Multiphase Simulation of Rubber and Air in the Cavity of Mold

In the polymer shaping process that uses molds, the quality of the molded products is determined not only by the flow of the (molten) polymer but also by the air venting in the cavity. Inadequate air venting in the cavity can cause defects in the product, such as voids, short shot, or black streaks. As it is critical to consider the location and size of the vents for proper venting of the air in the cavity, a method that predicts the flow of air and material is required. The venting of air by the flow of rubber inside the cavity was simulated by using a multi-phase computational fluid dynamics method.
Through computer simulation, the interface of rubber and air over time was predicted. Then, the velocity and pressure distribution of the venting air were observed. Our research proposes a fundamental method for analyzing the multi-phase flow of polymer materials and air inside the cavity of a mold.