01/16/2025
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Plastics Engineering, invites you to attend a Doctoral Dissertation Proposal defense by Andrea de Jesus Gruber Carreyo on: "Evaluation of Thermal Interface Phenomena in Precision Injection Molding."

Candidate Name: Andrea de Jesus Gruber Carreyo
Degree: Doctoral
Defense Date: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
Time: 9:30 -11:30 a.m.
Location: ETIC 445

Committee:
Advisor: Davide Masato, Associate Professor, Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell

Committee Members*
1. David Kazmer, Professor, Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell
2. Stephen Johnston, Professor, Plastics Engineering, UMass Lowell

Brief Abstract:
Effective thermal management reduces cycle times, improves energy efficiency, and ensures robust part quality. Thermal interface phenomena, including thermal contact resistance (TCR) and limescale accumulation, significantly influence cooling efficiency, cycle time, and overall product quality. Despite advancements in mold design and material development, the precise characterization of these phenomena remains challenging due to their complex dependence on material properties, processing conditions, and maintenance practices.

This study addresses two key aspects of thermal interface phenomena in injection molding. First, a novel method was developed to characterize TCR between polymer-metal interfaces under injection molding conditions. A design of experiments evaluated key parameters, such as temperature, pressure, and material thermal conductivities, revealing that temperature and pressure were dominant factors influencing TCR. These findings provide actionable insights for improving simulation accuracy and enhancing heat transfer efficiency during the cooling stage.

Second, the thermal and flow effects of limescale buildup in narrow cooling channels used to cool slender cores were assessed using numerical simulations. The results highlighted the detrimental effects of mineral deposits on cooling performance and part quality, emphasizing the importance of integrating maintenance strategies with optimized channel designs and process parameters.

Together, these studies advance the understanding of thermal interface phenomena, offering actionable solutions to enhance heat transfer efficiency, reduce cycle times, optimize simulation accuracy, and improve product quality in injection molding applications.