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pps proceeding
Symposium: Injection Molding & Molds
Oral Presentation
 
 

Influence of Rapid Heat Cycle Molding and Filler Type on Part Warpage of PP-based compounds

Pacher Gernot Alois (1)*, Berger Gerald Roman (2), Gruber Dieter Paul (3), Friesenbichler Walter (4)

(1) Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH - Leoben - Austria, (2) Montanuniversitaet Leoben - Institute of Injection Moulding of Polymers - Styria - Austria, (3) Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH - Styria - Austria, (4) Montanuniversitaet Leoben - Institute of Injection Moulding of Polymers - Styria - Austria

The aim of this work is to study the influence of Rapid Heat Cycle Molding (RHCM) and Filler Type on Part Warpage of PP-based compounds. Therefore, several PP compounds, comprising glass beads and glass bubbles, respectively, were compounded and processed in injection molding in addition to neat polypropylene. Glass beads are low-priced fillers used to reduce material cost, and to improve both mechanical properties and dimensional stability. Glass bubbles, although at higher cost, are used for similar reasons, but additionally reduce the part weight. Rapid Heat Cycle Molding technologies are often integrated into only one mold half while the second mold half is conventionally cooled. This can lead to severe part warpage due to the RHCM-induced by the thermal inequalities. The specimen warpage was measured via confocal microscopy by scanning the specimen's surfaces. Since the measurements are contactless, the used method allows fast and accurate acquisition of the part warpage. Experiments varying filler type and amount were carried out systematically and compared to specimens out of neat PP. This enables to quantify the warpage reduction due to the addition of glass beads and glass bubbles. Furthermore, the systematic design of experiments enables modeling the part warpage as function of filler amount and type.