Document Abstract
ANTEC Papers: 2002
Single-Step Rotational Foam Molding of Skin-Surrounded Polyethylene Foams
Remon Pop-Iliev and Chul B. Park* Microcellular Plastics Manufacturing Laboratory Department of Mechanical & Industrial Engineering University of Toronto Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G8 *park@mie.utoronto.ca
This paper demonstrates how the rotational foam molding process can be employed for the manufacture of plastic articles that have a distinct layer of non-foamed skin surrounding a foamed core or layer. It is focused on the single-step processing principle the main feature of which is the simultaneous introduction of both the foamable and non-foamable resin into the cavity of the mold at the beginning of the cycle. Although this advanced concept eliminates the need for process interruptions and the use of drop boxes or plastic bags, it requires an appropriate processing strategy that would assure that the execution of the adhesion of the non-foamable thermoplastic resin to the internal surface of the mold always takes place prior to the activation of the foamable resin.