Optimized heat transfer in injection molds and its influence on demolding temperature and part quality

• Main Authors: Jasser, Fabian, Stricker, Michael, Lake, Simone
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cooling; Cycle time; Energy consumption; Energy costs; Gloss; Heat measurement; Heat transfer; Heating; Injection molding; Inserts; Molds; Parameters; Surface properties; Temperature control; Thermal imaging; Wall temperature; Warpage
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0168284

Mold temperature control is an essential factor for economic efficiency in injection molding. Besides cooling time, it influences part quality in terms of dimensional accuracy, surface quality and inner properties [1]. When employing dynamic temperature control, optimized heat transfer offers reduced part costs by 25 % and energy consumption by over 40 %. The saving effects are based on the reduced cycle time due to the accelerated heating and cooling of the mold inserts. As heating and cooling are controlled by the mold temperature it can be assumed that optimized heat transfer has only a minor influence on part properties. With conventional mold temperature control, savings can be generated, since a lower mold wall temperature can be achieved with the same flow temperature. The mold wall temperature influences the surface quality, the demolding temperature and the internal properties. In this contribution, selected parameters will be considered in order to better evaluate the suitability of methods to optimize heat transfer. Demolding temperature is evaluated by means of thermal imaging and calorimetry [2]. Since by calorimetry, the average demolding temperature is measured, the measured value can provide an impression of the warpage potential of the molded part. In terms of part quality parameters such as roughness and gloss are considered.