Multi responses optimization of plastic injection molding for biodegradable polymers using Taguchi method and TOPSIS

Abstract

This study reports a simulation study to reduce the shrinkage and warpage of Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) by optimizing the injection molding parameters using the Taguchi-TOPSIS method. Solidwork software were used to creating a specimen modelling of car accessories (shark fin antenna) and then employing the infinite element software, Autodesk MoldFlow Adviser. The effect of injection parameters on the warpage and shrinkage of specimen were examined carefully. The simulation result shows that Taguchi-TOPSIS method provided an outstanding result for the optimization of injection parameters to produce minimum volumetric shrinkage. Orthogonal array design was using L9 of design experiment. The injection parameter of melt temperature was the most significant parameter that influences the warpage and volumetric shrinkage for car accessories (shark fin antenna). The results of this study indicated that the optimal level combination to get minimum shrinkage and warpage in the injection molding process are 25°C of mold temperature, 148°C of melt temperature, 0.7 s of injection time, and 8 s of cooling time. The optimum value of warpage and volumetric shrinkage rate are 0.9949 mm and 4.14 %.