Influence of finishing operations and melt flow index on surface quality of injection molded parts

Abstract

In the production of polymer parts, great emphasis is placed on the quality of polymer product in terms of dimensional accuracy and optimally surface quality. Achievement of high surface quality of injection molded products correlate to the high surface quality of core or cavity in injection molds. This surface is copied during injection of polymer material. The kind of polymer material and its rheological properties can strongly influence this surface copying. Production of cores and cavities takes in the manufacturing process a considerable part of time, where some finishing technologies are more economically and time consuming than other processes. Thus, it is necessary to choose an appropriate finishing operations considering cost of injection mold, which is reflected in future price of polymer product. This paper experimentally examines the influence of the surface quality of mold cavities and rheological properties of polymer on the surface quality of injection molded product. © 2016. Published by Manufacturing Technology.