On-line temperature measurements for polymer thermal conductivity estimation under injection molding conditions

The determination of reliable and accurate values of thermal conductivity of semi-crystalline polymers is a challenging task because of the intimate coupling existing between crystallization and the conditions of molding process. In this paper, we describe an experimental device that allows to the molding of the polymer and to submit it to conditions close to those of the injection process (high pressure and shear). It permits to identify the thermal conductivity according to the temperature, both in melted and solid phases by solving an inverse heat conduction problem. Taking into account the shrinkage of the piece and its anisotropy, our results demonstrate that this conductivimeter is a reliable experimental apparatus.