Enhancement of weld line mechanical strength using a novel ejector‐pins compression system

This study proposes a novel ejector‐pins compression system (EPCS) to improve the mechanical strength of weld lines that are formed in the injection molding process. Weld lines are significant defects that affect injection molding quality, causing the poor appearance and low mechanical strength of injection‐molded parts. In this experiment, several ejector pins are placed intentionally near the weld lines appearing, and are initially sunken beneath the cavity surface to form a reflow trap such that some of the molten plastics are allowed to flow into it during the filling process. These molten plastics are then compressed by the arisen ejector pins. Accordingly, the compressed molten plastics reflow through the weld lines, disordering the molecular orientation. Experimental verification revealed that the use of an EPCS can efficiently eliminate the orientation of the molecules parallel to the weld line. The specimens' impact strength of using EPCS can increase to between one and two times than that of conventionally injection‐molded. Therefore, this simple and novel method is feasible for greatly improving the mechanical strength of weld lines. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2013