December 21, 2022

Torsten’s Training Tip: Thermal Properties

As part of our blog rotation, we often share some technical tips intended to be useful for you in the world of plastics processing training. This week we feature the importance of thermal properties from Kruse Training.

During the injection molding process, a polymer is heated differently, beginning inside the machine cylinder. Electric heater bands around the cylinder create heat transferred through convection from the cylinder to the polymer. Then, the rotating screw creates shear heat, which moves to the polymer on top of the convection transfer.

In addition, when the material is rapidly injected through the machine nozzle body, nozzle tip, runner system and gate, more shear heat is generated. As the shear heat energy increases, the temperature of the polymer continues to increase, driving up the temperature of the material inside the cavity.

The two most important material properties are specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity.

Understanding the concepts of specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity is key to understanding how they affect part and mold design. Specific heat capacity is how much heating energy is required to bring a polymer to its process temperature range. Thermal conductivity is a property that indicates how quickly heat will move through the polymer material during the heating and cooling phases.

By understanding these behaviors, decisions can be made that will influence the overall quality of the molded part, from wall thickness versus flow distance capability to location and number of gates to overall cycle time.

Kruse Training offers a full section of Polymer Materials lessons. You can purchase individual lessons or the full set.

Did you know…?

The cooling time in the injection molding process can represent as much as 80% of the cycle time, yet it’s often underestimated or even overlooked.