Multi-Gating Injection Molding to Enhance the Thermal Conductivity of Carbon Fiber/Polysulfone Composite

Carbon fiber was blended into the polysulfone matrix by twin screw extruder. The polymer composites samples were prepared using four different processing technologies, the compression molding, edge-gating injection molding, sprue-gating injection molding, and the multi-gating injection molding techniques. Among four techniques, the composite samples manufactured by multi-gating injection molding technique got a higher value of thermal conductivity, which is due to the carbon fibers orientation and distribution. The experimental result indicated that the fiber orientation have a significant influence on the thermal conductivity of polymer composites. The thermal conductivity of sample made by multi-gating injection molding was 1.82 W/(m.K)when the fiber content was 26 vol%, which was nearly twice than the values obtained by conventional technologies. (C) 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers