Numerical analysis of chemically foamed thick-walled PA66 GF30 moldings

Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Manufacturing Techniques, Al. prof. S. Kaliskiego 7, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland

^* Corresponding author: natalia.konczal@pbs.edu.pl

Abstract

The paper presents a numerical analysis of thick-walled PA66 GF30 moldings with the addition of a chemical blowing agent with a content of 1-3 wt%, and the obtained results were compared with the real object. Computer simulations were performed using Moldex3D^® software. Based on the numerical analysis, it was found that regardless of the dose of the blowing agent used, the largest pores were place in the core of the sample. Moreover, it was found that the size of the pores depends on their number in the cross-section of moldings. Compositions containing a higher cross-sectional pore density were characterized by smaller pore sizes. The results of the computer simulation also showed that increasing the blowing agent dose above 2 wt% does not significantly affect the size of the pores in the structure. The experimentally determined pore size of the composition containing 3 wt% chemical blowing agent slightly differs from the pore size obtained based on numerical analysis.