A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods
The pursuit of polymer parts produced through foam injection moulding (FIM) that have a comparable surface roughness to conventionally processed components are of major relevance to expand the application of FIM. Within this study, 22% talc-filled copolymer polypropylene (PP) parts were produced thr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Materials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2358 |
| _version_ | 1797567430250201088 |
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| author | Gethin Llewelyn Andrew Rees Christian Griffiths Martin Jacobi |
| author_facet | Gethin Llewelyn Andrew Rees Christian Griffiths Martin Jacobi |
| author_sort | Gethin Llewelyn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The pursuit of polymer parts produced through foam injection moulding (FIM) that have a comparable surface roughness to conventionally processed components are of major relevance to expand the application of FIM. Within this study, 22% talc-filled copolymer polypropylene (PP) parts were produced through FIM using both a physical and chemical blowing agent. A design of experiments (DoE) was performed whereby the processing parameters of mould temperatures, injection speeds, back-pressure, melt temperature and holding time were varied to determine their effect on surface roughness, Young’s modulus and tensile strength. The results showed that mechanical performance can be improved when processing with higher mould temperatures and longer holding times. Also, it was observed that when utilising chemical foaming agents (CBA) at low-pressure, surface roughness comparable to that obtained from conventionally processed components can be achieved. This research demonstrates the potential of FIM to expand to applications whereby weight saving can be achieved without introducing surface defects, which has previously been witnessed within FIM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:41:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6076111883e7496b9eeac5924d0adc1e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1944 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:41:43Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials |
| spelling | doaj.art-6076111883e7496b9eeac5924d0adc1e2023-11-20T01:09:22ZengMDPI AGMaterials1996-19442020-05-011310235810.3390/ma13102358A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding MethodsGethin Llewelyn0Andrew Rees1Christian Griffiths2Martin Jacobi3College of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA1 8EN, UKCollege of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA1 8EN, UKCollege of Engineering, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales SA1 8EN, UKTrexel GmbH, Ahlefelderstr. 64, D-51645 Gummersbach, GermanyThe pursuit of polymer parts produced through foam injection moulding (FIM) that have a comparable surface roughness to conventionally processed components are of major relevance to expand the application of FIM. Within this study, 22% talc-filled copolymer polypropylene (PP) parts were produced through FIM using both a physical and chemical blowing agent. A design of experiments (DoE) was performed whereby the processing parameters of mould temperatures, injection speeds, back-pressure, melt temperature and holding time were varied to determine their effect on surface roughness, Young’s modulus and tensile strength. The results showed that mechanical performance can be improved when processing with higher mould temperatures and longer holding times. Also, it was observed that when utilising chemical foaming agents (CBA) at low-pressure, surface roughness comparable to that obtained from conventionally processed components can be achieved. This research demonstrates the potential of FIM to expand to applications whereby weight saving can be achieved without introducing surface defects, which has previously been witnessed within FIM.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2358polypropylenetalcTecoCell<sup>®</sup>MuCell<sup>®</sup>foam Injection Moulding |
| spellingShingle | Gethin Llewelyn Andrew Rees Christian Griffiths Martin Jacobi A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods Materials polypropylene talc TecoCell<sup>®</sup> MuCell<sup>®</sup> foam Injection Moulding |
| title | A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods |
| title_full | A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods |
| title_fullStr | A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods |
| title_short | A Design of Experiment Approach for Surface Roughness Comparisons of Foam Injection-Moulding Methods |
| title_sort | design of experiment approach for surface roughness comparisons of foam injection moulding methods |
| topic | polypropylene talc TecoCell<sup>®</sup> MuCell<sup>®</sup> foam Injection Moulding |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/13/10/2358 |
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