Abstract
In order to simulate the heat transfer phenomenon during rotational molding an alternative approach for the melt front treatment has been used. It was considered that a polymer particle adheres to the inner mould wall or to the polymer layer when the temperature reaches the melting point of polymer. The result of this alternative adhesion of new particles on molten polymer layer is the progress of melt front until all of particle are added to the inner surface of the polymer in the mold.
The simulation was based on an explicit finite volumes scheme which, allows to proceed with a fixed mesh of the whole domain. A numerical test, then, has been performed to illustrate the capabilities of the proposed model. The results of this numerical test showed the temperature evolution of external mold surface, in the molten polymer layer and on the interface molten polymer layer – air/polymer mixture region. These results have been then interpreted.
References
1 Crawford, R. J.: Progress in Rubber and Plastics Technology1, p. 1 (1990).Search in Google Scholar
2 Guobin Liu, C. B., Park, C. B., Lefas, J. A.: Polymer Engineering and Science12, p. 1997 (1998).Search in Google Scholar
3 Wang Xin, E. H., Harkin-Jones, E. H., Crawford, R. J., Fatnes, A. M.: Plastics Rubber and Composites7, p. 340 (2000).10.1179/146580100101541148Search in Google Scholar
4 Tcharkhtchi, A., Barcelo, P., Mazabraud, Ph., Jousse, F., Kearns, M.: Advanced Engineering Materials7, p. 475 (2002).10.1002/1527-2648(20020717)4:7<475::AID-ADEM475>3.0.CO;2-0Search in Google Scholar
5 Crawford, R. J., Nugent, P. J.: Plastics, Rubber and Composites Processing and Applications, p. 23 (1992).Search in Google Scholar
6 Nugent, P. J., Crawford, R. J., in: Rotational Moulding of Plastcis, Crawford, R. J., (Ed.), John Wiley, New York (1997).Search in Google Scholar
7 Liu, S. J., Yang, C. H.: Cellular Polymers4, p. 257 (2000).10.1023/A:1009890109693Search in Google Scholar
8 Nugent, P. J.: PhD Thesis, Queen's University, Belfast (1990).Search in Google Scholar
9 Wang, X. M.: PhD Thesis, Queen's University, Belfast (1994).Search in Google Scholar
10 Throne, J. L.: Polym. Eng. Sci.4, p. 257 (1976).10.1002/pen.760160407Search in Google Scholar
11 Sun, D. W., Crawford, R. J.: Plastics, Rubber and Composites Processing and Applications1, p. 47 (1993).Search in Google Scholar
12 Attaran, M. T., Wright, E. J., Crawford, R. J.: Paper presented at SPE Antec, Toronto (1997).Search in Google Scholar
13 Gogos, G., Olson, L. G., Liu, X., Pasham, V. R.: Polym. Eng. Sci.9, p. 1387 (1998).10.1002/pen.10309Search in Google Scholar
© 2004, Carl Hanser Verlag, Munich
