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Advances in infrared technology for the online monitoring of injection moulding: application to the understanding of the nature of contact at the polymer—mould interface

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Laval University, Quebec Quebec G1K 7P4, Canada, bendada{at}gel.ulaval.ca

A. Derdouri

National Research Council Canada, 75 De Mortagne, Boucherville Quebec J4B 6Y4, Canada

Y. Simard

National Research Council Canada, 75 De Mortagne, Boucherville Quebec J4B 6Y4, Canada

M. Lamontagne

National Research Council Canada, 75 De Mortagne, Boucherville Quebec J4B 6Y4, Canada

We describe a novel online infrared method for remote sensing of the surface and the bulk temperatures of polymers during injection moulding. The method may also be applied to other polymer forming processes such as extrusion and blow moulding. The key feature of the new method is the use of a hollow optical fibre that is incorporated into the injection mould to transmit the thermal radiation from the target to the sensor. The main characteristic of the hollow optical fibre is that it exhibits low transmission loss of the thermal energy in the mid-and far-infrared, and no end reflection. This allows measurement of quite low temperatures, as low as near room temperature. Conventional optical fibre thermometers can neither measure such low temperature ranges nor measure the polymer surface temperature. In this article, we present the first online results of critical tests of the new device. A Husky injection moulding press was used for the experiments. Good correlation was found between the radiometric results and those obtained with a thermal probe inserted near the polymer—mould interface, and with infrared imaging after the polymer part was ejected from the injection mould. In the second part of the paper, we show how the new infrared device can be used to give a better insight on the time evolution of the thermal contact between polymer and mould through the different phases of a typical injection moulding cycle. The experimental results show that thermal contact between polymer and mould is not negligible and not constant with time.

Key Words: infrared waveguide • injection moulding • pyrometry • radiometry • temperature • thermal contact resistance • thermal probe.

Transactions of the Institute of Measurement and Control, Vol. 29, No. 5, 431-451 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0142331207075587


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