Measurement of residual stress using photoelasticity and computer simulation of optical characteristics in a transparent injection molded article

Pressurized high temperature plastic resin flows into the cavity of mold and is solidified in injection molding process. Residual stress is being developed in injection molded part because of high temperature variations and high pressure. Developed residual stress relaxes as time goes. Consequently this makes part deformed and deteriorates quality of product. A measurement method of residual stress for injection molded transparent articles has been investigated using photoelasticity. Light, a composite of electromagnetic waves, is purified into a single wave by a polarized film. When this wave passes through the specimen, birefringence is developed according to the level of residual stress in the specimen and color fringed pattern appears after the second polarized film. Residual stress in the injection molded transparent flat a part has been measured quantitatively using the color fringed pattern. Optical characteristics have been a part also predicted by computer simulation and compared with experimental results.