The processing of polymers, about the machines, processes and their influences on products. What happens inside an extruder, and how does this influence my product? What do I need to factor in to create a good product?

This course focused on the knowledge and calculations concerning injection molding and moulds. By taking into account the parameters that influence production, and using this knowledge in the desingprocess a product can be produced faster, more efficient, lighter, or more beautiful.

During this course we worked with the characteristics of polymers, such as strenght and stiffnes, and how these are influenced by the environment of the product. For instance the way plastics deform over time by elasticity, plasticity, and visco-elasticity.

During this course I learned how to efficiently improve a process by using an optimizationprocess where parameters are identified and taken into account. As part of this was a practical test during which a injection molding cycle was optimized.

This concerned the molecular buildup of polymers, and how this ties in with processes and products. During this course I worked with Autodesk Moldflow to simulate injection molding a product, and optimizing the parameters that influenced this process.