Abstract: | In injection molding certain polymers, fracture of the polymer stream sometimes occurs at the mold surface. This phenomenon has been found to be a tearing apart of the polymer surface layer accompanied by downstream slip of the flowing melt at the polymer/mold interface. Fracture occurs early in mold filling and is initiated usually at the gate to the mold cavity. Analysis of the fracture mechanism indicates that fracture is caused by: (1) high shearing stress in the melt as it fills the mold; (2) poor polymer/mold adhesion; and (3) low polymer surface cohesive strength. |