A combined experimental and numerical study on pulsed heating of thermoplastic sheets in thermoforming

In the present study, the potential of pulsed heating in the thermoforming process of thermoplastic sheets is investigated by means of both experimental measurements and numerical simulations. A specific test was developed to measure the through thickness temperature increase of an instrumented sili...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Buffel, Bart, Desplentere, Frederik
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Computer simulation
Cycle time
Heating
Mathematical models
Numerical models
Sheets
Thermal radiation
Thermoforming
Thickness
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In the present study, the potential of pulsed heating in the thermoforming process of thermoplastic sheets is investigated by means of both experimental measurements and numerical simulations. A specific test was developed to measure the through thickness temperature increase of an instrumented silicon sheet which was heated with an electronically controlled halogen heater element. The experimental data indicates the importance and positive effect of residual thermal radiation when the heater is switched off during pulsed heating. High “on/off” ratios and lower heating powers favor a more uniform through thickness temperature. In industry an optimum has to be found in these parameters to avoid unacceptable cycle time increases. The developed numerical model describes fast heating curves very well. For lower heating rates, the importance of convective heat losses when the heater elements are switched off, is shown.
ISSN:0094-243X
1551-7616
DOI:10.1063/1.5121663