Modelling squeeze flow of viscous polymer melts

In the present work, squeeze flow between rigid platens of viscous polymer melts is investigated through two-dimensional finite element simulations using MSC Mentat/MSC Marc. The polymer under investigation is a thermoplastic processed above its melt temperature. The aim of the present work is to develop and validate a finite element modelling framework capable of simulating squeeze flow for a range of geometries and processing parameters. The models will be used to analyse the thickness evolution of the polymer film over time, as well as the shape and volume of the spew fillet; the simulation framework is to be validated using analytical solutions. Initial validations resulted in an average difference of 1% between the analytical and FEA solutions for final thickness of the weld polymer, with a maximum difference of 3.47%. The intention is to extend the simulations to be capable of representing non-Newtonian viscosities in the fluid model due to variations in the processing temperature.