| Abstract: | A new method for increasing the productivity of molded polymeric articles and a new kind of molding material are described. This process eliminates the heating and cooling time associated with the conventional injection molding process. Polymeric granules with heterogeneous dielectric loss characteristics are used so that during dielectric heating the surfaces of the granules melt and fuse. During cooling, the heat flows from the shell of each granule to the core, rendering the article rigid almost immediately. An analysis is done which shows that this process is feasible. Based on the analytical results, the material requirements are specified. Experimental results confirm the theoretical predictions and the viability of the basic concept. Heating and cooling are accomplished in a time period of the order of 1 sec. |
