Skip to main content
Log in

Simulation of HDPE Mold Filling in the Injection Molding Process with Comparison to Experiments

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
  • Published:
Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, 3D simulation of mold filling for high-density polyethylene in the injection molding process using ANSYS-CFX is conducted. In addition, injection molding experiments involving deliberate short-shots done for various percentages of the optimum dosage to enable for melt front tracking were performed. Comparison between simulation and experimental results showed reasonable agreement with regard to the shape of melt front. The locations of the melt front obtained from the experiment were observed to be slightly ahead of the locations predicted by the simulation with discrepancy being attributed to the nature of the injection molding experiments.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A in :

Inlet area

C D :

Non-dimensional drag coefficient

d αβ :

Length scale

g :

Acceleration due to gravity

M αβ :

Interphase momentum transfer term

n :

Unit vector in normal direction

p :

Pressure

Q in :

Inlet flow rate

r α :

Volume fraction for material α

S M :

Momentum form inertial forces

t :

Time

T :

Stress tensor

U :

Velocity vector

V :

Volume

v in :

Inlet velocity

μ :

Viscosity

ρ :

Density

References

  1. Han S.Y., Kwang J.K., Kim C.J., Park T.W., Jeong Y.D.: A new process for gas-assisted injection molding for faster cooling. J. Mater. Process. Technol. 155(-156), 1201–1206 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Johannaber F: Injection Molding Machines: A User’s Guide, 4th edn. Hanser Gardner, Cincinnati (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Spencer R.S., Gilmore G.D.: Some flow phenomenon in the injection molding of polystyrene. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 6(2), 118–132 (1951)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ballman R.L., Shusman T., Toot H.L.: Injection molding: flow of a molten polymer into a cold cavity. Ind. Eng. Chem. 51(7), 847–850 (1959)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Kamal M.R., Kenig S.: The injection of molding of thermoplastics part I: theoretical model. Polym. Eng. Sci. 12(4), 294–301 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Kamal M.R., Kenig S.: The injection molding of thermoplastics part II: experimental test of the model. Polym. Eng. Sci. 12(4), 302–308 (1972)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Tadmor Z., Broyer E., Gutfinger C.: Flow analysis network (FAN)—a method for solving flow problems in polymer processing. Polym. Eng. Sci. 14(9), 660–665 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wu P.-C., Huang C.F., Gogos C.G.: Simulation of the mold filling process. Polym. Eng. Sci. 14(3), 223–230 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Harry D.H., Parrot R.G.: Numerical simulation of injection mold filling. Polym. Eng. Sci. 10(4), 209–214 (1970)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Berger J.L., Gogos C.G.: A numerical simulation of the cavity filling process with PVC in injection molding. Polym. Eng. Sci. 13(2), 102–112 (1973)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lord H.A., Williams G.: Mold-filling studies for the injection molding of thermoplastic materials. Part II: The transient flow of plastic materials in the cavities of injection-molding dies. Polym. Eng. Sci. 15(8), 569–582 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pearson J.R.A.: Mechanics of Polymer Processing. Springer, Netherlands (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gutfinger C., Broyer E., Tadmor Z.: Melt solidification in polymer processing. Polym. Eng. Sci. 15(7), 515–524 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Williams G., Lord H.A.: Mold-filling studies for the injection molding of thermoplastic materials. Part I: The flow of plastic materials in hot and cold walled circular channels. Polym. Eng. Sci. 15(8), 553–568 (1975)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Richardson S.M., Pearson H.J., Pearson J.R.A.: Simulation of injection molding. J. Fluid Mech. 56(4), 609–618 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Richardson S.M.: Simplified geometry models. In: Tucker, C.L. Fundamentals of Computer Modeling for Polymer Processing Chapter 4, Hanser Publishers, New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Richardson S.: Hele Shaw flow with a free boundary produced by the injection of fluid into a narrow channel. J. Fluid Mech. 56(4), 609–618 (1972)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  18. Kuo Y., Kamal M.R.: The fluid mechanics and heat transfer of injection mold filling of thermoplastic materials. AIChE J. 22(4), 661–669 (1976)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Ryan M.E., Chung T.-S.: Conformal mapping analysis of injection mold filling. Polym. Eng. Sci. 20(9), 642–651 (1980)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Austin C.A.: Filling of mold cavities. In: Bernhardt, E.C. Computer Aided Engineering for Injection Molding, Hanser, NY (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Tucker C.L.: Computer Modeling for Polymer Processing. Hanser, New York (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kennedy P.: Flow Analysis of Injection Molds. Hanser, New York (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Carreau, P.J.: Rheological equations from molecular network theories. Ph.D. Thesis. University of Wisconsin, Madison (1968)

  24. Kaye, A.: Non-Newtonian Flow in Incompressible Fluids. College of Aeronautics Cranfield, Note 134 (1962)

  25. Bernstein B., Kearsley E.A., Zapas L.J.: A study of stress relaxations with finite strain. Trans. Soc. Rheol. 7, 391–410 (1963)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  26. Hieber C.A., Shen S.F.: A finite-element/finite-difference simulation of the injection molding filling process. J. Non-Newton. Fluid 7(1), 1–32 (1980)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  27. Rose W.: Fluid–fluid interfaces in steady motion. Nature 191, 242–243 (1961)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Coyle D.J., Blake J.W., Macosko C.W.: The kinematics of fountain flow in mold-filling. AIChE J. 33(7), 1168–1177 (1987)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bhattacharji, S.; Savic, P.: Real and apparent non-Newtonian behavior in viscous pipe flow of suspensions driven by a fluid piston. In: Proceedings of 1965 Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics Institute, pp. 248–262 (1965)

  30. Gogos C.G., Huang C-F., Schmidt L.R.: The process of cavity filling including the fountain flow in injection molding. Polym. Eng. Sci. 26(20), 1457–1466 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Castro J.M., Macosko C.W.: Studies of mold filling and curing in the reaction injection molding process. AIChE J. 28(2), 250–260 (1982)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Vos E., Meijer H.E.H., Peters G.W.: Multilayer injection molding. Int. Polym. Proc. 6(1), 42–50 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Tadmor Z.: Molecular orientation in injection molding. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 18(6), 1753–1772 (1974)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Zoetelief, W.: Multi-component injection moulding. PhD Thesis, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands (1995)

  35. Mavridis H., Hrymak A.N., Vlachopoulos J.: Finite element simulation of fountain flow in injection molding. Polym. Eng. Sci. 26(7), 449–454 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Mavridis H., Hrymak A.N., Vlachopoulos J.: The effect of fountain flow on molecular orientation in injection molding. J. Rheol. 32(6), 639–663 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Kamal M.R., Chu E., Lafleur P.G., Ryan M.E.: Computer simulation of injection mold filling for viscoelastic melts with fountain flow. Polym. Eng. Sci. 26(3), 190–196 (1986)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Kamal M.R., Goyal S.K., Chu E.: Simulation of injection mold filling of viscoelastic polymer with fountain flow. AIChE J. 34(1), 94–106 (1988)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. El Otmani R., Zinet M., Boutaous M., Benhadid H.: Numerical simulation and thermal analysis of the filling stage in the injection molding process: role of the mold-polymer interface. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 121, 1579–1592 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Vietri U., Sorrentino A., Speranza V., Pantani R.: Improving the predictions of injection molding simulation software. Polym. Eng. Sci. 51(12), 2542–2551 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Landers, P.J.: Validation studies for injection molding simulation software. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA (2013)

  42. Bress T.J., Dowling D.R.: Simulations and measurements of in-mold melt flow during the injection molding of polystyrene. Polym. Eng. Sci. 53, 770–779 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Chang R.-Y., Yang W.-H.: Numerical simulation of mold filling in injection molding using a three-dimensional finite volume approach. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids 37(2), 125–148 (2001)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  44. ANSYS, Inc.: CFX-14.5 Version 14.5 Documentation (2012)

  45. Igreja, R.A.A.T.: Numerical simulation of the filling and curing stages in reaction injection moulding. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Aveiro, Portugal (2007)

  46. Haagh G.A.A.V., Van De Vosse F.N.: Simulation of three-dimensional polymer mould filling processes using a pseudo-concentration method. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids 28, 1355–1369 (1998)

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  47. http://www.arburg.com/fileadmin/redaktion/Mediathek/Technische_Daten/ARBURG_ALLROUNDER_420C_GOLDEN_EDITION_TD_523677_en_GB.pdf. Accessed August 2014

  48. http://www.sabic.com/me/en/images/M80064_tcm14-5910.pdf. Accessed August 2014

  49. http://www.matweb.com/search/DataSheet.aspx?MatGUID=fce23f90005d4fbe8e12a1bce53ebdc8&ckck=1. Accessed June 2015

  50. Wang W., Li X., Han X.: Numerical simulation and experimental verification of the filling stage in injection molding. Polym. Eng. Sci. 52(1), 42–51 (2012)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saad M. S. Mukras.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mukras, S.M.S., Al-Mufadi, F.A. Simulation of HDPE Mold Filling in the Injection Molding Process with Comparison to Experiments. Arab J Sci Eng 41, 1847–1856 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1970-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-015-1970-9

Keywords

Navigation