Numerical Simulation for Injection Molding with a Rapidly Heated Mold,Part I: Flow Simulation for Thin Wall Parts

The rapid thermal response (RTR) injection molding is a novel process developed to raise the mold surface temperature rapidly to the polymer melt temperature prior to the injection stage and then cool rapidly. The resulting filling process is achieved inside a hot mold cavity by prohibiting formation of frozen layer so as to enable thin wall injection molding without filling difficulty. The present work covers flow simulation of thin wall injection molding using the RTR molding process. Both 2.5-D shell analysis and 3-D solid analysis were performed, and the simulation results were compared with the prior experimental results. Coupled analysis with transient heat transfer simulation was also studied to realize more reliable thin-wall-flow estimation for the RTR molding process. The proposed coupled simulation approach based on solid elements provides reliable flow estimation by accounting for the effects of the unique thermal boundary conditions of the RTR mold.     

基于统一网格的塑件成型与模具结构一体化分析

针对精密注射成型对模具变形准确预测的需求,基于CAD模型生成了统一的塑件成型分析与模具结构分析网格,实现了成型分析结果数据到结构分析的无缝输入。利用自主开发的注射成型过程仿真系统和ANSYS软件,进行了一体化分析研究。针对某型号航天产品的研发,分别开展了模具在最大注射压力、热应力及二者共同作用下的模具变形CAE分析,有效校核了模具的刚度,保证了产品的顺利成型与尺寸精度。     

Research on a New Variotherm Injection Molding Technology and its Application on the Molding of a Large LCD Panel

The polymer injection products produced by using the current injection molding method usually have many defects, such as short shot, jetting, sink mark, flow mark, weld mark, and floating fibers. These defects have to be eliminated by using post-processing processes such as spraying and coating, which will cause environment pollution and waste in time, materials, energy and labor. These problems can be solved effectively by using a new injection method, named as variotherm injection molding or rapid heat cycle molding (RHCM). In this paper, a new type of dynamic mold temperature control system using steam as heating medium and cooling water as coolant was developed for variotherm injection molding. The injection mold is heated to a temperature higher than the glass transition temperature of the resin, and keeps this temperature in the polymer melt filling stage. To evaluate the efficiency of steam heating and coolant cooling, the mold surface temperature response during the heating stage and the polymer melt temperature response during the cooling stage were investigated by numerical thermal analysis. During heating, the mold surface temperature can be raised up rapidly with an average heating speed of 5.4°C/s and finally reaches an equilibrium temperature after an effective heating time of 40 s. It takes about 34.5 s to cool down the shaped polymer melt to the ejection temperature for demolding. The effect of main parameters such as mold structure, material of mold insert on heating/cooling efficiency and surface temperature uniformity were also discussed based on simulation results. Finally, a variotherm injection production line for 46-inch LCD panel was constructed. The test production results demonstrate that the mold temperature control system developed in this study can dynamically and efficiently control mold surface temperature without increasing molding cycle time. With this new variotherm injection molding technology, the defects on LCD panel surface occurring in conventional injection molding process, such as short shot, jetting, sink mark, flow mark, weld mark, and floating fibers were eliminated effectively. The surface gloss of the panel was improved and the secondary operations, such as sanding and coating, are not needed anymore.     

微注射成型中变模温控制技术

阐述了变模温控制在微注射成型中的重要性，介绍、比较了当前出现的电热水冷、感应加热、薄膜电阻式加热、复合模壁绝热-加热、复合模壁绝热-压缩热空气加热几种变模温控制实现方法，展望了未来微注射成型中变模温控制的发展趋势。     

Injection Molding Nanoscale Features with the Aid of Induction Heating

During injection molding of micron or submicron scale features, incomplete filling frequently occurs, resulting from premature freezing of the polymer melt in contact with a cold mold. In order to overcome the filling difficulty without increasing the total cycle time, the mold surface temperature was raised rapidly by induction heating. A prototype mold insert with cooling channels was fabricated and integrated with a nickel stamp having nanoscale-grating structures. The nickel stamp surface was successfully heated from 25 to 258°C in 2.7 sec. Four different mold surface temperatures, 100, 150, 200 and 250°C, were tested to determine if the nanograting structures can be replicated with an optical quality cyclic olefin copolymer. Experimental results indicate that the nanocavities were successfully filled when the surface temperature reached 250°C, but mold release caused drag damages on the nanogratings. Further, coupled thermoelectromagnetic analyses were carried out to simulate the induction heating process of the nanostructured mold insert. The predicted surface temperature responses in general agree with the experimental ones and the simulation model can be used in the further development of process control and mold design in micro/nano molding.     

间隙对电热变模温高光注塑模具加热效率的影响

采用电热方式的高光注塑模具可以有效消除传统注塑成型过程中塑件的熔接痕、浮纤、银纹等缺陷。高光注塑成型技术要求对模具温度的快速动态控制,然而在电加热高光注塑成型中,电加热棒与模具安装孔之间不可避免地存在间隙,间隙层内的空气大大阻碍热量向模具传递。研究了电加热棒与模具安装孔之间的间隙对电热变模温加热效率的影响,构建了电加热高光注塑模具的三维热响应分析模型,利用有限元分析软件ANSYS进行了三维瞬态传热分析,得到了在不同间隙下的模具表面和电加热棒内部的热响应曲线,并通过大量实验证明了理论分析和模拟方法的正确性。结果表明,加热相同时间,间隙量越小,模具表面温度越高,电加热棒内部温度越低,加热效率越高,相较于间隙在0.32 mm,间隙在0.05 mm加热到60 s的模具表面温度至少高出50%,电加热棒内部的温度至少低55%。隙量对模具加热效率的影响并非成线性关系,而是间隙量在越小的区间,加热效率对间隙更加敏感,研究结果为电热变模温高光模具结构设计和电加热棒的选用提供依据。     

电磁感应加热技术在注射机温度控制系统上的应用

介绍了电磁感应加热原理及其能量转换过程。通过电磁感应加热技术来实现微处理器对注射机温度的有效控制,利用电磁感应加热输出功率控制算法和温度的模糊控制算法来进行注射机温度的软件控制,从而达到节能、升温快、高效率和高精度的控制目的;将注射机的传统加热方式和电磁感应加热方式进行了比较,用数据说明了电磁感应加热方式用于塑料机械上的经济价值。     

基于CAE技术的复杂形面特征塑件的翘曲变形诊断与优化

针对具有复杂形面特征的塑件在成型过程中容易出现翘曲变形的缺陷,以某实际注塑产品翘曲变形量超差为案例,采用计算机辅助工程（CAE）分析平台,对其进行成型过程的数值计算与模拟。以模拟结果为依据,进行合理分析,提出符合实际生产过程的模具结构优化方案。实践表明,利用优化方案进行成型生产,产品翘曲变形超差发生处的x、z方向上最大翘曲变形量由优化前的0.1726、0.1622 mm分别降低为0.0488、0.1156 mm,达到了翘曲变形量应控制在±0.15 mm的要求,得到了符合品质要求的塑件,从而进一步说明CAE技术在工艺优化与模具设计等方面的可靠性与实用性。     

基于计算机仿真的注塑成型工艺优化研究

为了优化注塑成型工艺,研究了注塑成型的数学模型,以及产生翘曲形变的原因,在此基础上利用Moldflow软件对薄壁件塑料注塑成型过程中的宽浇口平板进行了仿真实验,并采用了无定型塑料丙烯腈-丁二烯-苯乙烯共聚物+聚碳酸酯(ABS+PC)对其进行注射、保压、冷却等流程模拟,选定了保压压力、熔体温度、冷却时间、模具温度、注射时间、保压时间等主要工艺参数,并通过方差比较的方法对这些工艺参数进行了评价,最终确定了注塑成型的优化方案。通过实验得出了ABS+PC的最优工艺参数组合,有效降低薄壳制件的翘曲量并优化了其制品性能。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——下篇 塑料压制成型 第八讲 概论

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——下篇 塑料压制成型 第九讲 压注成型模具(二)

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——上篇 塑料压制成型 第七讲 压制塑料质量控制及缺陷分析(二)

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——下篇 塑料压制成型 第九讲 压注成型模具

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——上篇 塑料压制成型 第三讲 压制成型零件设计（一）

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

压塑工艺及模具设计——上篇 塑料压制成型 第七讲 压制塑料质量控制及缺陷分析

压塑与注塑采用不同类型的塑料,前者采用热固性塑料,后者采用热塑性塑料。压塑成型工艺及模具设计是一门不断发展的综合科学,不仅随着高分子材料合成技术的提高,压塑成型设备的更新,成型工艺的成熟而改进,而且随着计算机技术,快速造型技术,数值模拟技术,数字化应用技术,智能技术等在压塑成型加工领域渗透而发展。本讲座内容主要包括:压制成型工艺及分类,压制件设计,压制模结构设计及其零件设计,压制成型设备,压制塑件质量控制及缺陷分析,压制成型模应用举例;压注成型原理及工艺过程,压注成型模具结构设计,压注成型压力的计算,压注成型设备的选择,压注塑件质量及缺陷分析,压注成型模应用举例。     

蒸汽加热变模温注射成型数值模拟与结果分析

采用Moldflow软件对变模温注射成型过程进行数值模拟。利用蒸汽加热和冷却水冷却的变模温注塑工艺,研究不同蒸汽加热时间下注塑位置处压力以及制件冷凝层的变化规律,同时分析了制件表面和模具型腔表面的热响应规律。结果表明,相比于传统注射成型工艺过程,变模温注射成型通过提高注塑充填过程中模具温度,使得制件冷凝层出现在充填阶段之后;随着模具加热时间从10、15、25 s增加到40 s,注塑位置处最大注射压力从87.0608、84.6064、79.6863 MPa减小到74.4342 MPa,大大提高了熔体注塑充填过程中的充填能力;通过不同的蒸汽加热时间,制件表面和模具型腔表面可以获得不同的温度值,同时通过模拟获得了传热系数对制件表面温度的影响。     

Effect of rapid mold surface inducting heating on the replication ability of microinjection molding light‐guided plates with V‐grooved microfeatures

This study applies a magnetic induction heating method for rapid and uniform heating of a mold surface for injection molding of 2‐inch light‐guided plates (LGPs). Mold temperature is an important process parameter that affects microinjection molding quality. This research investigates the effects of high‐mold surface temperature generated by induction heating in enhancing the replication rate of microfeatures of LGPs. This study has three stages. First, an appropriate power rate setting is determined for induction heating and injection molding process window. Second, all key parameters affecting microfeature quality are identified to determine the optimum LGP micromolding parameters using the Taguchi and ANOVA methods. Third, the quality of microfeature heights and angles are experimentally verified. Polymethyl methacrylate was molded under various injection molding conditions to replicate an electroformed nickel stamper with V‐grooves 10 μm in width and 5 μm in depth. In this investigation, injection speed was set in the conventional range. Experimental findings indicate that instead of high‐mold temperature, the combination of low mold temperature and high surface temperature obtained using induction heating improve replication quality and reduce cycle time. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

注塑成型充填过程的可压缩流动分析

注塑成型过程中,熔体在型腔中的流动和传热对制品质量性能有重要的影响.为了预测注塑制品的收缩、翘曲和力学性能,精确预测充填过程的流动及传热历史是十分必要的.本文考虑熔体的可压缩性及相变的影响,将充填过程中熔体的流动视为非牛顿可压流体在非等温状态下的广义Hele-Shaw流动.采用有限元/有限差分混合方法求解压力场和温度场,采用控制体积法跟踪熔体流动前沿,并应用Visual C++实现了注塑充填过程的可压缩流动分析.为了保证能量方程各项在单元内边界的连续性,结点能量方程各项由单元形心处的离散值加权平均获得,因而,能量方程在计算区域内整体求解.对两个算例进行了分析,模拟结果与实验结果的对比,验证了本文数值算法及程序.     

滚塑工艺成型周期的数值研究

为球形中空塑料制品的滚塑工艺建立了一种新的传热理论模型,并采用Fluent软件对模具的导热、塑料层的导热和熔融、结晶相变以及内部空气的自然对流换热耦合求解。数值计算所得的模具外壁面温度和内部空气温度都与实验结果吻合较好,从而证明了理论模型的有效性。最后,采用该理论模型分别计算了在不同加热温度、加热对流换热系数以及冷却对流换热系数下的滚塑成型周期,从而确定了这些参数对成型周期的影响,并得出了增大这些参数可缩短成型周期的结论。     

Experimental rapid surface heating by induction for micro‐injection molding of light‐guided plates

This work experimentally investigates the use of induction‐heating to heat mold surfaces rapidly, and thus enhance the replication effect of the microstructure of light‐guided plates (LGP) in the injection molding process. This investigation employs a 2‐inch LGP injection mold as the experimental carrier, and compares the replication effect on the microstructure of induction heating with that of conventional oil‐heating. Temperature increases on the mold plate are examined using a thermal video system. The experimental results show that (1) the flat induction coil design promotes rapid surface heating. (2) Induction‐heating the mold surface to 110°C improves the replication rate of the height of the micro‐structure by up to 95%. (3) The LGP produced by induction heating has no significant residual stress. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009