Computer-Aided-Engineering (CAE) for the Gas-Assisted Injection Molding Process

自往复式螺杆注塑机问世以来，气体辅助注射成型工艺一直被其支持者称为注射成型工艺最重要的发展。这一过程包括将聚合物熔体部分注射到模具型腔中，然后注入压缩气体，压缩气体穿透并原则上掏空预先设计的厚截面气体通道网络，直到型腔充满为止。当该工艺得到很好的开发和理解后，它可以生产许多重量轻、刚性高的注塑件，并将为塑料部件的设计提供极大的灵活性。这一过程的分析涉及两种截然不同的材料在一个几何复杂的模腔中的流动。这项研究的目的是为描述这一创新过程建立科学基础并获得工程解决方案。这项研究的成功成果不仅将加快这一工艺的开发和验收，而且可能为塑料部件的设计增加一个新的维度。

Gas-assisted injection molding process has been claimed by its proponents as the most important development for the injection molding process since the invention of reciprocating-screw injection molding machine. This process consists of a partial injection of polymer melt to the mold cavity followed by an injection of compressed gas which penetrates and, in principle, hollows out a network of pre-designed, thick-section gas channels until the cavity is filled. When the process is well developed and understood, it can produce many injection molded parts with light weight and high rigidity and will provide tremendous flexibility in the design of plastic parts. The analysis of the process involves flow of two drastically different materials in a geometrically complicated mold cavity. This study is aimed at establishing the scientific basis and attaining an engineering solution for characterizing this innovative process. Successful results of this research would not only expedite the development and acceptance of this process, but also may add a new dimension to the plastic part design.