Microcellular injection molding process for producing lightweight thermoplastic polyurethane with customizable properties

作     者：Thomas ELLINGHAM Hrishikesh KHARBAS Mihai MANITIU Guenter SCHOLZ Lih-Sheng TURNG 

作者机构：Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison WI 53706 USA Wisconsin Institute for Discovery University of Wiseonsin-MadisonMadison WI 53715 USA BASF Corporation Wyandotte MI 48192 USA 

出 版 物：《Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering》 (机械工程前沿（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2018年第13卷第1期

页      面：96-106页

核心收录：

学科分类：080503[工学-材料加工工程] 08[工学] 0805[工学-材料科学与工程（可授工学、理学学位）] 080502[工学-材料学] 0802[工学-机械工程] 0801[工学-力学（可授工学、理学学位）] 

基　　金：Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professorship Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship Wisconsin Institute for Discovery 

主　　题：thermoplastic polyurethane microcellularinjection molding cavity expansion compressive strength,hysteresis loss ratio 

摘      要：A three-stage molding process involving microcellular injection molding with core retraction and an ＂out-of-mold＂ expansion was developed to manufacture thermoplastic polyurethane into lightweight foams of varying local densities, microstructures, and mechanical properties in the same microcellular injection molded part. Two stages of cavity expansion through sequential core retractions and a third expansion in a separate mold at an elevated temperature were carried out. The densities varied from 0.25 to 0.42 g/cm3 （77% to 62% weight reduction）. The mechanical properties varied as well Cyclic com- pressive strengths and hysteresis loss ratios, together with the microstructures, were characterized and reported.