Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™
Abstract The increasing demand for lightweight and economical automotive components boosts investigation of advanced materials and new lightweighting technologies. This work employs the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™. The process introduces gas with granulates at moderate...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2021-10-01
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| Series: | SPE Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/pls2.10044 |
| _version_ | 1797997976214306816 |
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| author | Sara Andrea Simon Jörg Hain Tim Osswald |
| author_facet | Sara Andrea Simon Jörg Hain Tim Osswald |
| author_sort | Sara Andrea Simon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The increasing demand for lightweight and economical automotive components boosts investigation of advanced materials and new lightweighting technologies. This work employs the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™. The process introduces gas with granulates at moderate low pressures into the feed zone of the injection molding machine. Ku‐Fizz is controlled by gas pressure; thus, a simple plate geometry was molded and the effect of various gas contents on the microstructure was analyzed. The material used was a chemically coupled glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene compound. Optical microscopy was employed to measure the foam microstructure. Microcomputed tomography was used to quantify the fiber volume fraction and the orientation tensors. Results of the fully characterized microstructure showed cell density increasing and cell size decreasing with gas pressure and melt flow direction. Fiber length increased with gas content. Cell growth displaced fibers from the center of the part towards the mold surface, changing the fiber concentration and global fiber orientation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:41:17Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75e550fe2a3644e88222c75166a6efa8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2690-3857 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T10:41:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SPE Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-75e550fe2a3644e88222c75166a6efa82022-12-22T04:29:11ZengWileySPE Polymers2690-38572021-10-012431132410.1002/pls2.10044Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™Sara Andrea Simon0Jörg Hain1Tim Osswald2Polymer Engineering Center University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USAMaterials and Manufacturing Processes ‐ Polymers Volkswagen AG, Group Innovation Wolfsburg GermanyPolymer Engineering Center University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USAAbstract The increasing demand for lightweight and economical automotive components boosts investigation of advanced materials and new lightweighting technologies. This work employs the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™. The process introduces gas with granulates at moderate low pressures into the feed zone of the injection molding machine. Ku‐Fizz is controlled by gas pressure; thus, a simple plate geometry was molded and the effect of various gas contents on the microstructure was analyzed. The material used was a chemically coupled glass fiber‐reinforced polypropylene compound. Optical microscopy was employed to measure the foam microstructure. Microcomputed tomography was used to quantify the fiber volume fraction and the orientation tensors. Results of the fully characterized microstructure showed cell density increasing and cell size decreasing with gas pressure and melt flow direction. Fiber length increased with gas content. Cell growth displaced fibers from the center of the part towards the mold surface, changing the fiber concentration and global fiber orientation.https://doi.org/10.1002/pls2.10044fibersfoamsinjection moldingmicrostructure |
| spellingShingle | Sara Andrea Simon Jörg Hain Tim Osswald Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ SPE Polymers fibers foams injection molding microstructure |
| title | Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ |
| title_full | Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ |
| title_fullStr | Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ |
| title_short | Effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology Ku‐Fizz™ |
| title_sort | effect of gas pressure on the microstructure of parts foamed with the novel microcellular injection molding technology ku fizz™ |
| topic | fibers foams injection molding microstructure |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/pls2.10044 |
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