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Multiscale Simulation of Injection Molding of Parts with Low Aspect Ratio Microfeatures

  • T. R. Tofteberg and E. Andreassen
Published/Copyright: April 6, 2013
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International Polymer Processing
From the journal International Polymer Processing Volume 25 Issue 1

Abstract

This article presents a simulation study of the injection molding of a macroscopic part with microfeatures; an optical grating with amplitude 0.6 μm and period 3 μm. The aim of the simulations is to develop a procedure capable of predicting the replication of optical gratings based on the injection molding processing parameters. Three coupled simulations are performed. 1.) A macroscopic simulation of the flow in the part without microfeatures. 2.) A microscale flow simulation in a domain around a single microfeature using the pressure from the macroscopic simulation as input. 3.) A thermal simulation of the mold wall coupled to the microscale simulation. In the simulations the polymer melt is treated as a generalized Newtonian fluid. Shear viscosity and thermal properties were characterized as part of the study. Other physical effects such as wall adhesion and elasticity are discussed, but not included in the present model. The simulation results agree well with the experimental replication data, and correctly describe how small changes in the mold temperature can lead to large changes in the replication.

∗ Mail address: Terje Rosquist Tofteberg, SINTEF Materials and Chemistry, Oslo, Norway. E-mail:

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Received: 2009-09-25
Accepted: 2009-11-16
Published Online: 2013-04-06
Published in Print: 2010-03-01

© 2010, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich

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https://doi.org/10.3139/217.2318

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Contents
  2. Contents
  3. Editorial
  4. Professor James Lindsay White 1938–2009
  5. Regular Contributed Articles
  6. Effect of Clay on Thermal, Mechanical and Gas Barrier Properties of Biodegradable Poly(lactic acid)/Poly(butylene succinate) (PLA/PBS) Nanocomposites
  7. Thermo-mechanical Properties of Urea-based Pattern Molding Compounds for Investment Casting
  8. Erosion Wear Analysis of SiC Filled Glass-Epoxy Composites using Taguchi Technique
  9. Production and Characterization of PP/LDPE Blend Filament Yarns under Industrial Conditions
  10. Modelling Post-molding Warping
  11. Modelling Post-molding Warping
  12. Appropriate Boundary Conditions in the Flow of Molten Polymers
  13. Multiscale Simulation of Injection Molding of Parts with Low Aspect Ratio Microfeatures
  14. PPS-News
  15. PPS News
  16. Seikei Kakou Abstracts
  17. Seikei-Kakou Abstracts
  18. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia Abstracts
  19. Polímeros: Ciência e Tecnologia – Abstracts
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