| Abstract: | Experimental studies were performed with low density polyethylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymers and on polyvinyl chloride to elucidate the nature of the plasticating process in a reciprocating-screw injection molding machine. Melting data, obtained by use of the “cooling experiment,” and plastic temperature data reveal that the screw recharge process is a transient plasticating extrusion process which gradually approaches the equilibrium extrusion behavior as the screw rotates. If the screw rotation time is a high percentage of the total cycle time, the plasticating behavior is very similar to steady-state extrusion behavior, but if the screw rotation time is a small percentage of the total cycle time, the plasticating behavior is significantly different. Furthermore, better plasticating is obtained by use of a low RPM and high percentage rotation time than by a high RPM and low percentage rotation time. |
