BOOST ROTOMOLDING PRODUCTIVITY WITH HEAT PIPE TECHNOLOGY

This paper describes the heating system for molds used in the rotational molding technique. In this system, the device consists of a sealed metallic tube containing a heat-transfer fluid. If the device is placed so that the two ends are in zones of differing temperature, heat will be transferred from the hotter end to the cooler end of the pipe. The internal fluid vaporizes at the hotter end, absorbing heat from its environment, and the vapor flows toward the cooler end of the pipe, where it condenses, giving up the heat again. It is shown that these mold heat conductors can help save material and energy, shorten cycles, eliminate rejects, broaden design flexibility, and solve a host of processing problems.