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Micro-injection molding using a polymer coated mold

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Abstract

We applied an insulating polymer layer to the surface of mold cavity to injection-mold large plastic parts with a microsized thickness. Polyimide (PI) was coated on the mold wall using spray coating method. A thin light guide plate (LGP) was designed and fabricated via micro-injection molding. The polymeric coating layer could enhance the fluidity of polymer melt in the cavity during filling stage by minimizing the formation of the skin layer during injection molding. The surface roughness and pattern transfer rate of the LGPs were analyzed experimentally. In addition, numerical simulation was carried out to understand the insulation effect of the layer in the injection molding.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2018R1D1A1B07049173) and by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. NRF-2018R1A5A1024127). The authors are grateful for the supports.

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  1. Department of Fiber System Engineering, Dankook University, Jukjeon-dong, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Dah Hee Kim & Young Seok Song

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  1. Dah Hee Kim
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  2. Young Seok Song
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Correspondence to Young Seok Song.

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Kim, D.H., Song, Y.S. Micro-injection molding using a polymer coated mold. Microsyst Technol 25, 4011–4017 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04320-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00542-019-04320-7

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