Lec 4
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Transcript of Lec 4
Munim Shaukat (Lecturer)
Mechanical Engineering Department
University of Lahore
Introdution Thermoforming is a process in which a thermoplastic sheet
is heated and deformed into the desired shape. The process is widely used in packaging of consumer
products and to fabricate large items such as bathtubs, contoured skylights, and internal door liners for refrigerators
Thermoforming ProcessThe process involves Heating the plastic sheet to a temperature range
where it softens Then stretching the softened plastic against a cold
surface mold When the sheet has cooled, it is removed from the
mold and excess plastic is trimmed
Thermoforming Process consists of two main steps: Heating Forming Heating is usually accomplished by radiant electric heaters,
located on one or both sides of the starting plastic sheet at a distance of roughly 125 mm (5in).
The methods by which the forming step is accomplished can be classified into three basic categories:
1. vacuum thermoforming
2. pressure thermoforming,
3. mechanical thermoforming
Single-station thermoforming machine
Heating the sheet
Clamping the sheet
Moving the sheet and mold into proper relationship for forming, a vacuum or pressure system
Vacuum forming It is the the earliest method used and also called simply vacuum
forming.It is the proces in which negative pressure is used to draw a preheated sheet into a mold cavity. The process is explained in next slide in its most basic form. The holes for drawing the vacuum in the mold are on the order of 0.8 mm (0.031 in) in diameter, so their effect on the plastic surface is minor.
• Vacuum thermoforming: (1) a flat plastic sheet is softened by heating; (2) the softened sheet is placed over a concave mold cavity; (3) a vacuum draws the sheet into the cavity; and (4) the plastic hardens on contact with the cold mold surface, and the part is removed and subsequently trimmed from the web.
Uneven wall thicknesses are observed in this technique As the sheet touch the mold, the thickness at the location
become fixed, further stretching occur in the area that have not yet touched the mold, typically at the corner.
Therefore the thinnest area occur at the corner, near the clamp
Thin corner
Plastics sheet
Pressure Forming Pressure forming is an alternative to vacuum forming involves
positive pressure to force the heated plastic into the mold cavity. its advantage over vacuum forming is that higher pressures can be
developed .. The process sequence is similar to the previous, the difference being that the sheet is pressurized form above into the mold cavity. Vent holes are provided in the mold to exhaust the trapped air.
Pressure forming Positive air
pressure from the top of the plastic used to force the materials against the mold
Mechanical Thermoforming The third method, called mechanical thermoforming, uses matching
positive and negative molds that are brought against the heated plastic sheet, forcing it to assume their shape. In the pure mechanical forming method, air pressure (positive or negative) is not used at all.
Its advantages are better dimensional control and the opportunity for surface detailing on both sides of the part.
The disadvantage is that two mold halves are required; the molds for the other two methods are therefore less costly.
Mechanical thermoforming: (1) heated sheet is placed above a negative mold, and (2) mold is closed to shape the sheet.
Single-station thermoforming machine
Heating the sheet
Clamping the sheet
Moving the sheet and mold into proper relationship for forming, a vacuum or pressure system
Important Note this point it is useful to distinguish between
negative and positive molds. Both types are used in thermoforming
A positive mold has a convex shape In the case of the positive mold, the heated sheet is draped over the convex form and negative or positive pressure is used to force the plastic against the mold surface. The positive mold is shown in the case of vacuum forming.
Negative molds have concave cavities
The difference between positive and negative molds may seem unimportant, since the part shapes are virtually identical, as shown in our diagrams.
However, if the part is drawn into the negative mold, then its exterior surface will have the exact surface contour of the mold cavity. The inside surface will be an approximation of the contour and will possess a finish corresponding to that of the staring sheet.
By contrast, if the sheet is draped over a positive mold, then its interior surface will be identical to that of the convex mold; and its outside surface will follow approximately.
Depending upon the requirements of the product, the distinction might be important.
Male and Female mold Female mold- a mold in which the part is
pressed into a cavity
PLASTICS AND POLYMERS
General properties: more durable, harder, tough, light.
Typical uses: automobile parts, construction materials.
Plastic types: Thermosets
Examples:
Unsaturated Polyesters: varnishes, boat hulls, furniture
Epoxies and Resins:… glues, coating of electrical circuits,composites: fiberglass in helicopter blades, boats,
Plastic types: Elastomers
General properties: these are thermosets, and have rubber-like properties.
Typical uses: medical masks, gloves, rubber-substitutes
Examples:
Polyurethanes: mattress, cushion, insulation, toys
Silicones: surgical gloves, oxygen masks in medical applicationsjoint seals
General properties: low melting point, softer, flexible.
Typical uses: bottles, food wrappers, toys, …
Examples:
Polyethylene: packaging, electrical insulation, milk and water bottles, packaging film
Polypropylene: carpet fibers, automotive bumpers, microwave containers, prosthetics
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): electrical cables cover, credit cards, car instrument panels
Polystyrene: disposable spoons, forks, Styrofoam™
Acrylics (PMMA: polymethyl methacrylate): paints, fake fur, plexiglass
Polyamide (nylon): textiles and fabrics, gears, bushing and washers, bearings
PET (polyethylene terephthalate): bottles for acidic foods like juices, food trays
PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene): non-stick coating, Gore-Tex™ (raincoats), dental floss
Plastic types: Thermoplastics
Plastics and Polymers
Thermoforming uses plastic sheet, which is heated, stretched, cooled and mechanically cut The plastic sheet is manipulated as a rubbery solid or
elastic liquid The solid or elastic liquid properties are more important
than the viscous properties when thermoforming
Plastics and Polymerswe can thermoform both amorphous and
crystalline polymers Amorphous
No organization, glass transition PS, ABS, PVC, PC
Crystalline Organized region called crystals, glass transition
and melting PE, PP, Nylon, Acetal
Important thermal properties Enthalpy or heat capacity Thermal conductivity Temperature dependent density
Summary of advantages & disadvantages of thermoforming
process
AdvantagesAdvantages of thermoforming are
Low temperature, low pressure required Only a single surface mold is required Molds are easy to fabricate and use inexpensive materials No need for the plastic to flow Can make very large surface area to thickness ratios
DisadvantagesDisadvantages of thermoforming
Plastic material is more expensive because the pellets have to be made into sheets
Generally more waste to reprocess Can get a great deal of wall thickness variation
Draw ratio
Is used to estimate the amount of wall thickness variation that might occur
High draw ratio result in excessive thinning and wall nonuniformities
Draw ratio = depth of part / width of part
Area ratioIt gives us some approximation of the amount of thinning that
will be experienced by the plastic sheet when it is transformed
Area ratio = area of the sheet before forming area of the part after forming
If the sheet is 200 cm2, and will be thermoformed into a part that has total area of 400cm2, the area ratio is 1:2
Area ratio x desired thickness of finished part = minimum original thickness (thickness of the blank)
The overall average thickness of the part will therefore be one-half of original thickness
The area ratio is often used to calculate the size of the unformed sheet that must be used to make a particular part
Applications Mass production thermoforming operations are performed in the
packaging industry Thin film packaging items that are mass produced by thermoforming
include blister packs and skin packs. Thermoforming applications include large parts that can be produced
from thicker sheet stock. Examples include covers for business machines, boat hulls, shower stalls, diffusers for lights, advertising displays and sins, bathtubs, and certain toys.
We had previously mentioned contoured skylights and internal door liners for refrigerators.
These would be made, respectively, out of acrylic (because of its transparency) and ABS (because of its ease in forming and resistance to oil and fats found in refrigerators).
Applications Mass production thermoforming operations are performed in the
packaging industry Thin film packaging items that are mass produced by thermoforming
include blister packs and skin packs. Thermoforming applications include large parts that can be produced
from thicker sheet stock. Examples include covers for business machines, boat hulls, shower stalls, diffusers for lights, advertising displays and sins, bathtubs, and certain toys.
We had previously mentioned contoured skylights and internal door liners for refrigerators.
These would be made, respectively, out of acrylic (because of its transparency) and ABS (because of its ease in forming and resistance to oil and fats found in refrigerators).
Blister Pack and Skin Pack
Blister Packs
Skin Packs
Formed blister pack material