Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The role of microcrystalline structure on optical scattering characteristics of semi-crystalline thermoplastics and the accuracy of numerical input for IR-heating modeling

  • Original Research
  • Published:
International Journal of Material Forming Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Infrared (IR) heating is widely used for thermoforming of thermoplastic polymers. The key benefit of radiation heating is that a significant amount of the radiative energy penetrates into the polymers thanks to their semi-transparency. For the case of heating unfilled semi-crystalline polymers, the relation between their microcrystalline structure and optical properties is the key to develop a predictive IR-heating model as microcrystalline structure introduces an optically heterogeneous medium. In this study, a relation between the microcrystalline structure of a polyethylene (PE) and its effect on the thermo-optical properties was experimentally analyzed considering a two-step analysis. At very first step, the relation was analyzed considering samples with identical thicknesses and different morphologies, characterized here in terms of degree of crystallinity (Xc (%)). Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and integrating sphere, optical characteristics of the PE samples were analyzed in near-infrared (NIR) and middle-infrared (MIR) spectral ranges. The analyses showed that a slight variation in Xc (%) has a great effect on the optical characteristics of PE, particularly the transmission characteristics in NIR range. The wavelength-dependent effect of Xc (%) on the transmission behaviors opened a discussion about the fact that the microcrystalline structures -in particular spherulites or their substructures such as lamellae- are responsible for optical scattering. Using the optical properties obtained from the two-step experimental analyses, two different thermo-optical properties were calculated, namely extinction and absorption coefficients, and used as a numerical input for the parametric numerical studies. The numerical studies were performed using an in-house developed radiation heat transfer algorithm -RAYHEAT-. Both the experimental and numerical analyses demonstrated the importance of the optical scattering regarding the identification of thermo-optical properties, used as a numerical input for radiation heat transfer models.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Burkhardt G, Hüsgen U, Kalwa M, Pötsch G, Schwenzer C (2011) Plastics processing, 1. Processing of thermoplastics. In: Elvers B (ed) Ullmann’s encyclopedia of industrial chemistry. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Germany, pp 367–404

    Google Scholar 

  2. Becker F, Potente H (2002) A step towards understanding the heating phase of laser transmission welding in polymers. Polym Eng Sci 42:365–374

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Schmidt F (2003) Modelling of infrared heating of thermoplastic sheet used in thermoforming process. J Mater Process Technol 143-144:225–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0924-0136(03)00291-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Monteix S, Schmidt F, Le Maoult Y et al (2001) Experimental study and numerical simulation of preform or sheet exposed to infrared radiative heating. J Mater Process Technol 119:90–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cosson B, Schmidt F, Le Maoult Y, Bordival M (2011) Infrared heating stage simulation of semi-transparent media (PET) using ray tracing method. Int J Mater Form 4:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-010-0985-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Geiger M, Frick T, Schmidt M (2009) Optical properties of plastics and their role for the modelling of the laser transmission welding process. Prod Eng 3:49–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11740-008-0141-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Mayboudi LS (2008) Heat Transfer Modelling and Thermal Imaging Experiments in Laser Transmission Welding of Thermoplastics. Ph.D. thesis, Queen’s University

  8. Asséko ACA, Cosson B, Schmidt F et al (2015) Laser transmission welding of composites-part a: Thermo-physical and optical characterization of materials. Infrared Phys Technol 72:293–299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infrared.2015.02.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen M, Zak G, Bates PJ (2011) Effect of carbon black on light transmission in laser welding of thermoplastics. J Mater Process Technol 211:43–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec.2010.08.017

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Klein R (2011) Chapter 1- material properties of plastics. In: Laser welding of plastics: materials. Processes and Industrial Applications. Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, pp 3–69

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  11. Ilie M, Kneip J-C, Matteï S et al (2007) Laser beam scattering effects in non-absorbent inhomogenous polymers. Opt Lasers Eng 45:405–412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlaseng.2006.07.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Hakoume D, Dombrovsky LA, Delaunay D, Rousseau B (2014) Spectroscopic diagnostics of morphological changes arising in thermal processing of polypropylene. Appl Opt 53:2702. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.53.002702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Hohmann M, Devrient M, Klämpfl F et al (2014) Simulation of light propagation within glass fiber filled thermoplastics for laser transmission welding. Phys Procedia 56:1198–1207. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2014.08.035

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Stokes-Griffin CM, Compston P (2015) Optical characterisation and modelling for oblique near-infrared laser heating of carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites. Opt Lasers Eng 72:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlaseng.2015.03.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Lebaudy P, Saiter JM, Grenet J, Vautier C (1992) Temperature distribution in poly (ethylene terephthalate) plate undergoing heat treatment. Diffusion influence: 1. Theoretical approach. Polymer 33:1887–1892. https://doi.org/10.1016/0032-3861(92)90488-I

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Denis A, Dargent E, Lebaudy PH et al (1996) Dependence on the spectral scattering coefficient on crystallinity into semicrystalline polyester. J Appl Polym Sci 62:1211–1218. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4628(19961121)62:8<1211::AID-APP11>3.0.CO;2-A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hakoume D, Dombrovsky LA, Delaunay D, Rousseau B (2014) Effect of Processing Temperature on Radiative Properties of Polypropylene and Heat Transfer in the Pure and Glassfibre Reinforced Polymer. https://doi.org/10.1615/IHTC15.rad.008207

  18. Boztepe S, Thiam A, de Almeida O, Le Maoult Y, Schmidt F (2016) Experimental analysis on the coupled effect between thermo-optical properties and microstructure of semi-crystalline thermoplastics. p 020006. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4963410

  19. Reiter G, Strobl GR (2007) Progress in understanding of polymer crystallization. Springer, Berlin; New York

  20. Zalewski EF (1995) Radiometry and photometry. Handb Opt 2:24–21

    Google Scholar 

  21. Apetz R, van Bruggen MPB (2003) Transparent alumina: a light-scattering model. J Am Ceram Soc 86:480–486. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1151-2916.2003.tb03325.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Peelen JGJ, Metselaar R (1974) Light scattering by pores in polycrystalline materials: transmission properties of alumina. J Appl Phys 45:216–220. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1662961

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Howell JR, Menguc MP, Siegel R (2010) Thermal radiation heat transfer, 5th edition, 5 edition. CRC Press, Boca Raton

  24. Kessel J (1986) Transmittance measurements in the integrating sphere. Appl Opt 25:2752. https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.25.002752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Manara J, Arduini-Schuster M, Hanssen L (2009) Integrating sphere reflectance and transmittance intercomparison measurements for evaluating the accuracies of the achieved results. High Temp–High Press 38:259–276

    Google Scholar 

  26. The role of microcrystalline structure on the temperature-dependent thermo-optical properties of semi-crystalline thermoplastics and non-invasive temperature measurements (2017), 25ème Congrès Français de Thermique, Marseille - France

  27. Genna S, Leone C, Tagliaferri V (2017) Characterization of laser beam transmission through a high density polyethylene (HDPE) plate. Opt Laser Technol 88:61–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optlastec.2016.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Viscarra Rossel RA, Walvoort DJJ, McBratney AB et al (2006) Visible, near infrared, mid infrared or combined diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for simultaneous assessment of various soil properties. Geoderma 131:59–75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2005.03.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Sasic S, Ozaki Y (2011) Raman, infrared, and near-infrared chemical imaging. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken

  30. Wriedt T (2012) Mie theory: a review. In: Hergert W, Wriedt T (eds) Mie theory. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 53–71

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  31. Heck B, Kawai T, Strobl G (2006) Time dependent light attenuation measurements used in studies of the kinetics of polymer crystallization. Polymer 47:5538–5543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2005.11.098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Modest MF (2003) Radiative Heat Transfer, Second Edition, 2 edition. Academic Press, Amsterdam; Boston

  33. Boglea AL, Roesner A, Russek UA (2011) Laser beam welding of thermoplastics. In: Poprawe R (ed) Tailored light 2. Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp 284–307

    Google Scholar 

  34. Coelho JMP, Abreu MA, Carvalho Rodrigues F (2004) Methodologies for determining thermoplastic films optical parameters at 10.6 μm laser wavelength. Polym Test 23:307–312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2003.07.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Bendada A, Cole K, Lamontagne M, Simard Y (2003) A hollow waveguide infrared thermometer for polymer temperature measurement during injection moulding. J opt. Pure Appl Opt 5:464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Gulmine J, Janissek P, Heise H, Akcelrud L (2002) Polyethylene characterization by FTIR. Polym Test 21:557–563. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9418(01)00124-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. DeWitt DP, Nutter GD (1988) Theory and practice of radiation thermometry. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken

  38. Jensen K, Ripoll J, Wray A et al (2007) On various modeling approaches to radiative heat transfer in pool fires. Combust Flame 148:263–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.combustflame.2006.09.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Bordival M, Schmidt FM, Le Maoult Y et al (2010) A ray tracing method to simulate the infrared heating of semi-transparent thermoplastics. Int J Mater Form 3:809–812. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-010-0893-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Biron M (2012) Thermoplastics and thermoplastic composites. William Andrew Publishing, Norwich

  41. Faghri A, Zhang Y, Howell JR (2010) Advanced heat and mass transfer. Global Digital Press, Columbia, USA

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut Clément Ader (ICA), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IMT Mines Albi, INSA, ISAE-SUPAERO, UPS, Campus Jarlard, 81013 Albi CT Cedex 09, France, Albi, France

    Sinan Boztepe, Rémi Gilblas, Olivier de Almeida, Yannick Le Maoult & Fabrice Schmidt

  2. Procter & Gamble Services NV, Brussels Innovation Center, Temselaan 100, 1853, Strombeek Bever, Belgium

    Christian Gerlach

Authors
  1. Sinan Boztepe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rémi Gilblas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Olivier de Almeida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christian Gerlach
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yannick Le Maoult
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Fabrice Schmidt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sinan Boztepe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Boztepe, S., Gilblas, R., de Almeida, O. et al. The role of microcrystalline structure on optical scattering characteristics of semi-crystalline thermoplastics and the accuracy of numerical input for IR-heating modeling. Int J Mater Form 11, 717–727 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-017-1386-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12289-017-1386-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation