ISSN:
1435-6066
Keywords:
Axiomatic design
;
Extrusion
;
Microcellular plastics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, Production Engineering, Mining and Metallurgy, Traffic Engineering, Precision Mechanics
,
Technology
Notes:
Abstract This paper presents a case study of axiomatic design for a microcellular polymer processing system with particular emphasis on the continuous formation of a polymer/gas solution. The objective is to design a continuous processing system for the manufacture of microcellular polymers, which are characterized by cell densities greater than 109 cells/cm3 and cells smaller than 10 µm. Conventional microcellular polymers are produced in batch processes by first forming a polymer/gas solution followed by rapidly decreasing the solubility of gas in the polymer resulting in the nucleation and growth of bubbles. The main strategy for the design of a new continuous processing system is to integrate these two major steps into an extrusion process such that the overall process is decoupled. The axiomatic design principles are effectively used as a structured framework for the design of the overall system and for the detailed design of each stage as well. The resulting microcellular plastics extrusion system has independently controllable functions at each stage via an appropriate design parameter. The purpose of this paper is to present a systematic design procedure emphasizing the continuous polymer/gas solution system, illustrating the decomposition of the functional requirements and design parameters, the zigzagging required between the design domains for decomposition, and the use of the design axioms during the design of a microcellular polymer manufacturing system.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01608351
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