Screw plasticating injection molding

Screw-plasticating injection molding See injection molding. 

Screw-Plasticating Injection Molding See Injection Molding. 

During the plastication stage, the polymer melt is typically plasticized from solid granules or pellets through the combined effect of heat conduction from the heated barrel and the internal shear heating caused by molecular deformation with the rotation of an internal screw. Screws in injection molding have many... 

Fluoropolymers can be injection-molded in plunger or ram-type equipment but a screw machine works best with this family of plastics. The screw-type injection molding machines have a number of advantages including those listed in Table 6.23. Various components of screw-type machines for processing fluoropolymers are described in this section. 

There are essentially two methods of using the plasticating screw. The first is the screw-plunger system also called the two-stage or screw-pot system. The screw rotates in the heated barrel and consequently plasticizes the polymer material. The plasticized material is then transferred into a second heated cylinder from which it is injected into the mold by a plunger. Figure 11.6 shows the basic features of a screw-pot injection molding machine. 

Figure 11.7 Schematic diagrams of a screw-type injection-molding machine (top) screw retracted, before injection (bottom) screw forward, at end of shot. (From Weir, C.L., Introduction to Molding, Society of Plastics Engineers, CT, 1975. With permission.)...

A typical arrangement for a direct screw-transfer injection-molding machine for thermosets is shown in Figure 2.16. The machine has two sections mounted on a common base. One section constitutes the plasticizing and injection unit, which includes the feed hopper, the heated barrel that en closes the screw, the hydraulic cylinder which pushes the screw forward to inject the plasticized material into the mold, and a motor to rotate the screw. The other section clamps and holds the mold halves together under pressure during the injection of the hot plastic melt into the mold. 

Plasticator A very important component in a melting process is the plasticator with its usual specialty designed screw and barrel used that is used in different machines (extruders, injection molding, blow molding, etc.). If the proper screw design is not used products may not meet or maximize their performance and meet their cost requirements. The hard steel shaft screws have helical flights, which rotates within a barrel to mechanically process and advance (pump) the plastic. There are general purposes and dedicated screws used. The type of screw used is dependent on the plastic material to be processed. 

The plasticator on an injection-molding machine is a specialized plasticating single-screw extruder. The plasticator has two main differences there is a nonreturn valve on the tip of the screw, and the screw retracts as molten material accumulates between the nonreturn valve and the end of the barrel. Pressure is maintained on the accumulated material by a constant force applied to the shank of the screw via the drive system. This force is typically measured as a pressure applied to the shank and is referred to as the back pressure. During the injection step of the process, the screw is forced forward, the nonreturn valve closes, and the material is injected into the mold. Additional information on the injection-molding process can be obtained elsewhere [Ij. 

---