In this paper, an experimental study of replication by injection molding of sub-micrometer features is presented. Two polypropylenes with different melt flow rates (MFR) were used throughout this study. The used removable mold insert was textured with a femtosecond laser. Replication of these periodic structures, called ripples, is thus investigated. Despite different MFR, we show that the viscosities of the two polymers at the investigated temperatures and injection shear rates are similar. The reproducibility of the injected molded samples and the texture of the mold were analyzed. We propose a specific methodology to quantify the reproducibility quality replicas. The latter introduces morphological parameters such as anisotropy rate, power density, etc. A difference between the two replicas was noticeable. Based on rheological analysis, the viscosity was ruled out as the origin of this difference. Other properties were identified as the source such as the chain length and the stress relaxation time. Their impact on the replication quality was investigated and found interesting.

In recent years, there has been increased interest in producing and providing high-precision plastic parts that can be manufactured by microinjection molding: gears, pumps, optical grating elements, and so on. For all of these applications, the replication quality is essential. This study has two goals: (1) fabrication of high-precision parts using the conventional injection molding machine; (2) identification of robust parameters that ensure production quality. Thus, different technological solutions have been used: cavity vacuuming and the use of a mold coated with DLC or CrN deposits. AFM and SEM analyses were carried out to characterize the replication profile. The replication quality was studied in terms of the process parameters, coated and uncoated molds and crystallinity of the polymer. Specific studies were processed to quantify the replicability of injection molded parts (ABS, PC and PP). Analysis of the Taguchi experimental designs permits prioritization of the impact of each parameter on the replication quality. A discussion taking into account these new parameters and the thermal and spreading properties on the coatings is proposed. It appeared that, in general, increasing the mold temperature improves the molten polymer fill in submicron features except for the steel insert (for which the presence of a vacuum is the most important factor). Moreover, the DLC coating was the best coating to increase the quality of the replication. This result could be explained by the lower thermal diffusivity of this coating. We noted that the viscosity of the polymers is not a primordial factor of the replication quality.

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