Microcellular Injection Molding with Chemical Blowing Agents

It is possible to simulate microcellular injection molding using a chemical blowing agent instead of a physical blowing agent.

This feature is supported for the following mesh types:

• Midplane
• Dual Domain
• 3D

When using a chemical blowing agent to generate the foaming gas, the chemical blowing agent is premixed with the polymer in the pellet. The chemical reaction occurs in the barrel, typically upon heating, to generate a foaming gas. Mixture in the barrel is then injected into the cavity. An advantage of this process is that you can use a regular injection molding machine, without modification.

Assumptions

• The chemical reaction that generates the foaming gas is complete and occurs 100% in the barrel.
• All by-products of the chemical reaction that produces the foaming gas are ignored.
• No chemical kinetics equations for the foaming gas generation are solved.