【题目】用于注塑成型过程监控的超声波传感器

【作者】Mandana Kariminejad  , David Tormey , Saif Huq , Jim Morrison and Marion McAfee

【摘要】注塑成型是一种极其重要的工业工艺，是最常用的塑料成型工艺之一。然而，该行业目前面临着许多挑战，需要更大的产品定制，更高的精度，以及最紧迫的是，向更可持续的材料和加工的转变。在加工过程中，对材料和零部件性能的准确实时传感是实现快速工艺优化和设置、减少停机时间、减少缺陷产品生产过程中的废料和能量的关键。虽然大多数商业过程依赖于压力和温度的点测量，超声换能器是一个无创和无损的丰富信息来源，关于模具、空腔和聚合物熔体及其形态，这影响关键的质量参数，如收缩和扭曲。本文描述了聚合物性能与超声波传播之间的关系，并评价了超声测量在注塑成型中的应用。综述了传统和高温超声换能器（HTUTs）的原理和操作原理，以及它们对提高注塑工艺效率的影响。本文描述了HTUT制造的溶胶-凝胶方法的好处和挑战，以及进一步的研究和开发的概述，以确保注射成型中超声传感的工业吸收。

【关键词】注射成型.超声波传感器.溶胶-凝胶.工艺监测.

[Title] Ultrasound Sensors for Process Monitoring in Injection Moulding

[Authors]  Mandana Kariminejad  , David Tormey , Saif Huq , Jim Morrison and Marion McAfee

[Abstract] Injection moulding is an extremely important industrial process, being one of the most commonly-used plastic formation techniques. However, the industry faces many current challenges associated with demands for greater product customisation, higher precision and, most urgently, a shift towards more sustainable materials and processing. Accurate real-time sensing of the material and part properties during processing is key to achieving rapid process optimisation and set-up, reducing down-times, and reducing waste material and energy in the production of defective products. While most commercial processes rely on point measurements of pressure and temperature, ultrasound transducers represent a non-invasive and non-destructive source of rich information on the mould, the cavity and the polymer melt, and its morphology, which affect critical quality parameters such as shrinkage and warpage. In this paper the relationship between polymer properties and the propagation of ultrasonic waves is described and the application of ultrasound measurements in injection moulding is evaluated. The principles and operation of both conventional and high temperature ultrasound transducers (HTUTs) are reviewed together with their impact on improving the efficiency of the injection moulding process. The benefits and challenges associated with the recent development of sol-gel methods for HTUT fabrication are described together with a synopsis of further research and development needed to ensure a greater industrial uptake of ultrasonic sensing in injection moulding.

[Keywords] injection moulding; ultrasound sensors; sol-gel; process monitoring; lead-based chemicals; lead-free chemicals