necessary mixing elements for the full dissolution of the drug in the polymer melt.
Injection molding is one of the most popular polymer processing techniques in plastics industries. Hot runner has become a standard component of injection molding molds due to a number of advantages, including reduction in raw material consumption, greater production rate, and lower power consumption. Hot-runner temperature distribution plays an important role in final product quality. A multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) generalized predictive control (GPC) is developed, implemented and tested for hot-runner temperature control on a reciprocating-screw injection molding machine. Experimental results prove that GPC can control hot-runner temperature accurately.
Jun Peng, Jian Wang, Ke Li, Lih-Sheng Turng, Xiang-Fang Peng, May 2011
Expandable thermoplastic microspheres were employed as chemical blowing agents to produce biodegradable polylactic acid parts. The surface characteristics of the samples were evaluated with a 2D surface roughness analyzer and a white-light 3D surface profiler. It was found that microcellular injection molded parts with ETM exhibit good surface quality, similar to conventional solid injection molded parts. The tensile properties of injection molded PLA samples with variable ETM weight ratios have been investigated. As shown by the testing results, the cell microstructures play an important role in the surface quality and mechanical properties.
Environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) is a critical mechanical property for polyethylene in injection and rotational molding applications. Based on a very well characterized matrix of materials with widely varying densities and melt index, we have looked at broad orthogonal composition distribution (BOCD) as a means of improving ESCR without the processability and stiffness debits. Through blending high melt index, high density components with low density, low melt index components to a target MI/ density, ESCR improvements of up to two orders of magnitude are evident over their single component counterparts.
We present a novel platform for measurement of droplet dynamics and interfacial tension via polymer melt microfluidics (PMM). We utilize a flow focusing technique to form droplets or threads which then travel down a central channel. Upon cessation of flow, we monitor the relaxation of the droplets and threads and extract their interfacial tension. We demonstrate the technique using a polystyrene/polyamide (PS/PA) system and use the deformed droplet retraction method (DDRM) to determine the interfacial tension without any pre-processing of the samples in a confined geometry. The result agrees well with that of a previous work.
Michael Ponting, Jong Keum, Benny Freeman, Anne Hiltner, Eric Baer, May 2011
This paper examines the structure-property relationships of poly (caprolactone) (PCL) nanolayers confined by various polymer substrates. AFM, gas transport, and WAXS characterizations were utilized to demonstrate that confined PCL nanolayers crystallized as large in-plane lamellae of high aspect ratio. This phenomenon, previously observed only for poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), may be a more general phenomenon of crystalline polymers. In-plane PCL lamellae were as effective as PEO in reducing the oxygen permeability by more than 2 orders of magnitude. Additionally, the confining polymer substrate was found to affect to orientation of the PCL nanolayers due to chemical compatibility or epitaxial induced crystallization.
The processability of meat-and-bone-meal (MBM) proteins via thermal routes was investigated. Batch compounding and compression molding were used to determine optimal compositions and processing parameters. The sheets were studied for their water vapor permeability, mechanical properties and environmental aging effects. The relative humidity (RH) of the ambient air played a significant role in the processing of the compounded protein.. Sheets were formed at 40-50% RH. As expected, mechanical properties of the sheets were also found to be moisture sensitive. Particle size of MBM raw material was also found to significantly affect the texture and mechanical properties of sheets.
Ke Li, Jun Peng, Xiaofei Sun, Lih-Sheng Turng, Han-Xiong Huang, May 2011
Foamed PLA/PBAT blends were processed via the microcellular injection molding process using supercritical N2 as a blowing agent. The effect of composition ratio on cell morphology, thermal properties, and mechanical properties of microcellular PLA/PBAT blends was investigated. Results showed that neat PLA presented a relatively small cell size and the cell size became larger from the skin to the central area. With increasing PBAT content, the cell size also increased, while the size distribution of the cells became uniform. The thermal properties of PLA, especially Tg, were slightly affected by the addition of PBAT. The crystallization behavior was noticeably influenced.
Shirley Hsu, Lih-Sheng Turng, Tim Osswald, Natalie Rudolph, Eugene Dougherty, Patrick Gorton, May 2011
In this study, the rheological behaviors of single-phase LDPE/N2 solutions at various gas contents are measured using a high-pressure slit-die rheometer. The resulting rheology data of LDPE/N2 are curve fit using the Cross-WLF model, which were then used in simulation of microcellular injection molding processes. The pressure effect on the shear viscosity is also studied. In addition, A 3D plot of viscosity as a function of shear rate, pressure and temperatures has been constructed, which is more profound at high pressures, low temperatures, and low shear rates.
Olga Kuvshinnikova, Albin Berzinis, Brian Keir, May 2011
Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA) alloy formulated in nineteen high chroma colors were exposed for 10 years of natural (outdoor) weathering in Florida and in Arizona, and 10,000 kJ/m2 of artificial accelerated weathering testing under ASTM G26 protocol. Exposed specimens were evaluated numerically and visually to assess the color shift, and ten out of nineteen colors demonstrated excellent color stability after 10 years of outdoor exposure. It was observed that both colorant package and weathering protocol are the key factors for determining the color durability of the formulated blends. The accelerated test appeared over-predicting color shift observed in the natural weathering tests.
Cybele Lotti, Rogerio M. Moreno, Satinath Bhattacharya, Luiz H. Mattoso, May 2011
Natural rubber (NR) is a biopolymer whose properties depend on the structure of the 1,4-cis polyisoprene chains, non-rubber constituents, environmental conditions. NR has been characterized by traditional methods, but these cannot effectively account for clone's differences. The aim of this work is to use extensional rheology to characterize and differentiate NR samples as for clone type and season of the year. Three IAC 300 series and RRIM 600 clones of Hevea brasiliensis tapped between October 2006 and August 2008 were investigated. The extensional viscosity varied considerably and was more sensitive than any other traditional property, being fundamental for monitoring purposes.
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