Urquhart, J M; Brown, C S (2004) The effect of uncertainty in heat transfer data on the simulation of polymer processing. NPL Report. DEPC-MPR 001

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Abstract

Implications of uncertainty in heat transfer parameters to industrial processing have been established via polymer injection moulding process simulation. Moldflow finite element analysis software has been used to simulate injection moulding of components to investigate the interrelationship of injection moulding processing conditions and the effects of material properties on the moulding process. The effects of uncertainty in thermal conductivity for both polymer and mould, and the effect of mould-melt heat transfer coefficient, upon the time to freeze the part have been examined. Polymer thermal conductivity shows an inverse correlation with time to freeze the part, and exhibits a consistent trend for a wide range of thicknesses of component tested. It is a dominant heat transfer parameter. Additionally, the relative importance of the mould-melt heat transfer coefficient has been shown to be a function of the product geometry, where the heat transfer coefficient becomes increasingly important for thinner products. However, large changes must be made to the mould-melt heat transfer coefficient in the analysis to alter the Moldflow predictions. The study has helped develop an improved understanding of the physical processes taking place during injection moulding, in particular heat transfer, and this knowledge can be implemented to help companies predict processing conditions and optimise cycle times.

Item Type:	Report/Guide (NPL Report)
NPL Report No.:	DEPC-MPR 001
Subjects:	Advanced Materials Advanced Materials > Polymers
Last Modified:	02 Feb 2018 13:16
URI:	http://eprintspublications.npl.co.uk/id/eprint/2948

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