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Koolgas Ltd HMTL

 

The System

 

KoolGasTM has been developed as a modular system that integrates easily with any existing Gas Assisted Injection Moulding system. It works by cooling the nitrogen gas down to temperatures  -196 oC using a specially designed cryogenic heat exchanger designed to operate up to 350 bar.  The gas assisted process is controlled by a flow management unit to maximise cooling.  Thus, temperature reduction of the melt is achieved using :

 

*    low temperature gas,

                                                                                

*   cyclic compression-expansion of the gas,

 

*   flow of gas.

     (in excess of 40% cycle time reduction)                

 

 

 

KoolGasTM has been used to advance established gas assisted production whether the gas is introduced merely to pack out thick sections of a part or to provide a functional hollow component.  In addition to reducing cycle time, there is no change to process, material or tool. Established needle technology can be used in the system, although, wmTec Adiabatic needles provide best performance.

 

KoolGasTM – Smooth Bore Tubes

 

An exciting discovery was the mechanism by which the cold gas forms in the part and develops the inner cavity with smooth walls.  It results in thinner and more uniform thickness than conventional GAIM and is ideal for smooth bore tubes  Important to this process is the controlled surface cooling that occurs from the inner surface at the same time as from the outer, thus, producing a balanced crystallisation of polymer.  This equalises polymer properties across the thickness resulting in reduced stress and ‘no warpage’.