Processing reaction injection

M. E. Edwards, Chemical Reaction Engineering of Polymer Processing Reaction Injection Moulding Inst. Chem. Eng. Symp. Ser. 8(87), 783—796 (1984). 

What is known as the RIM process (reaction injection molding) is a variant of injection molding. In RIM, injection molding and cross-linking polycondensation occur simultaneously. The process is exclusively used to produce polyurethane injection moldings. 

RRIM is a development of the RIM process (reaction injection moulding). The essential feature of an RIM system is a 2-component liquid resin system which reacts rapidly when the two components mix, to form a fully developed polymer inside the mould. Usually these systems are polyurethanes, although others, especially nylon-based systems, are under development. 

The sandwich-type stmcture of polyurethanes with a smooth integral skin produced by the reaction injection molding process provides a high degree of stiffness as weU as exceUent thermal and acoustical properties necessary for its use in housing and load-bearing stmctural components for the automotive, business machine, electrical, furniture, and materials-handling industry. 

Dicyclopentadiene is also polymerized with tungsten-based catalysts. Because the polymerization reaction produces heavily cross-Unked resins, the polymers are manufactured in a reaction injection mol ding (RIM) process, in which all catalyst components and resin modifiers are slurried in two batches of the monomer. The first batch contains the catalyst (a mixture of WCl and WOCl, nonylphenol, acetylacetone, additives, and fillers the second batch contains the co-catalyst (a combination of an alkyl aluminum compound and a Lewis base such as ether), antioxidants, and elastomeric fillers (qv) for better moldabihty (50). Mixing two Uquids in a mold results in a rapid polymerization reaction. Its rate is controlled by the ratio between the co-catalyst and the Lewis base. Depending on the catalyst composition, solidification time of the reaction mixture can vary from two seconds to an hour. Similar catalyst systems are used for polymerization of norbomene and for norbomene copolymerization with ethyhdenenorbomene. 

Reaction Injection Molding. RIM uses the anionic polymeri2ation of nylon-6 to carry out polymeri2ation in the mold. A commercial process involves the production of block copolymers of nylon-6 and a polyether by mixing molten caprolactam, catalyst, and polyether prepolymer, and reacting in a mold (27,28). 

When surfactant-coated glass fibers are included to improve product flexibility and reduce thermal expansion, these semibatch processes are termed reinforced reaction injection mol ding (RRIM). 

The late 1950s saw the emergence of cast elastomers, which led to the development of reaction injection mol ding (RIM) at Bayer AG in Leverkusen, Germany, in 1964 (see Plastics processing). Also, thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers (TPUs) and Spandex fibers (see Fibers, elastomeric) were introduced during this time. In addition, urethane-based synthetic leather (see Leather-LIKEmaterials) was introduced by Du Pont under the trade name Corfam in 1963. 

The Hquid monomers are suitable for bulk polymerization processes. The reaction can be conducted in a mold (casting, reaction injection mol ding), continuously on a conveyor (block and panel foam production), or in an extmder (thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers and engineering thermoplastics). Also, spraying of the monomers onto the surface of suitable substrates provides insulation barriers or cross-linked coatings. 

An important development of polymerisation casting is that of reaction injection moulding. Developed primarily for polyurethanes (and discussed further in Chapter 27), the process has also found some use with polyamides and with epoxide resins. 

The reinforced reaction injection moulding (RRIM) process is a development of RIM in which reinforcing fillers such as glass fibres are incorporated into the polymer. One advantage of such a system is to reduce the coefficient of thermal expansion, and with a 40-50% glass fibre content the coefficient is brought into line with those of metals. 

Reaction injection molding (RIM) describes [27-29] the process whereby two liquid reactants are rapidly mixed... 

Important are behaviors associated and interrelated with plastic materials (thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, reinforced plastics, etc.) and fabricating processes (extrusion, injection molding, blow molding, forming, foaming, reaction injection molding, etc.). They are presented so that the technical or non-technical reader can readily understand the interrelationships. 

Siloxane containing polyester, poly(alkylene oxide) and polystyrene type copolymers have been used to improve the heat resistance, lubricity and flow properties of epoxy resin powder coatings 43). Thermally stable polyester-polysiloxane segmented copolymers have been shown to improve the flow, antifriction properties and scratch resistance of acrylic based auto repair lacquers 408). Organohydroxy-terminated siloxanes are also effective internal mold release agents in polyurethane reaction injection molding processes 409). 

Cast nylon is used for prototypes and small production runs processed by casting, roto-moulding and reaction injection moulding (RIM), possibly with structural reinforcements (SRIM) such as glass mat or fabric. 

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