Residual stress and viscoelastic deformation of film insert molded automotive parts

Complex automotive parts were produced by film insert molding and the ejected parts were annealed to investigate the viscoelastic deformation. Warpage of the part was predicted by numerical simulation of mold filling, packing, and cooling stages with non‐isothermal three‐dimensional flow analysis. The flow analysis results were transported to a finite element stress analysis program and the stress analysis was performed by using time‐temperature superposition principle to investigate viscoelastic deformation. Predicted residual stresses, viscoelastic deformation, and warpage showed good agreement with experimental results. Thermal shrinkage of the inserted film and relaxation of the residual stress affected the viscoelastic deformation of the part significantly during annealing. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Molded geometry and viscoelastic behavior of film insert molded parts

Virgin injection‐molded tensile specimens without any inserted film and four kinds of film insert molded (FIM) tensile specimens were prepared. They were annealed at 80°C to investigate the effect of residual stresses and thermal shrinkage of the inserted film on thermal deformation of tensile specimens. The FIM specimens with the unannealed film were bent after ejection in such a way that the film side was protruded and the warpage was reversed gradually during annealing and the film side was intruded. Warpage of the FIM specimen with the film annealed at 80°C for 20 days was not reversed during annealing. Processing of the FIM specimens have been modeled numerically to predict thermoviscoelastic deformation of the part and to understand the warpage reversal phenomenon (WRP). Nonisothermal three‐dimensional flow analysis was carried out for filling, packing, and cooling stages. The flow analysis results were transported to a finite element stress analysis program for prediction of deformation of the FIM part. The WRP was caused by the combined effect of thermal shrinkage of the inserted film and relaxation of residual stresses in the FIM specimen during annealing. It is expected that this study will contribute towards the improvement of the FIM product quality and prevention of large viscoelastic deformation of the molded part. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Relationship between the crystallization behavior and the warpage of film‐insert‐molded parts

The dimensional variation of an injection‐molded, semicrystalline polymer part is larger than the variation of an amorphous polymer part because the shrinkage of a crystalline polymer is generally greater than the shrinkage of an amorphous one. We investigated the warpage of film‐insert‐molded (FIM) specimens to determine the effect of the crystallization behavior on the deformation of FIM parts. More perfect crystalline structures and higher crystallinity developed in the core region of the FIM specimens versus other regions. Relatively imperfect crystalline structures and low crystallinity developed in the adjacent regions of the inserted films, whereas a thin, amorphous skin layer developed in the adjacent regions of the metallic mold wall. The crystallizable substrate in the FIM specimens caused very large warpage because nonuniform shrinkage occurred in the thickness direction of the specimens. Therefore, the warpage of an experimentally prepared FIM poly(butylene terephthalate) specimen was greater than that predicted numerically because of its complex crystallization behavior. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Prediction of residual stress and viscoelastic deformation of film insert molded parts

Film insert molding (FIM) has been modeled numerically to predict residual stress and viscoelastic deformation of the part. Nonisothermal three dimensional flow analysis for filling, packing, and cooling stages was carried out by using a commercial software. It was assumed that the inserted film was solid throughout the entire molding procedure although remelting could occur at the interface with the substrate. The flow analysis results, e.g., temperature, stress, and density distribution in the substrate domain, were transported to a finite element stress analysis program for viscoelastic stress analysis. Deflection of the FIM part was obtained as soon as the part was ejected from the mold by assuming isotropic elastic material. The residual stress distribution in the FIM part was acquired by removing the constraints along the boundary of the molded part. Viscoelastic deformation of the FIM part was predicted by performing viscoelastic stress analysis in order to understand long term behavior of the FIM part when exposed to room temperature. Durability of automotive and electronic parts produced by the film injection molding can be predicted by the procedure adopted in this study. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Development of warpage and residual stresses in film insert molded parts

Residual stresses, bending moments, and warpage of film insert molded (FIM) parts were investigated by experimental and numerical analyses. Thermally induced residual stresses in FIM parts were predicted by numerical simulations with both commercial and house codes. Bending moments and warpage of FIM tensile specimens were calculated numerically and compared with experimental results. Thermally induced residual stresses were predicted by utilizing a one‐dimensional thermoelastic model where constant material properties are assumed. The residual stress distribution depended remarkably on the Biot number and the heat was removed rapidly through the surface resulting in high residual stresses. Asymmetric residual stresses generated by nonuniform cooling of the part provoked nonuniform shrinkage and warpage of the molded tensile specimen. It was found that the numerically calculated bending moment is in good agreement with the experimental results. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Thermoviscoelastic Behavior of Film‐Insert‐Molded Parts Prepared under Various Processing Conditions

Film‐insert‐molded (FIM) tensile specimens were prepared under various molding conditions to investigate the effects of wall temperature and packing pressure on the residual stress distribution and thermoviscoelastic deformation. The warpage of the specimen increased with increasing mold‐wall temperature difference and decreased with increasing packing pressure. The FIM specimens produced with unannealed films showed the warpage reversal phenomenon (WRP) during annealing and the degree of WRP was affected significantly by the molding conditions and thermal shrinkage of the film. The warpage of the specimen was predicted by three‐dimensional flow and stress analyses and the prediction was in good agreement with the experimental results.

     

Effect of crystallization and interface formation mechanism on mechanical properties of film‐insert injection‐molded poly(propylene) (PP) film/PP substrate

A previous study has shown that the adhesion between the film and substrate of film‐insert injection‐molded poly(propylene) (PP) film/PP substrate was evident with the increases in barrel temperature and injection holding pressure. In this second part of the research work, the crystallinity at the interfacial region (i.e., region between the film and the injected substrate) was extensively studied using FTIR imaging, polarized light microscopy, and DSC in an attempt to determine the level of influence that crystallinity has on the interface and bulk mechanical properties. Consequently, a more thorough and clearer picture of the influence of the inserted film on the interfacial crystallinity and subsequently the substrate mechanical properties, such as peel strength and impact strength, has been revealed. The initial proposition that crystallinity could enhance film–substrate interfacial bonding has been confirmed, judging from the higher peel strength with increasing crystallinity at the interfacial region. Nevertheless, the change in crystallinity was not only confined to the interfacial region. With the film acting as heat‐transfer inhibitor between the injected resin and the mold wall, the total crystal structure of the substrate was substantially altered, which subsequently affected the bulk mechanical properties. The lower impact strength of film‐insert injection‐molded samples compared to that of samples without film inserts provided evidence of how the film could impart inferior properties to the substrate. The difference in cooling rate between the substrate and film might also cause other defects such as warpage and/or residual stress build‐up within the product. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 294–301, 2005     

Warpage of a large‐sized orthogonal stiffened plate produced by injection molding and injection compression molding

Rectangular plates of the size of 1800 × 600 × 12 mm³ and 1200 × 600 × 12 mm³ were selected for injection molding and injection compression molding, respectively, in order to investigate warpage characteristics of the large‐sized polymer plates with orthogonal stiffener. To determine the mold system and to reduce warpage of the specimen, numerical analyses for injection molding and injection compression molding were performed by using a commercial simulation code. Experiments were performed to verify the suggested mold system and warpage of the specimen. Relatively large warpage of the injection molded product was observed and small warpage of the injection compression molded product was generated. Compression force of the injection compression molding was only 6% of the clamp force of the injection molding. Warpage of the product was reduced significantly by using the injection compression molding. The injection compression molding will be used to substitute expensive and disused wood forms with inexpensive and recyclable polymer plates for concrete casting. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Prediction of the film thickness distribution and pattern change during film insert thermoforming

Various surface process methods have been developed to decorate plastic or metallic products. Film insert molding (FIM) is one of the methods that enhance the functional and/or aesthetic qualities of a product's surface. However, the drawbacks of FIM are that the thickness of the film can change, depending on the product configuration, and further, the pattern of the decorated film may change. Therefore, this article attempts to quantify the changes in the thickness and in the pattern of the decorated film during the FIM process. G'Sell's viscoelastic constitutive law was adopted to describe the rheological behavior of polymer film. A constant‐velocity uniaxial tensile test at high temperature, which is a new method proposed in this research, was used to obtain the rheological parameters. We also suggested a visual method for predicting pattern change, which was validated by comparing analytical results with those of real products. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Integrated numerical modeling of the blow molding process

The numerical modeling of the extrusion blow molding of a fuel tank is considered in this work. The integrated process phases are consecutively simulated, namely, parison formation, clamping, and inflation, as well as part solidification, part deformation (warpage), and the buildup of residual stresses. The parison formation is modeled with an integral type viscoelastic constitutive equation for the sag behavior and a semi-empirical equation for the swell behavior. A nonisothermal viscoelastic formulation is employed for the clamping and inflation simulation, since parison cooling during extrusion strongly affects the inflation behavior. Once the parison is inflated, it solidifies while in the mold and after part ejection. Warpage and residual stress development of the part are modeled with a linear viscoelastic solid model. Numerical predictions are compared with experimental results obtained on an industrial scale blow molding machine. Good agreement is observed. A process optimization based on a desired objective function, such as uniform part thickness distribution and/or minimal part weight, is performed. The integrated clamping, inflation, and cooling stages of the process are considered. The optimization is done by the systematic manipulation of the parison thickness distribution. Iterations are performed employing a gradient based updating scheme for the parison thickness programming, until the desired objective of uniform part thickness is obtained.     

Residual stresses and thermoviscoelastic deformation of laminated film prepared for film insert molding

Residual stresses and thermoviscoelastic deformation of a laminated film utilized for film insert molding was investigated through measurement of thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) and relaxation modulus. Thermoviscoelastic deformation of the film was also analyzed with numerical analysis by applying measured relaxation modulus, CTE, and residual stress to finite element method (FEM). Stress relaxation of the pristine film showed significantly different behavior from that of the unannealed film during annealing. Effects of the CTE and relaxation modulus on the thermoviscoelastic deformation were predicted by considering thermal shrinkage and structural relaxation. Moreover, numerical results on thermoviscoelastic deformation were in good agreement with experiments when initial stress distribution in the solid specimen was applied to the numerical analysis. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

微孔塑料注射成型制品体积收缩与翘曲变形数值分析

采用Moldflow软件，通过微孔注射成型过程的数值模拟，系统研究了熔体注射温度、模具温度对其体积收缩、翘曲变形和残余应力的影响规律，并基于流变学理论，揭示了其影响机理。研究结果表明，随着熔体注射温度和模具温度增加，微孔注射制品翘曲变形和残余应力均增加，成型制品的体积收缩随着熔体注射温度升高而增加，而随着模具温度升高而减小。本研究为微孔注射成型工艺和模具的设计提供理论指导。     

Effects of pre-strain applied at a polyethylene terephthalate substrate before the coating of Al-doped ZnO film on film quality and optical and electrical properties

Five kinds of polyethylene-terephthalate (PET)/aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) specimen were prepared to examine the effect of strain applied to the PET substrate before the coating of AZO film on the mechanical, optical, and electrical properties and morphology. An increase in the strain of PET increases the reflection intensity, resulting in a significant reduction in absorption. The largest mean surface roughness was obtained for the PET-4%/AZO specimen. XRD diffraction peaks of ZnO (002) indicate that the quality of the AZO film initially improved with increasing strain, and then degraded with further increases. Compressive residual stresses formed in the bending specimens at various strains; the residual stress increased with decreasing 2θ angle. A higher compressive stress in the AZO film resulted in a lower optical band gap and a lower transmittance; it also led to an increase in the sheet resistance of the AZO film, and thus a lower carrier mobility.     

Experimental study on the accuracy of advanced composite tools for slanted shapes

High quality advanced composite tools (ACTs) have been introduced to the growing tooling market. Since ACTs are used for high precision composite parts, even minor warpage in a tool might render the parts useless. Trial and error in making or remaking an accurate ACT are time-consuming and expensive. This paper is devoted to investigating the effects of processing on the accuracy of ACTs for slanted shapes. An experimental design based on the Taguchi Method is employed. The experimental parameters investigated are postcure, mold material, laminate thickness, cure temperature, preheat, bleeder, pressure, and caul sheet. Warpage is used to verify the accuracy of ACTs. Optimum processing conditions and critical parameters have been found. The warpage that results under optimum processing conditions decreased significantly. Based on the findings in fiber volume fraction gradients, the observed convex and concave angle differences in warpage can be explained. To overcome the tendency to warpage, by means of an asymmetric doubler or insert in angle corners, a proper amount of asymmetry is implemented, which successfully improves the accuracy of the ACT shape.     

Fluid–structure interaction analysis on the film wrinkling problem of a film insert molded part

Back‐injection of polymeric liquid to preformed films, also known as film insert molding (FIM), provides the surface quality of polymeric parts. The back‐injection material is responsible for mechanical and thermal properties of the part, especially such as stiffness and thermal expansion. In the back‐injection molding it is important to ensure that the inserted films are not wrinkled by the injection of molten polymers. In this study, FIM was carried out with utilizing polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PC/ABS) alloy and polymethyl methacrylate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (PMMA/ABS) film. The wrinkling of films was observed by the atomic force microscope (AFM). Numerical simulations were performed to understand the mechanism of the film wrinkling and optimize the processing conditions of FIM for high precision parts by using commercial packages including Hypermesh?, Moldflow?, and COMSOL?. A critical shear rate for the film wrinkling of a center garnish part was determined based on the deformation energy of plate. It was found that the critical shear rate calculated numerically was in good agreement with that of the film insert molded parts. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Warpage and countermeasure for injection‐molded in‐mold labeling parts

Decades ago, the production of packaging with the injection in‐mold labeling (IML) has been established. With this manufacturing technique, label and packaging, both are of the same polymeric material, become inseparably connected during the injection molding process. Because thermal conductivity of the polymeric label material is clearly smaller than that of the metal mold wall, thermal‐induced warpage of injected IML parts or part surface deformation could occur. In this study, structure and warpage behavior of IML parts, which are different from those of conventional molded parts without labels were intensively investigated. It was found that it is the volume contraction difference between label and substrate that forces IML parts to warp to the opposite side of the label. In addition, IML part warpage problem can be coped by varying the mold temperature on the stationary and moving mold platen. By increasing the mold temperature on the label side, the degree of IML part warpage can be reduced with acceptable reduction in mechanical properties. The optimum mold temperature range for particular substrate material, however, was found to be more decisive in maintaining the modulus of elasticity of IML parts than the magnitude of mold temperature difference. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Prediction of process-induced warpage in injection molded thermoplastics

The main cause of warpage in injection moldings is the imbalance of the thermal residual stresses that are caused by a non-uniform temperature distribution through the thickness of the moldings resulting from variation in cross sections, part geometries, and temperature difference between the mold surfaces. As the hot plastic melt is injected into the relatively cooler mold, a temperature gradient develops between the core of the molding and its surfaces, determining the magnitude of the residual stresses and warpage deflection. The relationship between the temperature difference of the two halves of the mold and warpage for a flat plate was measured and predicted by use of a finite element software package. The development of warpage in a 3D component (L-shaped bracket) was also measured, and the results were compared with computer predictions.     

注射工艺参数对超薄导光板翘曲影响的模拟

翘曲是影响导光板质量的主要原因之一。利用正交模拟的方法,同时进行方差分析,得到影响超薄导光板翘曲变形最主要的因素为保压压力。影响翘曲变形程度的工艺参数依次是保压压力、模具温度、注射速度、熔体温度和保压时间。通过调节工艺参数,可以使导光板获得较小的翘曲变形。通过对生产情况进行模拟,可以对生产工艺的优化提供一定的帮助。     

外部气体辅助注塑成型制品翘曲变形耦合有限元分析

将外部气体辅助注塑成型(EGAIM)的制件作为研究对象,基于耦合有限元分析方法(CFEA),模拟仿真了EGAIM制品翘曲变形。研究发现,EGAIM只采用较低的气压(4.5 MPa),就能够达到CIM相对高压(40 MPa)的保压效果,因此,实验结果与文献结论一致。单因素试验结果表明,注气工艺参数对EGAIM制品翘曲变形的影响规律,在研究的工艺参数范围内,随着气体保压压力增加,制件的翘曲变形量呈先减小,后增大的"U"形曲线变化;随着气体保压时间的增长,制件的翘曲变形量呈减小,并逐渐变化平稳的趋势;随着气体注射延迟时间的增长,制件翘曲变形量逐渐减小,但是影响相对较小。