Influences of melt rotation technology on polymeric material injection molding process and final product properties

Runner based shear imbalance has been existed since the beginning of the related polymer injection molding development. The major phenomenon of the shear imbalance is the non-unique filling results in the molding cavities, even if the cavities are balanced in space and position. Researchers have been studying the shear imbalance problems, such as shrinkage or warpage, and the associated solutions for years. However, there is not such a solution that could be universally accepted by all industries or research academies. In some previous studies, a novel technology, Melt Rotation Technology, has been studied and developed theoretically and experimentally, providing persuasive evidence that the melt flow shear gradients developed in the runner system during traditional injection molding process is mainly responsible for the imbalance filling results, and Melt Rotation Technology was able to overcome the shear induced problem and modify the thermal, physical or mechanical properties of the molded specimens. [1] In the current study, polymer samples molded with and without Melt Rotation Technology were tested and compared logically. Specimens from higher shear melt flow regions exhibited higher crystallinity as well as higher melting temperatures due to the localized shear rate variation. New molding trials were implemented and more experimental results have been found to support the effectiveness of Melt Rotation Technology.