pps proceeding - Abstract Preview
pps proceeding
Symposium: S04 - Injection Molding and Molds
Oral Presentation
 
 

Inline quality prognosis of material induces process disturbances

Heinzler Felix Alexander (1)*, Wortberg Johannes (1)

(1) University of Duisburg-Essen - Duisburg - Germany

Injection molding processes have different input streams correlated within the machine. Input streams can be separated to mass-transfer of the polymer and energy- or heat-transfer. Considering the machine capability as granted, quality defects are caused slow minimal changes within these input streams. The main disturbances of a good quality production are induced by material. Processing technical polymers like PA or PBT possible influences are residual moisture conditions of the material or minor variations of raw material charges. Small changes are difficult to detect at material quality controls and can be within the property tolerances but cause defects. The effects range from viscosity variations to varied crystalline properties. The influence of material properties on the processing have to be detected inline and combined with material analysis to a quality prognosis. The equipped sensors at injection molding machines enable an adequate process performance. The recently available solutions for power consumption monitoring enhance the available process control opportunities. Because of the high process speed of injection molding processes, the required sampling rate has to be minimal 500Hz. A setup of high bandwidth data processing linked to the machine control enables precise characterization of the production. Identified index numbers, energetic data and characteristic development of measured process figures enable a high resolution detection of material induced disturbances. Main process part for this detection is the material treatment within the plasticizing. In combination with laboratory investigations of i.e. moisture influences on viscosity and time-temperature-depended behavior of polymers, a inline quality prognosis for specific properties can be installed. This prognosis enables inline classification of the produced parts and a compensation of disturbances by correlating quality requirements with adjusted filling and packing parameters.