Heat Control simulation for variothermal injection moulding moulds using infrared radiation

Mould temperature control has a significant influence on component quality and costs in the plastic injection moulding process. In the case of standard applications isothermal temperature control, in which the mould temperature is maintained at one level, is sufficient. For special applications (e.g. plastic optics; long, thin components; moulding of microstructures) variothermal temperature control using cyclically changing temperatures is beneficial. Therefore, the use of infrared radiators offers advantages in terms of achievable temperatures and investment costs but at low heating rates and efficiency. This paper therefore investigates the possibility of increasing the efficiency of energy input by infrared radiation into metals in particular into aluminium. For this purpose, a simulation model is developed. The numeric models used are validated by means of experiments. A short-wave infrared radiator is investigated, consisting of a tungsten filament in a quartz glass tube. The emitter power is varied from 1200 to 400 W. An aluminium sample with a thickness of 10 mm and a square base with an edge length of 60 mm is investigated. The temperature is measured on the non-irradiated side in the centre of the sample surface and at a distance of 20 mm from it while being irradiated. For the numerical model, a ray tracing simulation is carried out in a first step, the result of which is used as a Neumann boundary condition for a thermal simulation in second step. The model created can serve as a basis for the thermal design of more complex geometries.