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Numerical simulation of reactive polymer flow during rotational molding using smoothed particle hydrodynamics method and experimental verification

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Abstract

A numerical study of flow behavior and the heat transfer process of reactive polymer in reactive rotational molding systems is carried out using the Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics method (SPH). The flow of reactive polymer during rotational molding inside a horizontal rotating cylinder is modeled as the slightly compressible viscous fluid flow and with free surface. These simulations show the influence of process parameters on the flow of polymer. Especially, the influence of the change of viscosity on the flow, due to the chemical reactions, is simulated by using an adapted viscosity expression. For a constant rotational speed, several flow regimes are observed as follows: the fluid remains at the bottom of the mold with the formation of a thin layer on the surface if the viscosity of reactive polymer is very low (less than 850 Pa.s), the presence of cascades is shown (after the point of maximum height) if the viscosity is higher (850 to 980 Pa.s), and the fluid moves at the same speed as the mold if the viscosity is sufficiently high (approximately 1230 Pa.s). The heat transfer between the mold and reactive polymer is also simulated. The results of SPH simulations are then compared to the experimental results conducted on polyurethane (TPU) system based on 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI, Sigma Aldrich, France), polyethylene glycol (PEG 1000) as macrodiol, 1,3-propanediol (PDO), and dibutyl tin dilaurate (DBTDL).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Transport and Communications, Lang Thuong, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam

    Huu Thuan Nguyen & Tu Anh Do

  2. Department of Polymers and Composites Technology & Mechanical Engineering, Mines Douai, 941 rue Charles Bourseul, CS 10838, F-59508, Douai Cedex, France

    Huu Thuan Nguyen, Benoît Cosson & Marie-France Lacrampe

Authors
  1. Huu Thuan Nguyen
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  2. Benoît Cosson
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  3. Marie-France Lacrampe
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  4. Tu Anh Do
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Correspondence to Tu Anh Do.

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Nguyen, H.T., Cosson, B., Lacrampe, MF. et al. Numerical simulation of reactive polymer flow during rotational molding using smoothed particle hydrodynamics method and experimental verification. Int J Mater Form 11, 583–592 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-017-1367-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-017-1367-2

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