Synthesis of Melt Pumps & Brakes for Polymer Processing

这项研究的目的是创造和验证在挤出和注塑等聚合物工艺中控制塑料熔体流动的新方法。这项研究的动机是聚合物加工中普遍存在的可控性不足，这阻碍了高质量产品的高效和持续生产。为了克服与尺寸和功耗相关的现有限制，研究人员将研究主要由聚合物熔体提供动力、几乎不需要控制能量的设计方法。此外，设备的尺寸将被缩小，直到确定了主要的机械和流变约束。这项研究将在理论和应用两个层面上进行，并与行业密切互动。将开发理论模型来模拟聚合物在熔体控制装置中的流动，从而使改进设计的快速开发和优化成为可能。在应用层面上，广泛的工业合作提供了实施和验证与工业要求相关的研究的机会。该项目将在改进聚合物工艺的表征方面取得根本性进展，并使技术能够改进制造工艺。最后，这项研究将加强现有的教育基础设施，并通过改进的本科生、研究生和继续教育课程转移到行业。

The objective of this research is to create and validate new methods of controlling the flow of plastic melts in polymer processes such as extrusion and injection molding. This research is motivated by lack ofcontrollability common in polymer processing, which prevents the efficient and consistent production of high quality products. To overcome existing constraints related to size and power consumption, theresearch will investigate design approaches that are powered predominantly by the polymer melt and require little or no control energy. Furthermore, the size of the devices will be reduced until dominating mechanical and rheological constraints are identified. The research will be conducted at both theoretical and applied levels with close interaction with industry. Theoretical models will be developed to simulate the polymer flow through the melt control devices, thereby enabling the rapid development and optimization of improved designs. At the the applied level, extensive industrial collaboration is providing the opportunity to implement and validate the research relative to industry requirements.This project will provide fundamental advances towards improved characterization the polymer processes as well as enabling technologies for improved manufacturing processes. Finally, the research will enhance the existing educational infrastructure, and be transferred to industry through improved undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education courses.