Computational Analysis of Polymer Melt Filling in a Medical Mold Cavity During the Injection Molding Process

Abstract

This study describes the results of a mold filling simulation analysis of a medical syringe performed during the thermoplastic injection molding process, which was performed using a computational Fluid Dynamic Simulation (CFD) with the Volume of Fluid Method (VOF). ANSYS Fluent was used for analysis and data collection. Medical grade polypropylene (PP) is considered in this study. The studies consider physical parameters (such as inlet position and syringe thickness) of the injection molding process. The outlet vent must be placed as far away from the inlet as possible to root out entrapped air and allow the molten PP to occupy the mold cavity. The findings revealed that syringe thicknesses ranging from 0.75 mm to 1.00 mm resulted in increased flow velocity, shorter filling time, and faster flow front advancement.