The injection molding of micro-structures is a promising mass-production method for a broad range of materials. However, the replication quality of these structures depends significantly on the heat flow during the filling stage. In this paper, the filling and heat transfer of v-groove and random structures below 5 lm is investigated with the help of an AFM (atomic force microscope) and thermo couples. A numerical model is developed to predict the filling of surface structures during the filling and packing stage. The model implies the use of simple fully developed flow models taking the power-law material model into account. This permits investigation into which ways several processing parameters affect the polymer flow in the surface structures. The mold wall temperature, which has significant effects on the polymer flow, is varied by using a variothermal mold temperature control system to validate the model proposed.

In this paper the replication qualities of periodically and randomly arranged micro-features molded in the injection molding process and their effects on surface properties are studied. The features are molded in PC, PMMA and PP at different mold wall temperatures in order to point out the necessity and profitability of a variotherm mold wall temperature control system. A one-dimensional heat conduction model is proposed to predict the cycle times of the variotherm injection molding processes. With regard to these processes, the molding results are compared to the molded surface feature heights using an atomic force microscope. In addition, the effects of the molded surface features on macroscopic surfaces are characterized in terms of light reflection using a spectrometer and in terms of water wettability by measuring the static contact angle. Furthermore, due to the sensitivity of the surface features on the molded parts, their durability is compared in a scratch test with a diamond tip. This leads to successful implementation in applications in which the optical appearance, in terms of gloss and reflection, and the water repellence, in terms of drag flow and adhesion, are of importance.

This work focuses on the mechanical behavior of micro surface structures (molded both in the injection and reaction injection processes) in scratch tests using rounded cone indenters of different sizes. The interest in polymeric micro surface structures has increased in diagnostics, mass storage or optical fields as well as in the production of miniaturized devices such as micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) in which surface properties are essential. Using replication technologies like the injection molding process, such structures can be molded on a mass-production scale with low production costs at the same time. However, if the molded features are not protected, their surfaces are more sensitive compared to their unstructured surface and their functional loss is often a crucial factor. Therefore, the damage mechanisms of random and periodic structures at different length scales below 5 µm are investigated using an AFM and a SEM taking into account different materials and their structures.