Polymer flow dynamics in microimpressions: An experimental approach

The melt flow dynamics of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and polypropylene (PP) in a variable thickness microimpression was assessed by monitoring cavity temperature and pressure as relevant process parameters. A micromoulding block with a variable thickness cavity was designed, manufactured and instrumented with pressure and temperature sensors, acting as monitoring devices as well as flow position markers during filling. A full factorial design of experiment (DOE) was carried to optimize the filling of the microimpression. This study with ABS and PP suggests that mould temperature is the more important parameter for the entire micromoulding thickness range under analysis. Nevertheless, the influence of the melt temperature and the injection speed were found to depend on the micromoulding thickness and the polymer type. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.