EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT COOLANT MEDIA ON THE COOLING PERFORMANCE OF INJECTION MOLD PRODUCT

Abstract

The injection molding process involves heating a thermoplastic polymer above its melting point and injecting it into a mold. The polymer then cools and solidifies to form the final part. The process consists of four stages: clamping, injection, cooling, and ejection. Among these stages, cooling plays a crucial role as it requires an efficient cooling system to transfer heat from the mold at a consistent rate, ensuring high-quality final products. This project specifically focuses on investigating the impact of different cooling media used in the cooling system for the mold. The aim is to compare the effectiveness of various cooling media on the cooling performance of the injection-molded product. Different types of coolants, including water, oil, or other solution mixtures, have been considered for their ability to reduce or regulate the temperature of the system. CAD modeling was prepared for the case study, along with a pre-designed conformal cooling channel and gating system. After conducting the simulation analysis, water emerged as the most effective coolant, demonstrating superior results compared to other coolant options. The results also highlight the feasibility of using alternative coolants that offer comparable cooling performance.