Foaming Mechanism of Polypropylene in Gas-Assisted Microcellular Injection Molding

In our recent study, it is reported that gas-assisted microcellular injection molding (GAMIM) is a promising method to fabricate plastic foams with good surface quality, high weight reduction, and improved mechanical performance. To clarify the foaming mechanism, the crystallization behaviors of polypropylene in both conventional injection molding (CIM) and gas-assisted injection molding (GAIM) were studied. It is found that GAIM can significantly promote melt crystallization and refine crystals. To explore the improvement mechanism of crystallization, a numerical model was developed to simulate the filling and cooling processes of CIM and GAIM. The simulation results show that the much stronger shear field and the faster cooling rate lead to the refinement of crystals in GAIM. Finally, a crystallization-driven cell nucleation model was proposed to explain the improved foaming behavior of polypropylene in GAMIM. This paper provides a deep understanding of the foaming behavior and hence benefits the foaming process design.