The influence of injection molding parameters and blowing agent addition on selected properties, surface state, and structure of HDPE parts

Abstract

The investigation of the influence of injection molding parameters (injection velocity, mold temperature and injection temperature, and additionally, as a result of these three parameters change, injection time, hold time, and cooling time) and blowing agent percentage on selected properties of HDPE molded parts such as weight, density, mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at maximum force), surface state (gloss and color), and structure was the aim of this work. The examination showed, that the mold temperature has the main influence on properties and surface state of molded parts from solid and foam HDPE. The weight, density, mechanical properties and gloss of molded parts increased with the increase in mold temperature. The mold temperature also influences significantly the number and size of pores in molded parts. The addition of blowing agent in a quantity of 2% is sufficient to obtain parts with favorable mechanical properties and good surface quality. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers.