Powder injection molding (PIM) is widely used to manufacture complex-shaped ceramic and metal components in high production volumes. In order to design and fabricate PIM components, it is important to know a number of material properties at different powder- polymer compositions. In this thesis, several predictive models for estimating rheological, thermal and mechanical properties as a function of powder-polymer mixtures were evaluated using experimental data obtained from the literature. Based on this survey, models were selected for predicting rheological, thermal and mechanical properties for aluminum nitride-polymer mixtures at various volume fractions of powder using experimental measurements of unfilled and filled polymers. The material properties were estimated for two aluminum nitride powder-polymer mixtures and used in mold-filling simulations. These results will provide new perspectives and design tools for identifying useful material compositions, component geometry attributes, and process parameters while eliminating expensive and time-consuming trial-and-error practices prevalent in PIM. / Graduation date: 2013

In this work, the material distribution, structure of fiber orientation and fiber attrition in sandwich and push-pull injection molded short fiber composites are investigated, regarding the effect of fiber content and processing parameters, given its direct relevance to mechanical properties. The prediction of the tensile strength of conventional, sandwich and push-pull injection molded short fiber composites are derived by an analytical method of modified rule of mixtures as a function of the area fraction between skin and core layers. The effects of fiber length and fiber orientation on the tensile strength are studied in detail. Modeling of the specialized injection molding processes have been developed and performed with the simulation program in order to predict the material distribution and the fiber orientation state. The secondorder orientation tensor (a11) approach is used to describe and calculate the local fiber orientation state. The accuracy of the model prediction is verified by comparing with corresponding experimental measurements to gain a further basic understanding of the melt flow induced fiber orientation during sandwich and push-pull injection molding processes.

The Master thesis deals with the possible production of the plastic unit with thread. As the most suitable material was chosen the polyformaldehyde (POM), its production label is Delrin 500P NC010 by Du Pont. The thesis consists of a part with the information about the technology of injection molding of plastics and a part where processing parameters for the production of the plastic unit are designed. Part of the solution was to create an assembly design of injection mold. Since the plastic unit with thread is very specificly shaped the form is handled as a slide mold. The mold is pieced together from normalized parts by the Hasco and DME company. The serie of 100 000 pieces would be delivered in 5 months. Because of the cost savings a solution of the cold-runner system was suggested. A suitable injection molding machine was chosen from the calculated values from Arburgfroms – Type 370s Allrounder 500-170.At the end of the thesis costs were evalueted for acquire per one piece of adapter.

This thesis describes the design of injection form for production of plastic lever. In the introduction,there is general literary studies of plastics and injection molding technology. Then continues studies of the injection molding machine, injection form or by selecting the gating systém. The practical part is injection mold design which includes a calculation of the injectionparameters, selection of equipment and technical and economic evaluation.

This master´s thesis addresses the design of technology manufacturing plastic parts. The first part deals with the study of theoretical properties of plastics and processing applicable to a given problem. In the second part is designed double injection mold with hot runners. The following authentication function by analyzing the injection solution and the work concludes technical and economic assessment of the project.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lomolding is a new process similar to injection moulding. In this thesis a numerical model of the polymer flow into the cavity is presented. The model is used to compare the two processes with each other. Lomolding and injection moulding were modelled numerically with the finite element method. The model was an axisymmetric model and takes phenomena such as generalised Newtonian flow, free surfaces, moving boundaries and solidification into account. The processes’ characteristics that were compared are the cavity pressure, shear rate and shear stress. Improvements in these characteristics will result in lomolding having smaller machines, less fibre breakage and a better potential for in-mould-decoration. The thesis shows that lomolding has substantially lower shear rates and shear stresses than injection moulding. The model was also used to investigate certain machine design aspects, and to gain a better understanding of the polymer flow in lomolding. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lomoldering is ’n nuwe proses soortgelyk aan inspuitgiet. Hierdie tesis beskou ’n numeriese model van die polimeervloei soos dit in die gietholte invloei. Die model word gebruik om die twee prosesse met mekaar te vergelyk. Lomoldering en inspuitgiet is numeries gemodeleer met die eindige-elementmetode. Die model is aksiaal-simmetries en neem verskynsels soos Newtoniese vloei, vrye oppervlakke, bewegende grense en stolling in ag. Die proses-karakteristieke wat vergelyk is, sluit die gietholtedruk, vervormingstempo en skuifspanning in. Verbeterings in hierdie karakteristieke sal meebring dat lomoldering kleiner masjiene nodig sal hê, minder veselskade sal veroorsaak en meer versoenbaar met in-gietholte-versierings sal wees, vergeleke met inspuitgiet. Die tesis toon dat lomoldering laer vervormingstempo’s en skuifspanning het, in vergelyking met inspuitgiet. Die model is ook gebruik om sekere masjienontwerpaspekte te ondersoek, en om die polimeervloei in lomoldering beter te verstaan.

Thesis (MSc (Chemistry and Polymer Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Rectangular components were produced by both standard injection moulding and by a process called Lomolding. Both moulding grade polypropylene homopolymer and glass-filled polypropylene were used. The effect of processing parameters on material properties, as measured by tensile and impact strength, and warpage were determined for both injection moulding and lomolding, for both unfilled and glass-filled polypropylene materials. Sampling of the components allowed for critical evaluation of processing parameters’ effect on material properties at points close to and distant from the injection point, as well as in the direction of materials flow and transverse to material flow. Glass-filled components were also evaluated in terms of glass fibre length and fibre distribution (post-injection). Overall conclusions could be drawn with respect to the 2 different processes and the materials used. It was seen, inter alia, that the specimen orientation had no effect on the mechanical properties when using unfilled polypropylene, but that the orientation of the glass fibres in the testing direction resulted in an increase in the tensile strength and the impact strength for the injection moulded samples. Similar results were seen for lomolded samples, except that the fibre orientation effects were different. In the same vein, other notable differences could be observed for samples produced by lomolding and injection molding. Fibre length and distributions obtained by polymer burn-off experiments served to help explain differences in properties of glass-filled products produced by the two processes.

Thesis (PhD (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / This dissertation describes the design analysis of a lomolder (a machine similar to an injection moulding machine). It focuses on key design aspects that will drive the purchase cost of the machine and that will also influence the maintenance and operating cost. The main objective of the study is to provide an understanding of the key factors that influence the cost of a lomolder as well as the factors that contributes to a quality manufactured part. A semi-analytical flow model was developed to predict cavity pressure drops for a range of part sizes. This model was necessary to eliminate time consuming numeric simulations required for machine optimisation. Numerous machine concept designs were developed and a final layout design chosen. A parametric CAD model was built for the lomolder. Layout designs for different sized lomolders can be generated with this model. The dissertation concludes with a cost study that focuses on the purchase cost of a lomolder unit. Key elements such as choice of actuator and piston to part area ratio are described.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

Thermoplastische Kunststoffe werden zur Steigerung der mechanischen Eigenschaften häufig mit Kurzfasern verstärkt, wodurch sich jedoch eine anisotrope Eigenschaftscharakteristik einstellt. Dies führt oftmals zu ungewohntem Werkstoff- und Bauteilverhalten. Die Fertigungsparameter und -randbedingungen im Spritzgießprozess besitzen einen großen Einfluss auf lokale Faserorientierungen, wovon auch die globalen Bauteileigenschaften abhängen. Für eine werkstoffgerechte Auslegung von derartigen Bauteilen sind tiefgreifende Verständnisse über die mechanischen, thermischen und rheologischen Eigenschaften sowie die Kopplung von Spritzgieß- und Bauteilsimulation unerlässlich. Diese sogenannte integrative Simulation wird am Beispiel eines Strukturbauteiles aufgezeigt.