Rotational molding of plastics: Comparison of simulation and experimental results for an axisymmetric mold

We present a validation study comparing the mold wall temperature estimates from an axisymmetric thermal finite element simulation of the rotational m olding process with temperature data obtained during experiments conducted on industrial-grade rotational molding equipment. The finite element model simulates the heat transfer processes involved in rotational molding throug h the end of powder deposition, and uses an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian t echnique to track the growing molten plastic layer, The experiments were co nducted with nine different operating conditions on a single axisymmetric m old shape. The simulation results for mold wall temperature agreed well wit h the experimental data under all of the conditions tested.