Simulation of Reactive Injection Molding of Polyurethane Foams

Complex Dynamics Predict

In the mathematical framework, this behaviour initiates a coupling between viscosity, degree of polymerization and temperature. With this form of coupling in the state variables it becomes very difficult to estimate associated model parameters analytically. Although the chemistry of reactive blown PU foams has a well documented history, however, obtaining adequate mathematical description of the complex dynamics which occurs in the RIM process still remains an issue of current research.

With the efforts of our collaborators from the Department of Mechanical Engineering in TU Chemnitz who performed all the relevant experimental studies under the MERGE project on light weight structures, we formulate adequate mathematical framework capable of predicting the complex dynamics of the expanding PU foam system. Furthermore, with our in-house robust numerical simulations platform (CoRheoS), we are able to predict the flow behaviour and other physically relevant flow variable necessary for describing the expansion process.

The results from our solution platform provide accurate description of the mass and heat transfer in the expanding foam setup. In addition, the comparison with the available experimental data gives both qualitative and quantitative agreement.