Mold design and manufacturing using nanocomposite materials

Composite mold is usually used as a low cost tool in molding processes. The nano-composite molds have many advantages over the traditional low cost composite molds. The nano-composites with 1-inch and 2-inch thickness were made. As the properties of nano-composite materials are quite different from metals, the injection mold design and analysis were carried out based on CAE (computer aided engineer) tool and experiments at UDRI. Major issues in nano-composite mold design were listed and studied. Gate, runner, cooling channel locations and arrangements as well as the nano-composite mold mechanical and thermal performances were analyzed.