A Simulation Approach to Crystallinity Gradients Developed in the Injection Molding Process of Slowly Crystallizing Polymers

Abstract

A modified three-dimensional (3D) rectilinear flow model is considered to study and analyze crystallinity gradients of slowly crystallizing polymers, such as syndiotactic polystyrene (s-PS) and poly (p-phenylene sulfide) (PPS), developed during the injection molding process. A slit mold is used. Highly efficient computational procedures are achieved through a specially designed order-two parallel splitting formula. Detailed three dimensional crystallinity distribution, together with the temperature, pressure and velocity profiles, is predicted through the simulation and compared with experimental results with satisfaction. The computational method developed can be further generalized for more complicated flow model problems in irregular injection molds.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Hsiung, C. M. and M. Cakmak . 1991. Polym. Engi. & Sci., 31(19): 1372-1372.

2. Hsiung, C. M. , M. Cakmak and J. White . 1990. International Polymer Processing, 5: 967-967.

3. Hsiung, C. M. and S. Allada . 1995. ACS Symposium on Computer Modeling of Polymer Processing Operations in Chicago, p. 526-526.

4. Hsiung, C. M. and Q. Sheng . 1997. Reinf. Plast. & Compo., 16(13): 1242-1242.

5. Hsiung, C. M. and Q. Sheng . 1997. Proc. 4th International Conf. on Composites Engineering, p. 445-445.

6. Hsiung, C. M. , J. Miao , M. Cakmak and Y Ulcer . 1995. SPEANTEC Tech. Papers, 41: 1798-1798.

7. Sanz-Serna, J. M. 1988. SIAM J. Numer Anal., 25(2): 319-319.

8. Sheng, Q. 1989. IMA J. Numer Anal., 9(1): 199-199.

9. Sheng, Q. 1993. IMA J. Numer. Anal., 14(1): 27-27.

10.

10. Sheng, Q. and R. Agarwal . 1994. Math. Comput. Modeling, 20(1): 45-45.

11.

11. Sheng, Q. and R. Agarwal . 1997. J. Comput. & Appl. Math., 80(1): 49-49.

12.

12. Sheng. Q. , C. M. Hsiung and S. Duan . 1998. Proc. of 14th Annual Meetings of the Polymer Processing Society, p. 1000-1000.

13.

13. Tang, T. 1993. Appl. Numer Meth., 11(1): 309-309.

14.

14. Ulcer, Y. , M. Cakmak , J. Miao and C. M. Hsiung . 1995. SPEANTEC Tech. Papers, 41: 1788-1788.

15.

15. Yanik, E. G. and G. Fairweather . 1988. Nonlinear Anal., 12(3): 785-785.