Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts

The metallic effect obtained by incorporation of metal particles in polymers by injection molding has the advantage of eliminating post-processing techniques reducing production cost and time. Nevertheless, undesired defects in the final appearance of parts are common. In this work PP/aluminum pigme...

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Main Authors: M. A. Costantino, V. Pettarin, A. J. Pontes, P. M. Frontini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Budapest University of Technology and Economics 2015-11-01
Series:eXPRESS Polymer Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0006158&mi=cd
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author M. A. Costantino
V. Pettarin
A. J. Pontes
P. M. Frontini
author_facet M. A. Costantino
V. Pettarin
A. J. Pontes
P. M. Frontini
author_sort M. A. Costantino
collection DOAJ
description The metallic effect obtained by incorporation of metal particles in polymers by injection molding has the advantage of eliminating post-processing techniques reducing production cost and time. Nevertheless, undesired defects in the final appearance of parts are common. In this work PP/aluminum pigments were obtained by direct injection molding and the influence of metallic particles on the aesthetic, morphological and mechanical properties of the parts was assessed. Aesthetic aspects could be improved by manipulating processing conditions: high melt temperatures diminished differential shrinkage and made weld lines less noticeable. Also at high melt temperatures Al particles increased thermal conductivity of PP generating a thicker skin, which combined with an inherent gradient temperature and typical shear stresses developed during injection molding, induced the formation of β-PP phase. Mechanical performance of parts showed to be dependent on PP morphology. Distinct deformation behaviors were seen according to the presence of PP polymorph, β-PP counteracting the detrimental effect of not bonded Al flakes, and making PP-Al moldings to have similar toughness as PP moldings with the added value of metallic looking.
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institution Kabale University
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publisher Budapest University of Technology and Economics
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series eXPRESS Polymer Letters
spelling doaj-art-b853c8a7fa684cfb99ba0e1a2b47ea6e2025-08-20T03:35:54ZengBudapest University of Technology and EconomicseXPRESS Polymer Letters1788-618X2015-11-019111040105110.3144/expresspolymlett.2015.93Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene partsM. A. CostantinoV. PettarinA. J. PontesP. M. FrontiniThe metallic effect obtained by incorporation of metal particles in polymers by injection molding has the advantage of eliminating post-processing techniques reducing production cost and time. Nevertheless, undesired defects in the final appearance of parts are common. In this work PP/aluminum pigments were obtained by direct injection molding and the influence of metallic particles on the aesthetic, morphological and mechanical properties of the parts was assessed. Aesthetic aspects could be improved by manipulating processing conditions: high melt temperatures diminished differential shrinkage and made weld lines less noticeable. Also at high melt temperatures Al particles increased thermal conductivity of PP generating a thicker skin, which combined with an inherent gradient temperature and typical shear stresses developed during injection molding, induced the formation of β-PP phase. Mechanical performance of parts showed to be dependent on PP morphology. Distinct deformation behaviors were seen according to the presence of PP polymorph, β-PP counteracting the detrimental effect of not bonded Al flakes, and making PP-Al moldings to have similar toughness as PP moldings with the added value of metallic looking.http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0006158&mi=cdPolymer compositesProcessing technologiesMechanical propertiesFractureMorphology-performance relatio
spellingShingle M. A. Costantino
V. Pettarin
A. J. Pontes
P. M. Frontini
Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
eXPRESS Polymer Letters
Polymer composites
Processing technologies
Mechanical properties
Fracture
Morphology-performance relatio
title Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
title_full Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
title_fullStr Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
title_full_unstemmed Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
title_short Mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
title_sort mechanical performance of double gated injected metallic looking polypropylene parts
topic Polymer composites
Processing technologies
Mechanical properties
Fracture
Morphology-performance relatio
url http://www.expresspolymlett.com/letolt.php?file=EPL-0006158&mi=cd
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AT ajpontes mechanicalperformanceofdoublegatedinjectedmetalliclookingpolypropyleneparts
AT pmfrontini mechanicalperformanceofdoublegatedinjectedmetalliclookingpolypropyleneparts