hivebench wshongwe EXPERIMENT

Polymer Processing

https://www.hivebench.com/notebooks/12488/experiments/35548

Created by wshongwe (user #9224) on Sun 26 November 2017

From Thu 02 November 2017
To Mon 13 November 2017

Polymer Processing Experiment

Author: Thembelihle Shongwe, Michael Edgar, Dhari Alobaidly, Mansour Alhammad

Laboratory: SCOB 190

Date: 26-11-2017

Objectives

Test the effects that extrusion speed and die diameter have on the mass throughput of a filament and its swell. In addition, characterize 4
polymers - ABS, PLA, HIPS and PETG based on their tensile strength, Young's modulus, stress-strain curves and other literature-based
characteristics.

Samples

ABS, HIPS, PETG and PLA polymers

Procedure

Effects of Extruder Conditions on Swell and Mass Throughput

On an excluding machine, set the temperature to +10 degrees above the melting point of each polymer.
Begin adding the polymer beads into the extruder until they cover the rotating axle inside the extruder, ensuring that the beads are nicely
packed to avoid air bubbles.
Set the extruder speed, select and fit the appropriate die size and start the machine. The extruded polymer (filament) will start to flow
outside the die, therefore to find the mass throughput, it is important to start the timer simultaneously with the extruder, stop it as soon as
you cut off the filament. Measure the mass of the filament, and then divide by the amount of time it to process it.
To measure swell, subtract the die diameter from the diameter of the filament when cooled.

To generate stress-strain curves for each polymer

Arrange polymer beads between two plates and heat them in a hydraulic press. Avoid overpressing the hydraulic press since you
increase the chance of scaping the plates and producing uneven polymer films.
Remove plates and after they have cooled, carve dog bone shaped samples out of them.
The samples are to be stretched and the Logg software will record the stress, tensile strength, ductility and strain endured by the sample
at certain time intervals. From this, a stress vs. strain curve is generated from which one can determine the Young's modulus, ultimate
strength and yield strength of a polymer. Variation in values, when compared to literature values, should give an idea of the level of
impurities in the dog bone sample.
The shape of the generated stress-strain curves will be compared to the figure below to characterize the polymer. More ductile polymers
endure greater strain than brittle ones. Hard polymers endure more stress before necking.
Results

Links to raw experimental data for the different polymers.

ABS tensile strength data:

ABS Tensile Strength Data.xlsx

HIPS tensile strength data:

HIPS data.xlsx

PLA tensile strength data:

PLA data.xlsx

PETG data

PETG data.xlsx

Conclusion

PLA was found to be the hardest and toughest polymer, whilst PETG is more ductile and soft. Based on the results, the following
recommendations have been made:

To avoid swelling, use a slow mass throughput rate, and PETG will swell the least of the given polymers.
If the most sturdy material is desired, (hard and tough) use ABS, not PLA. e.g. Ping Pong Balls
If the least sturdy material is desired, (soft and weak) use HIPS. e.g. Styrofoam