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Die Concepts
During the extrusion and injection molding of thermoplastic polymers the die plays an important role. This is reflected in the research activities of the KTP within the field of “Die Concepts”. The research subject is the description and simulation of procedures in the dies, especially in their design and calculation. This is partly performed in special simulation programs (PaDiCAD, GEB).
(Figure 1): Design of an injection molded die
Figure: Microtome section of a weld line
(Figure 1): Design of an injection molded die
The design of an injection molded die consists of several parts:
- Determining the die principle (normal die, stripper plate, sliding split mold etc.) and economic factors
- Rheological design of dies (flow pattern method or FEM simulation of filling), see figure
- Thermal design with the result of the dies' energy balance as well as the cooling time calculation
- Designing the heating system
- Mechanical design (kinematics, stiffness of the die and occurring forces)
Foci:
- gas injection technique
- multi-component technique
Designing the extrusion die
The KTP is concerned with problems during designing the extrusion die and develops practical methods, which fulfill certain requirements (for instance low material swelling, short residence time of the melt and constant speed and volume flow dispersion of the melt flow). Hence, the KTP has developed a spiral mandrel distributor and flat film extrusion die, which are continually optimized. Due to a practical application of these methods in the industry there are specially developed software solutions. For more information, please consult our homepage. However, there are not only designing methods for well-known die types, but also new concepts for a better fullfilment of the requirements mentioned above (see figure).Figure: Microtome section of a weld line
Foci:
- flat film die, profile die
- blow head for blow molding lines
- spiral mandrel dies
- new die concepts