MUCELL, ZYTEL NYLON TEAM UP TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE AND CUT COST OF ARBURG MACHINE COMPONENT
01 January 2001 - DuPont Engineering Polymers

Arburg Inc. is improving reliability and reducing costs by switching to DuPont Zytel glass-reinforced nylon resin and utilizing MuCell microcellular technology for molding a key pipe isolation part for its injection molding machines.
Arburg formerly molded the component, a housing for pipe isolation mounts to combat machine vibration, from conventionally molded nylon made by another resin supplier.

"Zytel 70G33L performs beautifully in the MuCell process, and it meets our needs for resistance to hydraulic oil and for strength, stiffness and toughness in a microcellular structure," says John Adamowicz, engineering manager for Arburg Inc.

Outlining the benefits of MuCell technology for the housing, Adamowicz says, "We can mold parts with less warp on a faster cycle and using less material."

The housings molded with MuCell technology exhibit 75 percent less warpage than solid parts, according to Adamowicz. "Flatter housings achieve a more reliable seal against the steel wall of the machine's reservoir for hydraulic oil, thus reducing the potential for oil leakage," he notes.

Faster mold cycles is another key benefit. Cycle time is 25 percent less for the housing with MuCell than with conventional injection molding, according to Adamowicz.

Reduced material use adds to the cost savings. Under the specific conditions used for molding the housing, a 27% weight reduction results. Weight reduction with MuCell varies widely with specific parts and conditions. Significant weight reduction is not required to achieve other advantages such as reduced warpage and improved flow with MuCell technology.

As applied in injection molding, the MuCell process involves the introduction of a supercritical fluid, nitrogen in the case of Arburg's isolation mount housing, into the polymer melt in the machine barrel. When the polymer is injected into the mold, the pressure drop causes the formation of microcells in the interior of the part. Licenses for the technology are available from Trexel Inc., Woburn, Mass. (781-932-0202).

Arburg offers its full range of injection machines with clamp capacities ranging from 17 to 300 tons with accessories and controls for MuCell technology. For additional information, please call Arburg at 860-667-6500 or visit www.arburg.com on the Web.

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