Optimisation Of The Mechanical Properties Of The Engineering Plastics Via Optimal Processing Parameters Using Taguchi Method

Cheng, Ngee Siong (2017) Optimisation Of The Mechanical Properties Of The Engineering Plastics Via Optimal Processing Parameters Using Taguchi Method. Project Report. UTeM, Melaka, Malaysia. (Submitted)

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Abstract

Plastic injection moulding is a polymer manufacturing process where complicated and complex geometries of parts can be fabricated with high precision and accuracy while retaining good surface finish. The main advantage of plastic injection moulding is the economics of scale brought about in mass production. The vast applicationsof plastic in numerous fields have proven its credential as the material of choice due to its lightweight and malleable properties. Plastic can be generally categorised into two (2) main groups, namely the thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics. The plastic injection moulding process in this research project is carried out using the Zhafir Venus II Series 900 II /210 plastic injection moulding machine with four (4) different processing parameters as the controlled variables in this research project, which are the injection peak pressure, holding pressure, injection speed and holding time. The Taguchi technique is applied to conduct optimisation on these four (4) processing parameters. The plastic parts produced are later being tested for their respective tensile strength using the Instron 3360 Dual Column 50kN Universal Testing Machine (UTM). The tensile strengths are then verified by the Taguchi analysis and the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results from the Taguchi analysis matches the results from the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The injection peak pressure is the most significant factor in determining the tensile strength of the specimen made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). The holding time, injection speed and holding pressure have small effects relative to the tensile strength of the specimens. The optimised combination of processing parameters in determining the tensile strength of the specimen is A2, B3, C1, D4, which is reflective to 110MPa injection peak pressure; 17.5MPa holding pressure; 115mm/s injection speed; and 14 seconds holding time.

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