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Development and performance analysis of static mixing nozzle for injection molding of thermoset elastomers
Author(s) -
Rochman Arif,
Zahra Keith
Publication year - 2018
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.24763
Subject(s) - materials science , thermosetting polymer , composite material , elastomer , compression molding , curing (chemistry) , nozzle , polymer , mixing (physics) , molding (decorative) , mold , mechanical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
In this study, various static melt mixers inside the nozzle chamber, together forming a mixing nozzle, were developed. Their performance in injection molding process was investigated using three thermoset elastomer materials with significantly different viscosity, namely nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) and fluorocarbon (FKM). The aim of this study was to minimize one of the drawbacks in injection molding resulted from the relatively short plasticizing screw. Using a short plasticizing screw, polymers having high concentrations of additives, such as thermoset elastomers, might not mix homogeneously within the short time period during the plasticizing stage. The use of these melt mixers resulted in better homogeneity and properties of the molded parts despite a curing time reduction of 10 s. This was due to the increase in mixing and shearing introduced a higher rate of crosslinking formation in the molded parts. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 58:521–527, 2018. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers