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Rotational molding of plastics: Comparison of simulation and experimental results for an axisymmetric mold
Author(s) -
Olson L. G.,
Crawford R.,
Kearns M.,
Geiger N.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
polymer engineering and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.503
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1548-2634
pISSN - 0032-3888
DOI - 10.1002/pen.11307
Subject(s) - mold , rotational symmetry , materials science , transfer molding , finite element method , molding (decorative) , composite material , blow molding , rotational speed , thermal , heat transfer , mechanics , mechanical engineering , structural engineering , engineering , thermodynamics , physics
We present a validation study comparing the mold wall temperature estimates from an axisymmetric thermal finite element simulation of the rotational molding process with temperature data obtained during experiments conducted on industrial‐grade rotational molding equipment. The finite element model simulates the heat transfer processes involved in rotational molding through the end of powder deposition, and uses an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian technique to track the growing molten plastic layer. The experiments were conducted with nine different operating conditions on a single axisymmetric mold shape. The simulation results for mold wall temperature agreed well with the experimental data under all of the conditions tested.