Evaluation of Cadmould Software to Simulate the Filling Phase of a Natural Rubber Compound in Injection Moulding Process

Abstract

The possibility of using Cadmould software to simulate the filling behaviour of a natural rubber compound during an injection moulding process was investigated. For the simulation process, the determination of required material input data involving the rheological and cure kinetics data of the designed rubber compound were conducted. It was discovered that the acquired data were able to function as reliable material input data as they were comparable with related data available in the Cadmould software materials database. Verification of the simulated filling profiles by experimental short shots specimens showed that the Cadmould Rubber Package was able to predict the realistic filling behaviour of the formulated natural rubber compound inside the mould cavity when the measured material data were utilized. Whereas, the usage of available material database from the software failed to model the mould filling progression of the intended natural rubber compound.

Numerical Study of Mold Filling during Encapsulation Process

“…The melt-air interface is captured through Volume-of-Fluid (VOF) model, while viscosity is explained by the Cross model. An experimental data obtained from Ariff et al [8] is successfully verified to the numerical approach. Further studies have been made on the empty package with different transfer speed of the plunger.…”

“…Fig. 2 shows comparison of melt front between Ariff et al [8], and the present numerical approach at 4.5s and 6.0s. It can be seen that the compound almost filled the bottom parts rather than the upper parts for both profiles even though they have large gate area.…”

“…A validation study has been made between present numerical approach to Ariff et al [8]. There were four cavities which each have separated into two large (top) and small (bottom) cavities, respectively.…”