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Background
A previous European Funded CRAFT
project was looking at producing highly filled parts and during the development
work, it was found that the flow of unfilled polymer into a mould cavity could
be increased by using ultrasonic energy. Using the same processing
conditions, the moulding weight injected into an under-filled cavity was
increased by 50% through the application of ultrasonic vibration to the polymer
melt.
Is the use of Ultrasonics in this way a new development
?
Background search on use of
ultrasonics with injection moulding revealed it was not a new discovery.
There are patents covering the use of Ultrasonics with injection moulding which
go back to 1985 but 10 key patents were found.
Those found cover a wide range of approached from vibration of the whole tool or
injection pins, vibration of the screw or application of low frequency
mechanical vibration. However, none are know to be commercially available
systems and no retrofittable systems.
All patents refer to improved polymer flow through the application of ultrasonic
vibration.
How does is work?
It is speculated that the degree of entanglement in the polymer
chains decreases, temporarily reducing the viscosity of the polymer melt.
Our approach uses ultrasonic vibration in a
new and novel way. Patent applications were filed in 2002 by the Danish
SME partner within the consortium.
It is also know to be used to improve melt impregnation of pultrusion lines.
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