Nanofluid mold cooling

摘要

A nanofluid molding arrangement includes a mold tool (12) having movable pieces (14, 16) that move between an open and closed position. When the moveable pieces (14, 16) are in the closed position, they form a mold cavity (18) that defines a surface for creating a molded part. The nanofluid molding arrangement also includes at least one injection port (22) for injecting molten resin directly into the mold cavity (18) such that when molten resin flows into the cavity and begins to cool, the molded part begins to form. After the molded part begins forming and injection of the molten resin is stopped, a nanofluid having a colloidal suspension of thermally conductive nanoparticles suspended in an aqueous or organic solution is applied to the mold tool (12), through at least one cooling port, to wick away or draw heat out and cool the mold cavity and the formed part within the mold cavity (18).

主权项

1. A mold arrangement comprising:
a mold tool having one or more movable pieces forming a mold cavity defined by said one or more pieces, said mold cavity defining a surface for creating a molded part; at least one injection port for injecting molten resin into said mold cavity and forming said molded part; a nanofluid having a colloidal suspension of thermally conductive nanoparticles suspended in an aqueous solution or organic solution, wherein said nanofluid is used to cool said molded part; at least one cooling passage for flowing the nanofluid through said mold tool to cool said molded part; cooling fins connected to a flange that is fastened to the outer surface of one or more moveable pieces of the mold, wherein the cooling fins are positioned adjacent cooling inlets connected to the at least one cooling passage and cooling outlets connected to the at least one cooling passage; and a fan positioned relative to the cooling fins for flowing air past the cooling fins to remove heat from the mold tool.