The effect of pressure and temperature on microthermoforming thermoplastic films integrated in the injection moulding process
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Ariane Jungmeier
Abstract
Injection moulding is a widespread large-scale production technology for the manufacturing of thermoplastic parts, with small wall thicknesses limiting the feasible flow length. Introducing microthermoforming into the injection moulding process with dynamic mould temperature control enables the production of film-based, plane microstructured parts with further three-dimensional functional structures (e.g. for handling or for fitting in devices/assembly groups). Investigations show that considerable forming is possible with pressures up to 140 bar and forming temperatures far below the glass transition temperature of 50-μm-thick polycarbonate films in cycle times of <3 min. Generally speaking, the novel technology is expected to allow for multifunctional, thin-walled microstructured parts at large scales with short cycle times.
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) for funding the work in project JU 2944/1-1 as well as the head of the Institute of Polymer Technology Professor Dr.-Ing. Dietmar Drummer for enabling and supporting the work. The author also extends her gratitude to the industrial partners Werkzeugbau Siegfried Hofmann GmbH for supporting the mould design, HB-Therm AG for providing the dynamic oil-tempering equipment, and Bayer MaterialScience AG, Leonhard Kurz Stiftung & Co. KG, and Sabic Deutschland GmbH for providing the material. Furthermore, the author wishes to thank Arburg GmbH und Co. KG for supplying and optimising the injection moulding machine.
Conflict of interest statement: The author declares that there is no financial or other substantive conflict of interest that might be construed to influence the results or their interpretation. All sources of financial support for the project are disclosed.
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©2016 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- IMKS and IMMS: two methods for the production of plastic parts featuring metallic areas
- Original articles
- Application of a multilayer injection molding process for thick-walled optical components
- Mesoscale simulation of the solidification process in injection moulded parts
- Improved molding of micro structures using PVD-coated mold inserts
- In-mould graining of 3D-shaped parts with micro-structured surfaces
- Mold technology for mass production of continuous fiber-reinforced sandwich parts
- The effect of pressure and temperature on microthermoforming thermoplastic films integrated in the injection moulding process
- Effect of filler type and composition on the mechanical, thermal, and dynamic mechanical properties of PS/SBR vulcanizate
- Improving the properties of recycled PET/PEN blends by using different chain extenders
- Effect of ABS/PMMA/EMA ternary blending sequence on mechanical properties and surface glossiness
- Fabrication of a superhydrophobic LLDPE film by thermal lamination and peeling
- Heat distortion temperature and mechanical properties of agricultural wastes-reinforced phenolic composites
- Nondestructive evaluation of graphene-based strain sensor using Raman analysis and Raman mapping
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- IMKS and IMMS: two methods for the production of plastic parts featuring metallic areas
- Original articles
- Application of a multilayer injection molding process for thick-walled optical components
- Mesoscale simulation of the solidification process in injection moulded parts
- Improved molding of micro structures using PVD-coated mold inserts
- In-mould graining of 3D-shaped parts with micro-structured surfaces
- Mold technology for mass production of continuous fiber-reinforced sandwich parts
- The effect of pressure and temperature on microthermoforming thermoplastic films integrated in the injection moulding process
- Effect of filler type and composition on the mechanical, thermal, and dynamic mechanical properties of PS/SBR vulcanizate
- Improving the properties of recycled PET/PEN blends by using different chain extenders
- Effect of ABS/PMMA/EMA ternary blending sequence on mechanical properties and surface glossiness
- Fabrication of a superhydrophobic LLDPE film by thermal lamination and peeling
- Heat distortion temperature and mechanical properties of agricultural wastes-reinforced phenolic composites
- Nondestructive evaluation of graphene-based strain sensor using Raman analysis and Raman mapping
