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Thermoforming triangular troughs
Author(s) -
Lieg Katie Lynn,
Giacomin A. Jeffrey
Publication year - 2009
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.21239
Subject(s) - thermoforming , mold , materials science , fabrication , mechanical engineering , composite material , engineering drawing , engineering , pathology , medicine , alternative medicine
Abstract This analysis for thermoforming triangular troughs focuses on the manufacturing process speed and follows the method of Kershner and Giacomin for thermoforming cones. We distinguish between what happens before and after (free versus constrained forming) the melt touches the prismatic mold. Neither free nor constrained forming yields analytical solutions for the required forming time. Our analysis is restricted to the fabrication of triangular troughs from nearly Newtonian melts, the second simplest relevant problem in commercial thermoforming. The simplest relevant problem, thermoforming cones, yielded analytical solutions for the forming time. Whenever we thermoform straight edges into rigid packaging, the problem of a melt stretching into a triangular trough arises. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2009. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers