Experimental relationship for impact strength of PC/ABS blend based on the taguchi method

Abstract

Mixing and injection processes of polycarbonate and ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) blend were studied in order to optimize the impact strength. Mixing time (rotation speed) and temperature were selected as the main mixing process factors. In the course of injection step, temperature and pressure of injection, and mould temperature were chosen as process factors and blend composition was selected as material factor. The Taguchi orthogonal array was applied to determine the significance level of each factor. An experimental model was developed to predict and optimize the impact strength. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA), blend composition, mixing time, and temperature, and mould and injection temperatures, had more effect on impact strength of the blend, respectively. However, injection pressure has no significat effect. Then, the level of each factor for maximum impact strength was determined. The validation test approves the result. Hence, the model is suitable for PC/ABS part design with desired impact strength.