Ludmila Dulebova

EFFECTIVENESS OF CELLULAR INJECTION MOLDING PROCESS

In a study of cellular injection, molding process uses polyvinylchloride PVC. Polymers modified with introducing blowing agents into them in the Laboratory of the Department of Technologies and Materiase of Technical University of Kosice. For technological reasons, blowing agents have a form of granules. In the experiment, the content of the blowing agent (0–2,0% by mass) fed into the processed polymer was adopted as a variable factor. In the studies presented in the article, the chemical blowing agents occurring in the granulated form with a diameter of 1.2 to 1.4 mm were used. The view of the technological line for cellular injection molding and injection mold cavity with injection moldings are shown in figure 1. The results of the determination of selected properties of injection molded parts for various polymeric materials, obtained with different content of blowing agents, are shown in Figures 4–7. Microscopic examination of cross-sectional structure of the moldings were obtained using the author’s position image analysis of porous structure. Based on analysis of photographs taken (Figures 7–9) it was found that the coating containing 1.0% of blowing agents is a clearly visible solid outer layer and uniform distribution of pores and their sizes are similar.

MODERNIZATION OF TECHNOLOGICAL LINE FOR CELLULAR EXTRUSION PROCESS

In recent years, cellular extrusion of polymers has been one of the fastest growing processing methods. It is used especially to obtain sections, bars, pipes and cellular coatings free from strains on the product surface, displaying reduced density and minimum shrinkage, at the same time maintaining similar properties of products extruded in a conventional way. In order to obtain cellular structure, product properties are modified by application of proper plastics or adding blowing agents. The article provides a description of manufacturing processes of cellular product. It gives characteristics of blowing agents used in the extrusion process and of processing conditions. Also, it discusses selected results of examined properties of the obtained cellular products. As part of the modernization of the cellular extrusion technology the extrusion head was designed and made. During the designing and modeling of the head the Auto CAD programe was used. After the prototyping the extrusion head was tested. In the article specification of cellular extrusion process of thermoplastics was presented. In the research, the endothermal chemical blowing agents in amount 1,0% by mass were used. The quantity of used blowing agent has a direct influence on density and struc ture of the extruded product of modified polymers. However, these properties have further influence on porosity, impact strength, hardness, tensile strength and another.

The Effect of Particulate Fillers on Hardness of Polymer Composite

The analysis of polymeric composites can be quite challenging because the samples are often of complex nature due to the presence of various groups of additives, compounding ingredients, and fillers. In this contribution, changes of hardness of Polypropylene (PP) composites during and after the exposure of materials to UV chamber and low temperatures were investigated. The particulate fillers talc and chalk in weight fraction from 10 to 50% and montmorillonite (MMT) in weight fraction 4% were used as fillers in the polypropylene matrix. The composites were mixed in the extruder while the length, diameter of screw, as well as the number of grooves in the feed zone were changed. The influence of ageing – UV radiation and low temperature was examined by change of Shore hardness after 360h and 720h of exposure. According to the performed tests we can conclude that the tested materials may be exposed to UV radiation and low temperature of -20oC without significant changes of hardness.

Properties of Moldings Prepared from LDPE-Pumpkin Seed Hulls Blend

In recent decades, standard polymer blends for different applications have been more and more often replaced by blends containing raw materials. The use of natural materials as filler in thermoplastics brings both economic and environmental benefits. The use of a given vegetable filler depends on the geographic location and natural occurrence of the vegetables in a given geographic region. In Poland, for instance, the pumpkin is one of such vegetables. They are used for producing oil which is pressed from pumpkin seeds. Pumpkin seeds are then collected, dried and purified to produce waste material in hull form. Particles of ground pumpkin seed hulls with varying sizes and weight-in-weight concentration ranging from 0% to 20% relative to the matrix are used as filler in low-density polyethylene. Pumpkin seed hulls are ground and sieved. Four fractions of hulls with different particle sizes are produced: <0.2 mm, 0.2-0.4 mm, 0.4-0.6 mm, 0.6-0.8 mm. The paper reports the results of investigation of the mechanical properties, i.e., strength properties determined by static tensile testing and hardness measurement, of injection molds produced at constant processing parameters. In addition, the cross sections of the obtained products are subjected to microscopic examination. Relationships are determined between tensile modulus, maximum tensile stress, tensile stress at yield, maximum tensile strain, tensile strain at yield as well as Shore hardness and weigh-in-weight concentration of the powdered natural filler and its grain sizes. Finally, relevant conclusions are drawn.

THE EFFECT OF MULTIPLE PROCESSING OF POLYPROPYLENE ON SELECTED PROPERTIES OF INJECTION MOULDED PARTS

An injection moulding machine was used to produce injection moulded parts from polypropylene under invariant injection moulding conditions. Part of the injection mouldings were shredded and re-processed up to fifteen times. The mouldings and the shredded plastic were tested for selected strength properties: Young’s modulus, maximum tensile stress, breaking stress, strain at maximum stress, strain at break, Shore hardness, impact strength, mass flow rate, and longitudinal and transverse shrinkage. Relevant relationships were identified and conclusions were drawn on the basis of the data obtained.

Analysis of Short Glass Fiber Orientation in Injection Moulded Components

Fiber reinforced polymer composites are common materials used to produce parts for structural applications. The attractiveness of these materials is a result of the combined advantages of the fiber reinforcing effect and the high production rates achievable by technologies such as injection molding. The fiber orientation in short fiber reinforced thermoplastics depends on injection moulding technology parameters. The aim of this paper is to propose possibilities for comparing fiber orientation of the real sample and the result from simulation software.

Processing Characteristics and Properties of the Cellular Products Made by Using Special Foaming Agents

Abstract The paper describes the manufacturing process of extruded products by the cellular extrusion method, and presents specifications of the blowing agents used in the extrusion process as well as process conditions. The process of cellular extrusion of thermoplastic materials is aimed at obtaining cellular shapes and coats with reduced density, presenting no hollows on the surface of extruder product and displaying minimal contraction under concurrent maintenance of properties similar to properties of products extruded by means of the conventional method. In order to obtain cellular structure, the properties of extruded product are modified by applying suitable plastic or inserting auxiliary agents.