A statistical analysis of nanocavities replication applied to injection moulding. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pina-Estany, J.; Colominas, C.; Fraxedas, J.; Llobet, J.; Perez-Murano, F.; Puigoriol-Forcada, J.M.; Ruso, D.; Garcia-Granada, A.A.
• Is Part Of: International communications in heat and mass transfer. Volume 81(2017)
• Page Start: 131
• Page End: 140
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Nanoscale simulation -- AFM -- Heat transfer -- Injection moulding -- CFD -- Submodeling; AFM Atomic Force Microscope -- CFD Computational Fluid Dynamics -- FIB Focused Ion Beam -- SEM Scanning Electron Microscopy -- VOF volume of fluid; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Mass transfer -- Periodicals; Chaleur -- Transmission -- Périodiques; Transfert de masse -- Périodiques; Heat -- Transmission; Mass transfer; Periodicals; 621.4022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2016.11.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0735-1933

Abstract

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate both theoretically and experimentally how nanocavities are replicated in the injection moulding manufacturing process. The objective is to obtain a methodology for efficiently replicate nanocavities. From the theoretical point of view, simulations are carried out using a submodeling approach combining Solidworks Plastics for a first macrosimulation and Fluent solver for a subsequent nanosimulation. The effect of the four main factors (melt temperature, mould temperature, filling time and cavity geometry) are quantified using an statistical 2 4 factorial experiment. It is found that the main effects are the cavity length, the mould temperature and the polymer temperature, with standardized effects of 5, 3 and 2.6, respectively. Filling time has a negative 1.3 standardized effect. From the experimental point of view, Focused Ion Beam technique is used for mechanizing nanocavities in a steel mould. The replication achieved in polycarbonate injection is quantified using an Atomic Force Microscope. It is observed how both the geometry and the position of the cavities in the mould affect its replication.