Gas-Assisted Powder Injection Molding: A Comparison of Residual Wall Thickness Between Metal Cavity vs. SLA Cavity and Effect of Mold Temperature on Residual Wall Thickness

Authors

Donghan Kim, University of Texas-Pan American

Date of Award

5-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Manufacturing Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Kye Hwan Lee

Second Advisor

Dr. Seokyoung Ahn

Third Advisor

Dr. Rajiv Nambiar

Abstract

The effects of processing variables on gas penetration depth and Residual Wall Thickness (RWT) in an aluminum (Al) cavity of Gas-Assisted Injection Molding (GAIM) were investigated with Polypropylene (PP) and Stainless Steel Powder Feedstock (SSPF). The selected processing variables were melt temperature, shot size, gas pressure, and gas delay time. By using a Taguchi L9 array, the results were compared with previous work. For PP, there were no significant differences on gas penetration depth. However, the significance of gas delay time was relatively higher in an Al cavity as compared to a Stereolithography (SLA) cavity from previous work with SSPF. The most significant parameter affecting RWT was melt temperature for PP and gas delay time for SSPF, respectively. Additionally for SSPF, we found that gas penetration depth and RWT decreased with increasing mold temperature.

Comments

Copyright 2010 Donghan Kim. All Right Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/gas-assisted-powder-injection-molding-comparison/docview/726035506/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American