Simulation of the stretch blow molding process of PET bottles

Abstract

Simulations of various stretch blow and blow moldings of axisymmetric PET bottles has been carried out using ABAQUS. A creep constitutive model with material data developed for a thermoforming process was used in the finite element analysis. Simulations using shell and solid elements were compared with experimental moldings. The creep material model, when combined with solid elements and a very high coefficient of friction, provided the best predictions for bottle side wall thickness, strains, blowing pressure, and general material movement. It was found that, using ABAQUS, the predicted wall thickness distribution of the material in an injection blow molded bottle agreed well with the values obtained using commercial process conditions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 17: 339–352, 1998

Optimization of preform temperature distribution for the stretch‐blow molding of PET bottles: Infrared heating and blowing modeling

“…Few studies focused on the feasibility of 3D temperaturedisplacement simulations [5,11,12]; but in general, researchers proposed 2D axisymmetric models [9,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. It is well known that the modeling of PET behavior remains a key point to achieve accurate simulations of the forming process.…”

A simulation study of the effect of preform cooling time in injection stretch blow molding

“…Therefore, there are numerous experimental and simulation studies of injection stretch blow molding process which incorporates the preform temperature and temperature profile. In one of the earlier studies of injection stretch blow molding, McEvoy et al (1998) used commercially available software (ABAQUS) and simulated various axi-symmetric PET bottles. The temperature range for PET preform in bottle production process ranged from 90 to 110 • C with preform top temperature being lower than that of the main body to encourage more material movement into the bottle base.…”

Coupled temperature–displacement modelling of injection stretch-blow moulding of PET bottles using Buckley model

“…The experimental study can be time consuming and very expensive [2][3][4]. Furthermore, it may be unable to provide sufficient information required for the purpose of optimisation because the stretch-blowing process takes place in a closed mould.…”

“…This may explain why numerical modelling (mainly finite element modelling (FEM)) has received more and more attention in the last two decades. Excellent literature reviews on this subject have been presented by [1][2][3][4][5]. Three outstanding issues are worthy to be further investigated in FEM: the material constitutive model, heat transfer modelling and orientation and crystallisation modelling.…”

“…Firstly, the process time in stretch-blow moulding is generally much shorter (typically within 2 s) than that in extrusion blow moulding and thermoforming. This is the most popular reason [2][3][4][5]. Secondly, the preform temperature (typically 80-110 • C) in stretch-blow moulding is not high enough to produce quiescent or thermally-induced crystallinity, which is predominant in extrusion blow moulding and thermoforming.…”