Through fiber orientation investigation to visualize compression molding

Abstract

Please leave one line blank after the abstract. In a pure compression process, polymer melt is compressed to flow by moving the movable platen of the mold to complete melt filling. Compression of the melt is then continued by the pressure exerted from the mold wall of the core side. This process provides a more uniform pressure on the cavity wall and requires a lower molding pressure for the post-filling process. Since the fiber orientation distribution affects both the elastic properties of the finished part, it is important to know the influence in the development of shrinkage and warpage. This study introduces a true 3D finite volume based simulation tool to simulate the nonisothermal compression molding process with the fiber orientation prediction. For the compression action, a novel dynamic moving grid approach is adopted, where the computational domain will deform with time to realize the complex advancing flow front during compression. By means of simulation tool, the distribution of fiber orientation can be tailored through the interpolation of fiber orientation tensor and further investigate the effect of different initial orientation assignment in the pre-filled charge area. The results illustrate the potential practice of an effective 3D approach tool of being an extremely cost effective method to optimize the process. © 2014 American Institute of Physics.