2026 Innovation and Emerging Plastics Technologies Conference Technical Sessions
Concurrent sessions on injection molding technology, materials technology, and executive/management practices.
Cellmould Physical Foaming Goes Circular
Presenter: Brent Strawbridge, Wittmann
Cellmould®, Wittmann's physical foaming technology, uses direct nitrogen injection to create lightweight, rigid structured foam parts with a fine cell structure. It eliminates sink marks and warpage, reduces material and energy use, and enables lower clamping forces, perfect for sustainable lightweight molding. This presentation explores how Cellmould® performs with post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Examples show how Cellmould® overcomes typical PCR challenges like inconsistent quality while delivering significant weight reduction, better stiffness, and strong environmental benefits. Attendees will learn practical tips for using Cellmould® with recycled content to support circular economy goals and produce high-performance, eco-friendly parts.
Unlocking the Advantages of Sodick's Plunger Technology for LSR Molding
Presenters: Bryce Maczko and Len Hampton, Sodick
This presentation explores Sodick's unique "V-Line" plunger injection system and the benefits it offers for molding LSR. It explains why V-Line is a strong choice for the demanding requirements of medical, micro-molding, and high-precision applications.
Closing the Loop: Sensor-Driven Polymer Processing in the Age of Smart Manufacturing
Presenter: Rick Fitzpatrick, X2F
Injection molding has traditionally been treated as a pressure-driven process governed by fixed machine settings and operator experience. This presentation reframes molding as a control-system problem centered on viscosity and velocity management rather than peak pressure alone. Controlled Viscosity Molding (CVM) replaces shear-dependent melting and trial-and-error tuning with sensor-based, closed-loop control using real-time cavity and system pressure as measurable process outputs. Attendees will examine the physics behind decoupling material preparation from mold filling, enabling stable processing of virtually any thermoplastic, including highly filled polymers, thermosets, and long-fiber composites. The session demonstrates how direct viscosity control improves repeatability, reduces process sensitivity, and establishes a data-rich foundation for automation, advanced process control, and digital manufacturing strategies. Students and engineers will leave with a new framework for understanding polymer flow—not as an art refined by experience, but as a measurable, controllable engineering system.
Building Success in LSR Molding: What Every New Molder Should Know
Presenter: Chad Zediker, Engel
Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) offers unmatched versatility for producing high-quality, durable parts. If you're starting a new LSR molding operation, what steps should you take to ensure success, and what common pitfalls should you avoid? This presentation serves as a comprehensive guide for newcomers to LSR molding, outlining essential considerations for launching your operation effectively and efficiently.
Driving Efficiency and Quality in Micromolding Processes
Presenter: Gene Flockerzi, Moretto
The rise of micro components in medical, electronic, and micromechanical markets is pushing manufacturers toward unprecedented precision, including sub-micron tolerances, minimal material use, and faster, more efficient production. Meeting these demands requires more than standard auxiliaries; it requires equipment engineered for absolute consistency. This is where Moretto excels. With a comprehensive portfolio of high-performance systems for material handling, conveying, drying, and blending, Moretto delivers the stability and repeatability essential for micro-molding success. In low-volume environments, even slight dosing errors or moisture fluctuations can lead to defects, scrap, and compromised part performance. Moretto’s solutions eliminate these risks. This presentation highlights two critical technologies: advanced gravimetric batch blenders that ensure precise micro-dosing, and compact drying units that remove moisture from hygroscopic polymers with exact control and no variation in material blend or temperature. By eliminating process variables at the source, Moretto enables manufacturers to achieve consistent quality and protect material integrity while maintaining a compact, efficient footprint. Moretto empowers processors to meet the next generation of micro-component challenges with confidence, precision, and a measurable competitive edge.
Metal Injection Molding 101
Presenter: Michael Goetz, Nichols Portland Incorporated
Metal Injection Molding (MIM) merges the design flexibility of plastic injection molding with the strength of metal. It is the most efficient way to mass-produce small, intricate metal parts—like those found in medical devices and firearms—that are too intricate for traditional machining. The process involves molding a "green part" in a traditional injection molding machine, removing the binders, and then sintering the component in a high-temperature furnace. This final step shrinks the part to its precise dimensions and fuses the metal to near-full density. This creates durable, high-precision components with minimal waste and little need for secondary finishing.
A Coupled Simulation Framework for Predicting Weld Line Weakness in Injection Molded Polymer Parts
Presenter: Harshal Bhogesra, Moldex3D
Weld lines formed during injection molding can significantly reduce the mechanical performance of plastic components. Accurate prediction of weld line behavior—especially meeting angle, bonding quality, and local strength—is essential for reliable structural design. This work presents an integrated workflow that connects Moldex3D filling simulations with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) solvers to improve strength prediction for unfilled polymers. The approach incorporates weld line location, melt-front meeting angle, particle-tracking visualization, and a computed Weld Line Strength Factor (WLSF), which is derived from thermal history and polymer healing behavior. These results are transferred directly to structural solvers such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, and LS-DYNA, enabling localized strength reductions in the material model. This workflow allows engineers to identify weak regions early, reduce prototyping cycles, and enhance the overall reliability of molded components.
How Both MFI & Capillary Rheometers Fail in Characterizing How a Polymer Will Injection Mold
Presenter: Eric Bowersox, Beaumont Advanced Processing
MFI and capillary rheometers are the primary means of evaluating the flow characteristics of a polymer for both extrusion and injection molding. As they are extrusion devices, they can provide excellent information for the extrusion industry. However, they can significantly misrepresent the behavior of a given polymer, or relative behavior of contrasting polymers, when they are to be used for injection molding. This misrepresentation not only misleads the molder but also those developing new polymers and polymer grades. This paper exposes these flaws by contrasting MFI and classic rheometric data to detail in-mold polymer characterization.
Measured vs. Simulated Shrinkage and Warpage of an Injection-Molded Part Using STAMP-Characterized Olefins
Presenter: Hunter Beaumont, The Madison Group
A common hurdle to successful injection molding is achieving the proper part dimensions and minimizing part warpage after being ejected out of the mold. Tools like injection molding simulation are used to proactively address many of the issues encountered during molding. While many mold-filling and cooling issues can be effectively optimized before the tool is produced, predictions of shrinkage and dimensional stability can deviate significantly from reality. This deviation leads to expensive modifications to the part or mold that often results in a non-optimized overall process. Recently, Autodesk Moldflow released a new shrinkage model called STAMP (Shrinkage Test Adjusted Mechanical Properties) that claims to help improve the shrinkage and warpage predictions for its Insight 3D solver [1]. This improvement should result in fewer mold ”tuning” cycles, allowing products to reach the market sooner. This paper provides an impartial look at how the predicted shrinkage and warpage of actual molded parts compared between STAMP and the incumbent URS (Uncorrected Residual Stress) shrinkage model for both filled and unfilled olefinic materials. The study varied factors such as material, part wall thickness, gate location, and packing pressure.
AI-Enabled Injection Molding Simulation: From Agent-Assisted Analysis to Custom Solver Development
Presenter: Matt Jaworski, Autodesk Moldflow
Artificial intelligence is reshaping injection molding simulation by extending its role from prediction alone to a more interactive, adaptive, and knowledge-driven engineering workflow. Traditional simulation has relied on expert users to manually build models, define boundary conditions, interpret dozens of results, and iterate designs through time-consuming trial-and-error. Recent AI capabilities now offer a different path: large language model interfaces can simplify setup and interpretation, retrieval-augmented systems can ground recommendations in domain knowledge, and AI agents can automate repetitive analysis tasks while keeping engineers in control of design decisions. At the same time, AI is enabling a second transformation: faster customization of simulation software itself. Using Autodesk Moldflow’s Solver API and AI coding agents, researchers and advanced users can extend standard solvers to explore new material models, alternative process physics, custom result outputs, and emerging molding technologies that often evolve faster than commercial software releases.
Case Studies Solving Injection Molding Processing Challenges with Fischer-Tropsch Processing Aides
Presenter: Steve Torchia, Sasol Chemicals
Ten successful commercial case studies where in-process challenges and cost savings were key goals achieved through formulating with a Fischer-Tropsch processing aide. A quick comparison of known alternatives and their deficiencies versus the Fischer-Tropsch processing aide. Automotive parts, garbage bins, filler masterbatch, plastic lawn furniture, beer crates, electric appliance parts, microplastic parts, along with examples in thermoformed sheet, raffia fiber, and PE shopping bags as additional examples where Sasol’s Fischer-Tropsch processing aides enabled process improvements and cost reductions.
World's First Pinless Valve Gate!
Presenters: Adam Leichliter and Fabio Bordignon, Oerlikon HRSflow
STARGATE HRS by Oerlikon HRS Flow is a hot runner valve-gate technology for plastic injection molding that uses a pin-less diaphragm gate to control the flow of molten plastic into the mold. This design improves cooling and process efficiency, enabling cycle time reductions and faster color changes. By eliminating traditional needle components, the system also reduces pressure loss, simplifies maintenance, and supports more compact mold designs.
Smart Hot Runner for Indirect Cavity Pressure Monitoring and Process Control
Presenter: Jeremy Makohn, Barnes
This paper presents the implementation of an indirect pressure sensing approach within an intelligent valve gate hot runner system. The system generates cavity pressure-equivalent signals that can be directly applied for process monitoring and quality control. Unlike conventional cavity pressure sensors, this indirect method eliminates the need for additional mold modifications such as drilling, threading, or wiring, thereby simplifying integration and reducing the burden on mold makers. Delivered as a plug-and-play solution, the system ensures seamless deployment without leaving any sensor-related markings on the molded part surface. Experimental results demonstrate a strong correlation between the indirect pressure signals and those from traditional cavity pressure sensors. Furthermore, the system provides supplementary insights into valve pin movement, enabling predictive wear analysis and improved balancing in multi-cavity applications.
Optimized Side-Gating with Enhanced Controller Features
Presenter: Michael Zuraw, Mold-Masters
Among various gating strategies, side gating has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution-especially for parts requiring deep draws and intricate geometries. However, as demands for higher cavity counts and smaller, lightweight components increase, traditional side gating approaches face growing challenges. The reality of high cavitation side gating, the inherent limitations that emerge at scale, and groundbreaking technological innovations that are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible will be the topic of this presentation. A new side gating nozzle has been developed with individual tip control to address these challenges. With individual tip control processors can take advantage of some of the advanced features of temperature controllers such as data acquisition using an OPC-UA server, monitoring and alarm notification, and TC Connect for thermocouple wiring simplicity. The advantages of tip control in side gating applications will be reviewed with special attention to how important your controller can be for process optimization.
Engineering Hot Runner Solutions for Extreme-Temperature Polymers
Presenter: Paul Boettger, Technoject
Processing ultra high temperature engineering resins introduces significant challenges in injection molding, especially when processing temperatures reach 330–400 °C (625–750 °F). These materials, e.g. PEEK and PEI, are selected for demanding applications where they must maintain exceptional mechanical, electrical, and chemical performance under harsh thermal conditions, such as automotive “under the hood”, electronics and aerospace. This places high demands on thermal control and hot runner system design. This presentation outlines practical strategies for molding these advanced polymers using Heitec’s high temperature hot runner technology. Key topics include advanced insulation methods, heat transfer with manifolds and nozzles, thermocouple placement, thermal profile, and the influence of surface area contact on temperature stability.
Mold Maintenance: Fire Fighting vs. Fire Prevention
Presenters: Glenn Keith and Nick O'Toole, AIM Institute
This presentation discusses a systematic approach to mold maintenance to ensure mold reliability and optimal performance in an industrial setting. Strategies include implementing regular inspections, determining which items to measure and how to monitor them, designing molds with maintenance in mind, and taking proactive measures to minimize mold downtime and extend mold lifespan. It also reviews the five areas that make up a mold maintenance shop and their effect on efficiency.
Water Quality – The Hidden Enemy of Cycle Time
Presenter: Kip Petrykowski, Blue Moose Descaling
Water plays such a large role in the quality of our personal lives. The bottled water industry now represents some $2B in annual sales. Yet the water we put through our equipment can be less than optimal... why? Well, it is not so easy to treat water on a large scale, as in many factories. Even when we treat it, we skew the pH towards the alkaline side of the litmus strip. Why? Well, alkaline, at least, unlike acidic, doesn't eat away material from our equipment, pipes, etc. But unfortunately, it creates scale, which reduces heat transfer. How can we create a more balanced water? This presentation discusses several options.
Auxiliary Equipment Integration in Injection Molding: Applications and Sizing Criteria
Presenter: Mike Ellis, ACS Group
This presentation provides a practical overview of how to properly size plastic auxiliary equipment for injection molding applications. It will cover key considerations for selecting and matching equipment such as dryers, chillers, loaders, temperature control units, and granulators to the requirements of the molding process. Attendees will learn how factors including material type, throughput, mold cooling demand, and production rates influence equipment sizing. The session will also highlight common sizing mistakes and offer simple calculation methods and best-practice guidelines to ensure reliable operation, improved process efficiency, and optimized energy use in injection molding facilities.
Assembly and Testing: From Process Monitoring to Modular Automation
Presenter: Jorge Aldeco, Kistler
Modern assembly of injection-molded components requires far more than traditional end-of-line pass/fail inspection. Achieving consistent quality in high-volume manufacturing depends on precise monitoring, traceability, and control across every critical assembly, joining, and testing process. This presentation explores how advanced technologies enable intelligent assembly and testing through the integration of piezoelectric sensing, real-time process monitoring, electromechanical joining systems, modular automation platforms, and automated optical inspection. By capturing and analyzing critical parameters such as force, torque, displacement, and angle, manufacturers can optimize press-fitting, stamping, clinching, and other precision joining operations while improving process stability, product quality, and traceability and reducing scrap, downtime, and operating costs. Modular architectures further allow manufacturers to expand automation incrementally while preserving the flexibility needed in evolving high-volume production environments.
Advancements in Resin Drying Technology
Presenter: Ryan Matthews, Conair Group
Conair will provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in their drying technology and its critical role in achieving consistent, high-quality plastic parts. The session will explore their innovative new desiccant wheel design as well as products from mobile dryers to central drying systems, with particular focus on the latest ResinWorks™ system update featuring Optimizer™ AI Driven Process Control as well as other Conair offerings for more niche applications.
Prepare to Help Tomorrow's Workforce Address Today's Challenges
Presenter: Ryan Jenner, Arburg
The workforce is forever changing, and with it, opportunities to gain (or lose) know-how. There is an ever-growing need for molders to be more flexible, more adaptable, more ready for change. Arburg presents ways to help address this challenge by making the injection molding machine User Interface easier to understand, more intuitive, and enable users to get down to what matters most: producing parts as quickly as possible and with the best possible quality, while making it easy for all users to get the data that they need, when they need it. This presentation will look at innovative user interface, process assistance tools and technology which can make the job of a plastic molder easier.
Electric Machines – Total Cost of Ownership
Presenter: Jaqui Schreiber, Milacron
Outside of the initial price, one must consider the operation and production costs, as well as maintenance, downtime, and the machine’s resale value. Injection Molding machines touch on many aspects of a business and can pull costs from unexpected places. Anticipating these costs can give a company an advantage for managing them and minimizing their impact. Additionally, advancements in technology like AI and Energy Saving features can reduce the impact as well. Finding a flexible solution that can be applied to multiple applications, have minimal impact on the molding environment, and that can monitor wear will allow for the machine to provide the best chance at profit over the longest period.
New Generation of Polyolefin Processing Aids to Improve Production Efficiency and Contribute to the End Processor's Sustainability
Presenter: Brian Young, Penn State Behrend
Presentation on a new generation of processing aid to improve output efficiency in extrusion and injection molding. Processing improvements show a gain in output and reduction in overall energy consumption by reducing viscosity thus enabling faster outputs, reduction in processing temperatures, and faster cycle times. The effect on physical properties is minimal and may improve through increased flow, better chain alignment, and decrease part stress through shear reduction. The additional benefits are a reduction in plate-out with the possible elimination of PFAS additives and mold release agents. Overall performance is expected to yield improvement in sustainability and reduction in carbon footprint. Efficacy is dependent on the process, equipment, material, and letdown rate with typical usage in the 1-3%.
Servo Hydraulic Versus Electric
Presenter: Brian Towler, Boy Machines
This presentation will discuss the differences between servo hydraulic and electric machines. Advantages/disadvantages with process, energy savings and tolerance between the two.
Cutting Costs Without Cutting Corners: Practical Ways Injection Molders Can Save Money
Presenters: Eric Anderson and Damian Cadoret, Absolute Haitian
This presentation from Absolute Haitian will highlight practical ways injection molders can reduce costs across equipment, processes and operations. Topics will include energy savings from newer machines, reducing peak demand through staggered startups, optimizing clamp tonnage, and minimizing material waste during startups and changeovers. Beyond the molding machine, consideration will be given to strategic, commercial decisions such as the ROI of magnetic platens, mold clamps, and automation, along with when to use mold flow analysis, how toggle versus two-platen machines fit different applications, and how machine pricing scales between hydraulic and all electric platforms as tonnage increases. Finally, the presentation will touch on tax advantages, transportation savings when replacing equipment, and essential spare parts strategies to reduce downtime – providing attendees with actionable ways to improve profitability.
Taming the Cloud or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the PID
Presenters: Jason Satteson, Rick Beideman, and Amber Earnest, Conair Group
Nothing strikes fear in a manufacturing environment like the mention of the acronym “PID”. Exclamations such as “The PID’s not working”, “That PID’s not well tuned”, “Who messed with the PID?”, and “We’re oscillating!” evoke images of a black box that few understand but affects everyone. We will demystify the PID in simple terms so that you are no longer afraid, and discuss some of the new opportunities that cloud services can provide to tame the wild PID.
The Latest in Deck Coloring
Presenter: Kaan Serpersu, Penn Color
This presentation will discuss streaker and flame retardant technology for the decking market. Streakers are colorants to mimic a wood appearance, controlled by crafted pigment technology and viscosity control. Capillary rheometry, rotational rheometry, and heat-build for darker colors will be reviewed. Flame retardant chemistry used in the decking space will also be discussed with a focus on the ASTM E84 flame test.
Ultrasonic Welding of CYROLITE and Other Medical Plastics
Presenter: Michael Zadrozny, Roehm
Overview of ultrasonic welding as a versatile fabrication technique for joining various plastic materials to each other, key factors influencing weld strength, weldability of acrylic copolymers to other medical plastics, and key properties of acrylic materials that make them versatile in many medical applications. We have a basic version covering fundamentals and lingo as well as an advanced version that goes through all plus testing that Roehm has completed in the past.
Using Cavity Pressure and Temperature to Monitor and Control the Injection Molding Process
Presenter: Mike Prisby, Kistler
In injection molding, part quality is created inside the mold, making in-mold measurement essential for effective quality assurance. This presentation will show how cavity pressure and temperature sensing, combined with process monitoring and control, enables molders to detect deviations earlier, automatically identify suspect parts, and maintain more stable production conditions—all while supporting compliance and accountability. Attendees will learn how integrated systems support process visualization, monitoring, control, assistance functions, and modern data connectivity. The session will also explore how machine-learning-supported tools can help define optimal operating windows and how objective process data can support zero-defect manufacturing, improve cost efficiency and transparency, and feed plant-wide systems for analysis and continuous improvement. Finally, the presentation will highlight digital tools for synchronizing machine and process data, managing measurement data securely and transparently, and analyzing and reporting test results across a wide range of applications.
The Comparability of 3D Printing to Injection Molding for Laser Weldability of Plastics
Presenter: Ben Campbell, Robert Morris University
Transitioning to laser welding often involves a steep learning curve and costly design iterations. To accelerate adoption and provide early-stage proof of concept, this research investigates the viability of using 3D-printed components as functional proxies for injection-molded parts. We evaluate the ability of 3D-printed models to withstand the laser welding process, facilitate tooling development, and refine process parameters. By demonstrating weld strength comparability before committing to expensive production molds, this methodology offers a lower-risk path to mass production. This presentation will detail our current research methodology, experimental results to date, and the roadmap for future work.
Design to Injected Part in a Single Shift with Ceramic Mold Inserts
Presenter: Greg Wilkam, Axtra3D
Achieving same-day design-to-injected-part production has long been a goal for product developers, enabling rapid design iterations and low-volume manufacturing. However, producing high-speed, precise, and durable 3D printed injection molding tooling has remained a challenge. Axtra3D has addressed this with its Hybrid PhotoSynthesis (HPS) process, using the Lumia X1 printer and Forward AM’s Ultracur3D RG 3280 ceramic-filled photopolymer. HPS combines DLP for internal imaging and a laser for external boundaries, achieving SLA-quality finishes at DLP speed and allowing mold printing in 60 to 120 minutes, depending on size and geometry. The precision achieved is within 45 microns, and the mating surfaces are within 20 microns, eliminating the need for any post-machining. Customers have successfully implemented this same-day process - from CAD receipt to mold design, printing, post-processing, and injection molding to produce 30 to 3,000 end-use parts in PP, PE, TPE, TPU, and ABS.
Internal Integrated Induction Technology to Control Mold Temperature
Presenter: Thomas Vondrak, Roctool
Learn how Roctool’s 3iTech ( Internal, Integrated, Induction) can help eliminate most common Injection Molding defects and can help you push the boundaries in component design for Light Weight and High Strength performance. Learn how the patented 3iTech design approach can make significant improvements in Gloss Level, Texture Replication, Warpage, Knit Line Strength, Gate Blush, Gate Sink, Part Sink, Cycle time, and Flow Length extension. And, learn how Roctool 3iTech can enable the elimination of costly Secondary Operations, such as Painting and Annealing, to help deliver a more sustainable and economic approach to your injection molding applications. All with lowered electrical consumption. And finally, see that Roctool has characterized hundreds of Recycled plastic resins and you can see the effect of 3iTech to allow highly cosmetic molded parts in the Roctool HDPlastics Database.
A Study in Additive Conformal Cooling
Presenter: Jeff Mertz, Anova Innovations
This talk presents a structured, data-driven approach to advancing injection mold performance using 3D-printed steel inserts with conformal cooling. By integrating both traditional and additive tooling strategies, mold designs are first evaluated using Moldex3D simulation to quantify potential gains in cooling efficiency, cycle time reduction, and part quality. Promising concepts are then validated through unit mold trials before scaling to full production tooling. This methodology highlights the practical value of additive conformal cooling, particularly when paired with materials such as biodegradable resins that benefit from extended cooling cycles, ultimately enabling more efficient, higher-performing molding processes.
Film That Hasn't Even Begun to Peak: Micro- and Nanolayered Processing Technology Unlocking Advanced Performance
Presenter: Jessica Patz, Peak Nano
Beginning with an understanding of multi-layered film technology, the differences between established and advanced layered processing will be discussed. Case studies highlighting real-world applications of multilayered film will be shown, along with the range of uses available.
Advancing Lightweight Plastics Through Next-Generation Foaming Technology
Presenter: Abolfazl Mohebbi, Moxietec
Driven by the growing demand for lightweight, sustainable, and cost-efficient plastic products, Moxietec is advancing proprietary next-generation foaming technologies across multiple industries. This presentation introduces Moxietec’s innovative foaming solutions and their transformative impact on injection-molded thermoplastic applications that require improved material efficiency, enhanced part performance, and a reduced environmental footprint. Moxietec enables advanced processing through its proprietary foaming technology, delivering lightweight parts without compromising mechanical performance. At the core of the technology are proprietary foaming additives designed for controlled gas generation, uniform cell morphology, and a wide processing window. To further enhance process stability and part consistency, Moxietec’s shut-off nozzle technology provides precise flow control, reduces shear, and minimizes drool during operation. Together, these integrated solutions help manufacturers improve processing efficiency, reduce material consumption, and achieve consistent, high-quality production of lightweight components.
Key processing advantages, including reduced part density, minimized warpage and eliminated sink marks, improved dimensional stability, and shorter cycle times while maintaining structural integrity and surface quality, will be reviewed. Application examples from the automotive, aerospace, sports, and construction industries will demonstrate the commercial and technical benefits of advanced foamed materials. In addition, the role of foaming technologies in supporting sustainability initiatives through resin reduction, energy savings, and improved manufacturing efficiency will be discussed. The results highlight how Moxietec’s state-of-the-art foaming solutions contribute to the next generation of high-performance and environmentally responsible plastics manufacturing.
- Technical Excellence: Achieving uniform cell structures, improved dimensional stability, and reduced cycle times.
- Operational Efficiency: Minimizing warpage and material waste through precise flow control and optimized processing.
- Market Applications: Real-world success stories from the automotive, aerospace, sports, and construction industries.
- Sustainability: Supporting lightweighting, resin reduction, and energy-efficient manufacturing initiatives.
Synchrotron X-Ray Mapping on Flow-Induced Crystallized Polymers
Presenter: Xiaoshi Zhang, Penn State Behrend
Polymer crystallization under shear is a critical area of polymer research due to its significant impact on industrial processing techniques, including injection molding and 3D printing. Under shear conditions, polymers become anisotropic and can develop complex structures such as shish-kebabs. Traditionally, the effect of shear on polymer structure has been studied using pressure-driven flow, which inherently includes pressure drop and shear gradient effects. In our research, we utilize a rotational rheometer, allowing precise control over shear gradient, and sample size suitable for X-ray mapping. By employing synchrotron X-ray techniques at APS and CHESS, we capture a comprehensive view of the structural evolution under these conditions. This presentation will discuss our use of X-ray mapping to examine various responses in resin alignment in PEEK and its composites, the impact of melting temperature on the flow-induced crystallization of iPP, and how X-ray mapping enhances our understanding of iPP orientation as predicted by mold flow simulations.