DUPONT™ CRASTIN® PBT

THERMOPLASTIC RESINS
MOLDING GUIDE
Table of Contents

1. PROCESSING GUIDELINE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Drying Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Mold Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Shrinkage Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Melt Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Operating Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2. SAFE HANDLING INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3. DRYING GUIDELINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Effects of Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Moisture Absorption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hopper Dryer Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

4. MOLDING EQUIPMENT—MOLDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Mold Temperature Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Mechanical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Conventional Runner System and Gate Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Hot Runner Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Venting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Draft Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Sharp Corners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

5. MOLDING EQUIPMENT—INJECTION UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Screw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Check Ring or Back Flow Valve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Corrosion/Abrasion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Nozzles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Accumulator for Thin Wall Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

6. MOLDING PARAMETERS—START-UP AND SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Purging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Start-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Shutdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Interruptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

7. MOLDING PARAMETERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Melt and Cylinder Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cavity Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Injection Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Pack or Hold Pressure Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Screw Retraction Phase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Recommended Processing Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

8. MATERIAL BEHAVIOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Chemical Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Flow Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Shrinkage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Shrinkage of Crastin® PBT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Post-Mold Shrinkage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

9. AUXILIARY OPERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Regrind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Coloring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

10. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

1. PROCESSING GUIDELINE SUMMARY Shrinkage Considerations
Crastin PBT thermoplastic polyester resins and other DuPont
® Shrinkage in semi-crystalline resins such as Crastin® PBT
thermoplastic resins may be processed on conventional is due to:
injection molding machines using standard industry practices. • Crystallization of the polymer
Specific attention to processing details will enhance quality
• Thermal contraction of the part as it cools to room
and productivity. This summary represents a key subset of the
temperature
detailed molding information found in the remainder of this
molding guide. Causes of part distortion include:
• A high level of glass orientation
Drying Considerations
For both virgin and rework, hopper dryers sized to afford the • Poor mold temperature uniformity
following conditions are strongly recommended: • Large changes in wall thickness of the part
• Moisture content must be below 0.04 wt%
Note: High mold temperatures and thick part sections may
• Dry fresh bags for 2 to 4 hours at 120 °C (250 °F) increase shrinkage. Shrinkage in reinforced resins is controlled
• Dryer dew point must remain below –20 °C (–5 °F) by glass fiber orientation, which results in different shrink rates in
parallel to and perpendicular to flow directions.
• Air flow 3.7 m3/kg/hr (1 cfm/lb/hr)

Alternative drying: Melt Temperatures

Crastin® PBT has good stability at the following general
• Dry fresh bags for minimum of 8 hr at 80 °C (175 °F)
processing temperatures:
Note: Moisture content above 0.04% will result in loss of • 250 °C (480 °F) for parts using 30–70% of machine-rated
strength and toughness. capacity operating on cycles <60 s
• 260 °C (500 °F) for parts using 60–80% of machine-rated
Mold Temperatures
capacity operating on cycles <45 s
Crastin® PBT crystallizes rapidly and can be successfully molded
over a broad range of mold temperatures: • Melt temperatures below 230 °C (445 °F) can lead to
dangerous overpressure situations
• 30–130 °C (85–265 °F)
• Unreinforced resins with mold temperatures < 65 °C (150 °F) Note:
will produce short cycle times • Processing temperatures should be matched to part size.
• Reinforced resins with mold temperatures > 65 °C (150 °F) • Excessive residence (or hold-up) times (HUT) and/or
will produce better surface aesthetics, flow and dimensional temperatures may cause degradation.
stability
Operating Conditions
Note: Mold temperatures must be controlled in order to mold
• Fast injection fill speeds, supporting short injection times
Crastin® PBT into parts with optimum mechanical properties
(1–3 s), especially in thin sections.
and post-molded dimensional stability. Mold temperature
may influence molded-in stress levels and impact polymer • Screw speeds are typically adjusted to result in screw
crystallization. retraction times slightly shorter (~1–2 seconds) than the
cooling phase time.
• Low [0.3 MPa (50 psi)] to no back pressure. Low back
pressure may result in better melt quality and improved
shot-to-shot uniformity.

Note:
• Fast injection speed also improves knit-line strength and
general surface appearance.
• High screw speeds should be avoided with glass-reinforced
resins to avoid loss of mechanical properties due to glass fiber
breakage.

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2. SAFE HANDLING INFORMATION reduce this possibility. Similarly, for resins requiring hot mold
temperatures, pay special attention to inadvertent contact
Safety Precautions with mold surfaces, and cooling fluid transfer lines as these
Processing thermoplastic resins is a generally safe may also present a burn risk.
operation when one complies with the following processing
Small amounts of gases and particulate matter (i.e., low
recommendations.
molecular weight modifiers) may be released during the
To minimize the chance of an accident, the instructions given in molding, purging, drying, regrinding, and clean-up of
this text should be followed carefully. Potential hazards must be thermoplastic resins. It is recommended that adequate
anticipated and either eliminated or guarded against by following local exhaust ventilation be provided during the processing
established procedures including the use of proper protective of DuPont thermoplastic resins. It is necessary to consider
equipment and clothing. the removal of dust and particles created during the distinct
processes of drying, molding, purging and regrinding all while
Be particularly alert during purging and whenever the resin is considering the maximum residence (hold-up) times and
held in the machine or hot runner system at higher than usual processing temperatures.
temperatures or for longer than usual periods of time, as in a
• Thermoplastic polymers can form gaseous decomposition
cycle interruption. Please read and ensure understanding of the
products during long residence times (Hold-Up Times,
sections on molding parameters thoroughly.
HUT) at the maximum recommended melt temperatures.
A. DuPont thermoplastic resins are molded at high temperatures • Adequate local exhaust ventilation must be provided
and contact with molten resin can inflict severe burns. At during the regrind operation.
temperatures above the melting point, moisture and other
• Adequate local exhaust ventilation must be provided
gases may generate pressure which, if suddenly released,
during the burnout of any equipment that contains
can cause the molten polymer to be rapidly ejected from the
thermoplastic resin, e.g. nozzles.
machine nozzle.
Refer to Proper Use of Local Exhaust Ventilation During
In purging, be sure that the high volume (booster) pump is
Processing of Plastics for details.
off and that a purge shield is in place. Reduce the injection
pressure and “jog” the injection forward button a few times C. Prior to cleaning of any barrel that contains thermoplastic
to minimize the possibility that trapped gas in the cylinder resins, the machine should be thoroughly purged with
will cause “splattering” of the resin. In the event that molten polyethylene or polystyrene.
polymer does contact the skin, cool the affected area
Avoid molding/purging with polycarbonate (PC) before or
immediately with cold water or an ice pack and get medical
after Crastin® PBT. Please use some intermediate purging
attention for thermal burn. Do not attempt to peel the polymer
steps as described in the molding parameters for start-up
from the skin.
and shutdown.
Best practice for limiting the evolution of odors and gases is
If a thermoplastic resin is accidentally purged over the heater
to place the purged resin immediately into a metal container
bands, it should be removed and not allowed to degrade.
of cold water.
If during molding there is any suspicion that gases are being D. Pellets or granules of thermoplastic resins present a slipping
formed in the cylinder, move the purge shield in place, back hazard if spilled on the floor because of their size and shape.
the nozzle away from the mold, turn off all heat except to the They should be swept up immediately and disposed of
nozzle and nozzle adapter, and leave the machine until it cools appropriately.
below the melting point of the resin. With purge shield still E. DuPont supplies Safety Data Sheet (SDS) information to its
in place reheat the cylinder to the minimum temperature for customers with the initial order of a product and on the next
Crastin® PBT, 235 °C (455 °F) or 15 °C (25 °F) greater than the order after a SDS is revised. SDS’s should be referenced for
resin melting point. If jogging the injection or screw rotation information such as: significant hazards; emergency, first aid,
button does not produce melt flow, a plug exists. In that case, and release measures; storage handling and exposure control
shut off cylinder heat as before and follow your established and personal protection information; product information;
safety practices for removing the nozzle. A face shield and environmental, transport and disposal considerations; and
protective long sleeve gloves should be used. regulatory and other information.

B. For resins requiring drying prior to use, pay special attention to Polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is mentioned on the “green
prevent burns as these resins are dried at high temperature. list” of the European Regulation EEC 259/93, Annex II. Thus,
Contact with hot hoppers, ovens or air hose lines could Crastin® PBT is not restricted for inter European transport of
result in severe burns. Insulation of these components will waste destined for recovery.

2
3. DRYING GUIDELINES appearance and yet have poor end-use performance. As with any
degraded resin, the poor properties cannot be restored by further
Molded parts from DuPont thermoplastic resins provide
processing. Regrind generated from degraded material should be
an outstanding combination of flexural modulus, strength,
discarded.
toughness, dimensional stability and good surface appearance.
However, these properties will not be achieved in finished Specific drying conditions are resin and application dependent.
molded parts unless the material has been properly processed. Virgin resin is shipped in bags or boxes that are designed to
Proper drying of the resin is an important factor. The required reduce the rate of moisture absorption, but not stop moisture
drying can be accomplished in conventional drying equipment, absorption. Also, some resins are packaged with a moisture
when careful attention is given to equipment selection, dryer level greater than the recommended maximum level for injection
operating conditions and maintenance procedures. molding while others may be processed directly from an
unopened package. Crastin® PBT resin must be dried prior to
Effects of Moisture molding. Resin from opened packages and regrind generally have
Many engineering thermoplastics such as nylons, higher moisture content which requires them to be dried longer
polycarbonates, polysulfones and polyesters, are hygroscopic than resin from unopened packages.
(absorbs moisture from the atmosphere). When excess
moisture is present in the polymer melt in an injection molding Moisture Absorption
machine, hydrolysis occurs. This reaction degrades the material Moisture pick-up rate can be rapid enough at moderate humidity
causing lower part toughness and strength and increased levels to prevent uniform molding over time when resins are
melt flow. The maximum acceptable moisture content without dried in an off-line dryer and placed in an open hopper. For this
significantly reducing mechanical properties is resin dependent. reason, the use of remote tray oven dryers with manual transfer
The mechanical property effects of resin moisture content to the hopper is not recommended. Instead, hopper driers are
prior to molding may be shown in a product-specific graph like preferred. Best practice is to limit to 10 minutes maximum the
Figure 3.1. time Crastin® PBT resin may be in a feeder or hopper without the
Figure 3.1. Effect of Resin Moisture Level on Properties of benefit of the recirculating air from the drier. A typical moisture
Glass Reinforced Crastin® PBT absorption curve of unreinforced Crastin® PBT pellets or granules
is shown in Figure 3.2.
120
Figure 3.2. Moisture Absorption of Unreinforced Crastin®
PBT Pellets or Granules (23 °C [73 °F], 50% RH
100
Conditions)

80 0.16
Recommended
% of optimum

maximum
moisture 0.14
60
limit prior to
molding 0.12
Unnotched Impact
40
Flexural Strength
0.10
Moisture, %

20
0.08

0 0.06
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18
Moisture, %
0.04

0.02
High moisture content reduces the melt viscosity of the resin
which increases resin flow. If drying conditions are not changed 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
or the processing conditions are not adjusted, increased flow can Time, hr

result in over-packing of parts and runners. Sticking and flash may

result even if the mechanical properties are acceptable. Surface
appearance can also be affected. In nylon, excessive moisture
causes splay, while in polyesters excessive moisture causes
higher gloss and a more resin-rich surface. Therefore, with
polyesters, poorly molded parts may display excellent surface

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Hopper Dryer Conditions Drying Example
Properly operating desiccant-dehumidified-air or vacuum hopper Drying Time (hr) at:
dryers can dry thermoplastic resin adequately in a short period 110 °C (230 °F) 120 °C (250 °F)
of time. Dehumidified or vacuum hopper dryer systems are
Resin from Unopened
necessary for successful drying of thermoplastic resins. 4 2
Container
Recycled Regrind 8 4
There are four critical parameters for dehumidified air systems:
air flow, air temperature, air dew point and time. The ideal air Wet Resin 8 6
flow rate is determined by each kilogram (or pound) per hour of Maximum 16 9
resin processed. For each kilogram (or pound) per hour that is
processed, 3.0–3.7 m3 per kilogram per hour (or 0.8–1.0 cubic Minimum 110 °C (230 °F) inlet air temperature is highly
foot per min, CFM, of air per pound of resin) is required. For recommended for drying Crastin® PBT. At lower temperatures,
example, if 27 kg/hr (60 lb/hr) of resin are to be molded, dry air as shown in Figure 3.3, some systems may require excessive
capacity of 80–100 m3/hr (48–60 CFM) will be needed. drying times or may never reach 0.04% moisture when starting
with wet resin.
The air temperature is equally important and is related to the
drying time. Air temperature should be measured at the point Figure 3.3. Drying of Unreinforced Crastin® PBT Resin
of entry to the hopper (not at the dryer). Prolonged drying at
0.50
elevated temperatures can cause the loss of some additives
and discoloration of pellets or granules. When extended drying 0.45 80 °C (175 °F)
120 °C (250 °F)
times are required, lowering the temperature is the best practice. 0.40
When the temperatures required to dry resins are above 105 °C 0.35
(220 °F) hoppers and air transfer lines should be well insulated
0.30
to ensure drier effectiveness and to conserve energy. Dryers Moisture, %
0.25
that incorporate an after-cooler (which lowers the temperature
of return air before it enters the desiccant bed) are preferred 0.20
because desiccants can remove and hold more moisture at lower 0.15
temperatures. When drying at temperatures over 120 °C (250 °F),
0.10
after-coolers are required.
0.05
The fourth important variable is the dew point of the air entering 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
the hopper. This must be –20 °C (–5 °F) or lower throughout the
Drying time, hr
drying cycle in order to adequately dry the resin.

Vacuum dryers operate by heating the resin in a chamber to a

set temperature for that resin, then indexing the chamber to
4. MOLDING EQUIPMENT—MOLDS
a position where a vacuum is pulled to remove the moisture.
The important variables are temperature, vacuum and time. The Mold Temperature Control
temperature depends on the resin and moisture content and Mold temperature control must be part of the overall design
the vacuum is a minimum of 6000 Pa (600 mm or 24 in of water concept for the mold. Mechanical properties, cycle time,
column). The typical times for heating and application of the dimensional accuracy and distortion of the part are all influenced
vacuum are 20 minutes. by mold temperature.

Detailed drying conditions for Crastin® PBT resins are shown in In order to achieve a consistent cavity surface temperature, it is
the following table. essential to have a well-designed regulation circuit in the mold
in addition to a temperature controller with suitable pressure,
Inlet Hopper heating and cooling capacity.
Air Temperature 110 °C (230 °F) to 120 °C (250 °F)
Dew Point of Air –20 °C (–5 °F) or lower
Airflow Rate 3.0 to 3.7 m3 per kg/hr. (0.8 to 1.0 CFM per lb/hr)
resin processed

Inlet Desiccant Bed

Air Temperature 65 °C (150 °F) or lower

4
Basic Recommendations: Figure 4.2. Possible Methods of Cooling Cores
• When molding DuPont thermoplastic resins, one must ensure
the mold surface temperature is much higher than room
temperature. In order to shorten the time needed to heat the
mold and to maintain constant temperature, insulating plates
should be provided between mold and machine.
• For large molds and temperatures above 100 °C (212 °F),
it is recommended to thermally insulate the mold on its
outside walls.
• Flat mold areas should be adapted with spiral or drilled cooling
channels. Recommended diameters and their approximate
distance from the surface of the mold are shown in the table
Heat conducting pin Divided tube
of Figure 4.1. Depending on the size of the part it may be
necessary to provide several separate cooling circuits. The
temperature difference between entering and exiting fluid
should be as small as possible, ideally <5 °C (<10 ° F).
• A separate or serial cooling circuit is recommended for multi-
cavity tools, because the flow rate can easily be controlled.
A parallel configuration may lead to different surface
temperatures as choking over time causes different flow rates
in the parallel channels.
• It is important to have an efficient core cooling in order to
obtain the shortest possible cycle time. Figure 4.2 shows
some constructions of cooling cores.
• Separate temperature control should also be provided in slides Fountain Internal core with spiral channel

and core-pulls when possible.

Figure 4.1. Mold Temperature Control for Flat Parts

Mechanical Structure
out DuPont thermoplastic resins require medium to fast injection
in speeds. Especially in thin wall applications the specific injection
pressure may exceed 100 MPa (14.5 kpsi). Therefore, a stiff
mold construction (see Figure 4.3) will have an important
contribution to:
• flash-free molding
• longer mold lifetime
d b d
b • wider processing window (i.e. faster injection speed)
s s
Recommendations for increasing mold stiffness:
• use thick platens
• use large spacer blocks
Wall thickness of the molding Channel diameter or width (d) Distance (s) Channel Spacing (b)
• use very stable frame when using many inserts or large hot
< 2 mm (0.08 in) 8 mm (0.32 in) 4 mm (0.16 in) ~ 1d
runner systems
< 4 mm (0.16 in) 10 mm (0.39 in) 7 mm (0.28 in) ~ 1d
< 6 mm (0.24 in) 12 mm (0.47 in) 9 mm (0.35 in) ~ 1d • use support pillars between rear clamping plate and
support plate

5
Figure 4.3. Exploded View of Mold

Location Ring
Sprue Bushing
Front Clamping Plate
Front Clamping Plate (“A” Plate)
Leader Pins
Leader Pin Bushings
Rear Cavity Plate (“B” Plate)
Support Plate
Cavity

Spacer Block
Support Pillar
Ejector Retainer Plate
Sprue Puller
Return Pin
Knock Out Pins
Ejector Plate
Stop Pin
Rear Clamping Plate

Conventional Runner System and Gate Layout part. Gates are often highly stressed areas of the part and they
Runner (or feed) systems should efficiently convey molten should not be placed in mechanically critical areas. When sizing
polymer to the part gate in order to allow for the production conventional feed systems, the first point to be considered is
of parts with a thoughtful balance between the resin pressure the wall thickness (T) of the molded part. The diameter of the
drop, the economics of material usage, and the resultant cycle runner should not be less than the wall thickness of the injection
time from runner system sizing. Ideally, the runner system molded part. Starting out from the gate, the runner diameter
should be naturally balanced and the gate type and placement at each branch point may be increased so that an almost
on the part thoroughly considered. Runner removal, knit-line constant shear rate is maintained. A simple estimate is shown
placement, resin flow length, and gate vestige allowance are all in Figure 4.4.
significant considerations for gate type and placement on the

Figure 4.4. Simple Runner System Sizing Design

Recommended Diameters
Thin-walled part, Thick-walled part,
large volume, small volume,
high viscosity low viscosity D2

A T + 2 mm (0.08”) T + 1 mm (0.04”)
D1
B T + 3 mm (0.12”) T + 1.5 mm (0.06”)
C T + 4 mm (0.16”) T + 2 mm (0.08”)

D1 >C
C Recommended
D2 >A Cross-Sections
B
10°

A
T

6
Figure 4.5. Tunnel Gates for Two Plate Molds

Typ. 25°

Typ. 10°
T ø 1.2 T+ 1 mm (0.04") Typ. 0.8 mm (0.03")

Part Line

Replaceable Gate Inserts Preferred

0.5 T to 0.75 T ø 1.2 T

Typ. 15 mm (0.6")

Trapezoidal Runner—Sufficient Part Depth Full Round Runner—Limited Depth Part

To prevent the inevitable cold slug formed at the injection nozzle the tool's opening for specific resins and part designs. Large
from reaching the molding, the sprue should always be extended gate diameters with very tough resins may present practical
so that the cold slug can be intercepted. This extension should limitations on gate sizing.
have roughly the same diameter as the nozzle to ensure that the
Figure 4.6. Round Pin Gate for Three Plate Molds
cold slug is retained.

When molding unreinforced semi-crystalline polymers, one

should use a minimum gate thickness of 50 per cent of the
molded part’s wall thickness in order to allow for proper packing.
This would also be adequate for packing purposes for reinforced
resins. It is recommended to use a minimum gate thickness of
75 percent of the molded part’s wall thickness for reinforced
D
resins, however, in order to minimize the damage to the fibers 2°

and to reduce shear due to the higher viscosity.

Gate land length is especially crucial. This should be <1 mm

(<0.04”) to prevent premature solidification of the gate. The mold < 1 mm (0.040”)
will heat up near the gate, so that the packing pressure is most D

effective.
T øa
Many gate types have been successfully employed in molding
DuPont thermoplastic resins. The location, size and number of D = T + 1 mm (0.04”)
gates are also important considerations. a ≥ Ø 0.5 T (Unreinforced)
a ≥ Ø 0.75 T (Reinforced)
Round (pin) gates are preferred for automatic three-plate
molds and tunnel-gates (submarine gates) are preferred for
automatic two-plate tools because of ease of gate separation
and part ejection. See Figures 4.5 and 4.6. One must consider
carefully the forces required to automatically break gates with

7
In addition to round and rectangular gates, there are many other Figure 4.8. Edge Gate
types of gates such as film, fan, diaphragm, sprue and ring gates
which are illustrated in Figure 4.7. With special care, “Banana”
0.5 T to 1.0 T T
gates may be successfully used with unreinforced resins but
they are not generally recommended.

Generally, minimum gate thickness should be 50% to 75% of

the part thickness. Figures 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 and 4.8 show design
recommendations for the most commonly used gate designs.

Figure 4.7. Different Types of Gates

1 mm (0.04”) max.

Diaphragm

Fan To summarize the basic rules:

• Always provide a means of containing the cold slug.
• Make the effective runner diameter larger than the molded
part wall thickness.
• Gate thickness should be at least 50% of the molded part wall
Pin thickness.
Diaphragm
Hot Runner Systems
The correct hot runner system and its installation may determine
how well a mold functions and the ensuing molded part quality.
DuPont thermoplastic resins are semi-crystalline engineering
resins with sharp thermal transitions and hot runner tools are
thermally very complex systems. Therefore it is important to
consult the hot runner manufacturer for advice on the manifold
Ring
and nozzle type selection, dependent on the chosen polymer.
Sprue / Direct
Some basic rules can be applied when planning a hot runner
mold with semi-crystalline thermoplastics. The manifold must
be naturally balanced. Rheological balancing (i.e. adapting nozzle
or sub-runner gate size) can only optimize for either equal-filling
time (dynamic balancing) or pack-pressure level (static balancing).
Both together are often contradictory.

Rectangular edge Direct gating on the part should be avoided:

Film
• for small shot weights or long cycle times (total residence
time above 10 minutes)
• for aesthetic parts, as surface defects may occur in the gate
area
• for safety relevant parts, as there is always a cold or
inhomogeneous slug coming from the nozzle tip, which might
move to a mechanically critical area
• when no gate vestige or stringing from gate breakage can be
accepted

Manifold and nozzles must be perfectly streamlined in order to

avoid any hold-up spot.

Externally heated manifolds are preferred over internally heated

ones, as they allow better streamlining at intersections and
generate less shear in the polymer.
8
The thermal balance must be optimal. Temperature differentials Figure 4.9. Parting Line Venting
of more than 20 °C (35 °F) cannot be tolerated in a hot runner
system. Therefore it is essential to have the right combination of Vent
Mold Cavity depth (d)
hardware (manifold, nozzles, heaters), software (heating control)
and set-up (optimum thermal insulation between hot-runner Vent
width (W)
and mold). Vent
land (L)
“Self-insulating” nozzles should be avoided. This kind of nozzle Mold Edge
requires the polymer to flow into a cup-shaped gap between
nozzle tip and mold surface, in order to optimize the thermal Relief
channel
insulation of the nozzle tip. With semi-crystalline polymers, depth (D)

however, the resin in this gap may partially solidify and ultimately
thermally degrade. This can create black spots and surface
defects at irregular intervals.
Vent width (W) = As wide as feasible, but typically >3mm (0.12")
“Free flow” nozzle types are preferred to those with torpedo
Vent area for gas escape = W x d
tips, unless there are specific requirements for the resulting Relief channel depth (D) >0.8 mm (0.03") opened to ~3 mm (0.12") after 25 mm (1.0")
gate vestige. from mold cavity
Vent land (L) = 0.8 to 1.0 mm (0.03" to 0.04") max.
Specific abrasion resistant metals or treatments are preferred
for reinforced grades, specifically at the nozzle tip, where shear
is highest. Hard metal tips have led to much longer life-times of Vent Depth (d)
the tip. Nozzle tips should also be exchangeable. This allows for Material mm (in)
easier control of the effects of abrasion, and may reduce the cost Min. Max.
of modifications, if they are necessary. Rynite PET ®

Crastin® PBT
When heating up a hot runner containing DuPont thermoplastic
Sorona® PTT 0.020 (0.0008)
resin, it is important to first heat the system to approximately
Zytel and Minlon PA resins
® ®
0.012 (0.0005)
20 °C (35 °F) below the melting point of the resin and then to
wait at least 30 minutes at this temperature before heating up Zytel® HTN resins
to operational temperature. This allows heat to soak in and attain Delrin® POM 0.030 (0.0012)
a heat balance. Modern controllers allow for such an automated Hytrel TPC-ET
®
0.040 (0.0015)
stepwise start-up procedure.

When there is a doubt about hold-up spots in the hot runner, Figure 4.10. Cavity and Runner Venting
it is advisable to make a color change on the cylinder and then
mold continuously for an additional 10 minutes. The system can
Vent land Vent channel
be shut down and the hot runner and nozzle disassembled in
order to identify the spots which still contain the first color. With End of flow
the help of the hot runner manufacturer it should be possible to
improve the streamlining of the hot runner and nozzle.

Venting
Inadequate mold venting can cause the following problems:
• Poor weld line strength
• Discoloration (burning)
• Erosion or corrosion of the mold
• Dimensional variation on the molded part
• Surface aesthetic defects like bubbles or blisters
• Short shots

Both cavities and runners should be vented at the parting line

and the ejectors as recommended in Figures 4.9, 4.10 and 4.11.

9
Figure 4.11. Ejector Venting Figure 4.12. Effect of Notch Radius on Impact Performance

d 100
Glass reinforced Crastin® PBT 45
90
Unreinforced Crastin® PBT
40
80
35
70

Impact strength, ft-lb/in2

Impact strength, kJ/m2
30
60
25
50
20
40

30 15

20 10

10 0

0
0.1 mm (0.004”) 0.5 mm (0.02”) 1 mm (0.04”)
Notch radius

The area of the vent must be large enough (W * d) to prevent

5. MOLDING EQUIPMENT—INJECTION UNIT
a rise in gas pressure within the mold cavity. The area of the
escape passage leading from the vent should should increase Screw
again if the distance from the cavity edge is greater than 25 mm DuPont thermoplastic resins can be processed on all
(1 in). In the case of low viscosity grades and where there must commercially available retracting-screw injection molding
be a minimum of flash, venting may be conservatively sized machines. In order to obtain good homogenization and to ensure
(made more shallow) and increased as required. proper processing, the L/D ratio of the screws used should not
be too small (min. 20). Standard three-zone screws with check
Draft Angles rings are adequate for thermoplastics. Typical screw metering
Mold surfaces that are perpendicular to the parting line should depths for various resins for screws with L/D ratio of 20 are
be tapered to allow easy part ejection. These include ribs, bosses provided in Figure 5.1.
and sides. A taper (draft angle) of 0.5° to 1° per side is usually
Typical Crastin® PBT is molded well with screw designs similar
satisfactory with DuPont thermoplastic resins. Softer, more
to those used for successful molding of nylon. Glass reinforced
elastic resins may require slightly higher taper to 2° per side.
Crastin® PBT resins are optimally molded with slightly larger
metering depths than that of unreinforced Crastin® PBT resins.
Sharp Corners
Part designs and mold finish requirements should adhere to the Screws made from CPM9V hardened steels are recommended
basic rules of rounding sharp internal corners of a part. Parts for long life and corrosion resistance when used for
from unreinforced resins are far more sensitive to the notch processing DuPont thermoplastic polymers. Please contact
effect of sharp corners as shown in Figure 4.12. your machine and screw manufacturer for further details and
recommendations.

10
Figure 5.1. Typical Screw Metering Depth as a Function of The slots or flutes (D) in the screw tip are generously
Screw Diameter proportioned, and the space (E) between the floating ring and tip
is sufficient for resin flow.
Screw diameter, in
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 The seating of the fixed ring is cylindrical where it joins both the
3.5
end of the screw (F) and the screw tip (G) to permit accurate
3.3 0.13
matching of these diameters and avoid hold-up.
3.1 Screw L/D = 20
® P
OM 0.12
The screw tip thread has a cylindrical section (H) ahead of the
e lrin
2.9 ty D threads that fits closely in a matching counter-bore for support
Metering depth, mm

osi

Metering depth, in
T
isc nd ® PB 0.11
2.7 ig h V
OM a rastin and alignment of the screw tip and check ring seat.
H ® P C
n nd
elri T, a
sity D ® PE 0.1
2.5 o nite The screw tip and check ring seat should be harder (about Rc
isc
m V ® PA, Ry nd
M a ® PBT
ediu l ® PO 52) than the floating ring (Rc 44), because it is less expensive to
M y te n
2.3 Z lri stin 0.09
ed y De Cra
inforc is cosit ® A and replace the floating ring when wear occurs.
e V l P
2.1 ss R Low Zyte
Gla rced 0.08
n f o
ei Wear resistant steel is suggested for the tip. Good matching of
1.9 Unr
0.07 cylindrical diameters is essential to avoid hold-up spots.
1.7
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
Screw diameter, mm Corrosion/Abrasion
Glass-reinforced resins can cause wear in certain areas of the
barrel, screw and mold. When molding large quantities of these
resins, certain precautions should be taken to minimize wear
Check Ring or Back Flow Valve
effects in the equipment and molds. To improve the injection unit
The check ring shown in Figure 5.2 prevents melt from flowing
when processing glass reinforced resins, hard surfacing alloys
backward during injection. This unit must be properly designed
and/or high loaded steels should be used for barrels, screws
for stream-lined flow, minimized flow restrictions and elimination
and check ring. Tests on bi-metallic specially treated injection
of resin hold-up. A malfunctioning check ring that allows resin
units (barrel, screw and check ring) show a lifetime improvement
backflow may be caused by poor design or maintenance.
of 5 to 10 times compared to standard equipment. In order to
A leaking check ring will cause poor control of packing and
minimize screw wear, special abrasion and corrosion resistant
dimensional tolerances and may contribute to variable screw
steels and treatments are available.
retraction time, which can increase cycle.
Please contact your machine and screw manufacturer for further
A satisfactory check ring must meet the following requirements:
details and recommendations.
• No hold-up spots
• No flow restrictions Nozzles
DuPont thermoplastic resins can be processed with open nozzles
• Good seal
(see Figure 5.3). However, decompression of the melt may be
• Control of wear carried out after the end of plasticizing to minimize drool.

These requirements are provided for in the check ring design Long, unheated nozzles are not suitable, as the melt can freeze
shown in Figure 5.2. very rapidly when the tip of the nozzle touches the cold tool. If
Figure 5.2. Design of Adapter and Check Ring extended nozzles are used, uniform temperature control must
be maintained over the whole nozzle length in order to prevent
overheating and cold spots. Thermocouple monitoring of the
nozzle temperature near the nozzle tip may be more effective in
Adapter
identifying potential freeze-off problems.
A B

It is important to maintain nozzle temperature uniformity. This

E
D H may be accomplished by using a thermal insulating pad between
the nozzle and the tool or by withdrawing the nozzle from the
F tool after completion of the metering operation (sprue break).
G
C Utilizing sprue break, should not be attempted with hot-sprue
Nozzle or hot-runner tooling. If the nozzle is not insulated from the
tool, it cools rapidly and consequently the temperature of the
nozzle must be increased to prevent freezing. That may lead to

11
thermal degradation of the melt. Nozzle diameters should not be If incompatible resins are mixed a reaction may occur that
too small in order to prevent premature freezing. Generally, the degrades both resins. In severe cases, gases may form that
nozzle diameter should be larger than the gate thickness. cause the resins to be forced out of the nozzle or feed throat at
high speeds.
Figure 5.3. Recommend Open Nozzles
The best purging materials are resins that are thermally stable
A Heater Band Thermocouple well B over a broad range of temperatures and do not react with other
polymers. Good purging resins are polystyrene, cast acrylic
(the nozzle must be removed during purging) and high density
polyethylene (or glass-reinforced polyethylene, followed by high
density polyethylene). The best purging resins for Crastin® are
high density polyethylene, polystyrene or cast acrylic. Purging
resins with a fractional melt index work very well. Commercial
purging compounds may also be used, but it is best to follow
A Heater Band them with a “standard” purging resin.

The following purge procedure is recommended for standard

injection molding equipment:
A. Retract screw injection unit from the mold sprue bushing and
keep the screw in the forward position.
B. Run the screw at high RPM and pump out as much of
Thermocouple well B
the current (first) material as possible. Add and extrude
purge (second) material until it comes out clean. Cylinder
temperatures may have to be adjusted, depending on the
Self-closing nozzles, particularly those with complicated flow purge (second) material used.
channels, should not be used. With certain needle-type self-
C. It is good practice to “shoot” several air shots at a fast
closing nozzles, problems due to wear and blocking of the needle
injection rate to scrub walls of cylinder before switching to
can occur when glass fiber reinforced materials are processed.
another resin. Care should be used to avoid possible splatter
Special attention should be applied to insuring streamlined flow
of molten resin.
paths which eliminate all potential for hold-up spots.
The following purge procedure is recommended for hot runner
If self-closing nozzles are used for processing thermoplastics
systems:
containing glass fibers, the cylinder and nozzle should be purged
with an unreinforced material (e.g. PE) before shutting down the A. Shield personnel from mold.
machine. This minimizes deposits from glass fibers on the seal B. Raise manifold temperatures 30 °C (55 °F) above first resin’s
surface when the machine is reheated. melt temperature or 10 °C (20 °F) above second resin’s melt
temperature, whichever is lower. The temperature used
The nozzle should always be equipped with an independent
should not be high enough to degrade the second resin.
temperature controller because a simple power control is often
When purging through a hot-manifold, the maximum melt
too inaccurate to guarantee precise temperature regulation.
temperature of Crastin® PBT should be 280 °C (535 °F).

Accumulator for Thin Wall Applications C. Extrude the second resin (dried if needed) through an open
Glass-reinforced, and especially thermally conductive grades mold using elevated machine back pressure, until the extruded
generally require fast injection speeds. Machines equipped with material no longer contains the first resin in the manifold and
an accumulator may allow for fast injection speeds and help to the second resin melt looks uniform.
increase flow length in applications with thin walls. D. Drop manifold temperature to operating conditions while
continuing to extrude the second resin in order to allow it to
6. MOLDING PARAMETERS—START-UP AND reach its operating processing temperature.
SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES E. Adjust the back pressure to normal level.

Purging
Start-up
Purging is essential before and after molding DuPont
Always consult the machine manufacturer’s recommendations
thermoplastic resins to prevent contamination. Contamination
for start-up. The following procedure can be used to supplement
from degradation of another resin may occur if that other resin is
the machine manufacturer’s guidelines.
processed at a much lower temperature. Unmelt contamination
may occur by resins that process at a higher temperature.

12
A. Start with a clean or well purged machine and a closed feed C. Leave screw in forward position.
hopper inlet. D. Shut down power supply.
B. Set the cylinder temperature to 30 °C (55 °F) below the
minimum recommended melt temperature and set the nozzle Interruptions
at the operating temperature. When starting up a cold molding Molding cycle interruptions may cause the resin in the barrel
machine, the minimum initial barrel set point for heat soak of of the molding machine or the hot manifold to degrade. The
Crastin® PBT should be 220 °C (430 °F). Allow heat to “soak maximum time allowed before degradation occurs depends
in” for at least 20 minutes. Raise cylinder temperature to on the resin being molded and whether the processing
the operating levels. Barrel set points during processing of temperature is at the upper or lower limit for that resin. Consult
Crastin® PBT are typically about 250 °C (480 °F). Please check the processing guides for the resin being molded for specific
the recommended processing parameters section for specific recommendations.
suggested conditions.
If short molding interruptions occur which exceed 2 minutes, it
C. Confirm the nozzle is at the correct temperature.
is essential that the cylinder is purged with fresh resin. Failure
D. Jog the screw. If the screw will not rotate, allow a longer to purge after interruptions to the molding cycle may lead to
soak time for cylinder temperature. If the screw does not defective parts being produced due to thermal degradation of the
rotate after a longer soak time, a higher melting resin may not material. The actual number of unacceptable parts will depend
have been completely purged from the barrel. Determine the upon the shot utilization, the percentage of the melted volume
previous resin used and see purging section for guidance. used for each shot.
E. When the screw begins to rotate, open the hopper’s feed
If the molding interruption duration exceeds 15 minutes, it is
inlet briefly, allowing some resin to cover the screw and then
recommended to empty the cylinder and to lower the cylinder
close it. Rotate the screw while checking the torque on the
temperature to 215 °C (420 °F) for Crastin® PBT in order to avoid
screw drive. If the torque is excessive, increase rear zone
excessive thermal degradation.
temperature settings. The nozzle must be open at this time.
F. Open the hopper’s feed inlet and keep the screw in forward Additional care should be taken when molding Crastin® PBT
position. Start screw rotation and increase the front zone through a hot manifold. When the shot weight is a small portion
temperature if unmelted particles are seen. of the resin in the hot manifold, the hot manifold must also be
purged with fresh resin after a long cycle interruption.
G. Adjust the stroke to the approximate shot weight and
run a few minutes at the approximate overall cycle. The
melt temperature should now be checked with a needle 7. MOLDING PARAMETERS
probe pyrometer. Make any adjustments in the cylinder
Melt and Cylinder Temperature
temperatures necessary to obtain the recommended melt
The melt temperature is taken directly from the molten polymer
temperature. (This procedure should be repeated when a
(using a needle pyrometer) and should be checked periodically
significant cycle change occurs.)
during a molding run to ensure that it does not exceed the
H. Bring injection cylinder forward. Start with a transfer position recommended limits.
that will create a short shot and no pack pressure (except
where short shots will interfere with safe part ejection). Figure 7.1 shows the relationship between the recommended
Establish the proper transfer position for the injection rate and limiting melt temperature and shot utilization (shot volume/barrel
then adjust the molding variables for the best part appearance volume) and cycle time for Crastin® PBT. In order to take into
and maximum part weight. account the sensitivity of the melt to overheating, processing
temperatures must be matched to residence times. The longer
Shutdown the residence time of the melt in the cylinder, because of low
The machine should be purged thoroughly (see “Purging”) which shot weight or long cycle times (e.g. due to insert placing), the
cuts the time required for subsequent start-up and reduces lower should be the cylinder temperatures. Care should be taken
risk of contamination. The following shutdown procedure is when selecting the machine size or the screw diameter so that
suggested: the resulting shot weight is not too low.

A. Shut the hopper’s feed inlet while continuing to mold on Generally for molding semi-crystalline thermoplastic resins like
cycle. Crastin® PBT, the cylinder temperature profile should be relatively
B. Empty the barrel and add a sufficient quantity of the flat. Figure. 7.2 proposes temperature profiles as function of
appropriate purge resin such as polystyrene or polyethylene residence time and shot utilization. It should be avoided to set
and extrude until the purge is clean. Run the screw until the any cylinder temperature zone below the melting point of the
screw pumps itself dry. polymer.

13
Figure 7.1. Limiting Melt Temperature Recommendation for temperatures reduce the risk of dimensional changes caused
Crastin® PBT as Function of Shot Utilization and by post-mold crystallization (post-mold shrinkage). For some
Cycle Time applications, a minimum mold temperature of 80 °C (175 °F)
Recommended Limiting Melt Temperature
should be observed.
270 °C 260 °C 250 °C 240 °C
100
(520 °F) (500 °F) (480 °F) (465 °F)
Injection Phase
90 Glass-reinforced Crastin® PBT grades generally require medium
80 to fast injection speeds.
70
The optimum filling time is dependent on part design, wall
Shot utilization, %

60
thickness, flow length, shot volume, gate and runner design. It is
50
important to provide adequate venting to avoid burn marks.
40
30 The injection pressure during the dynamic mold filling phase is a
20 function of:
10
• the programed injection speed
0
0 50 100 150 200 • material viscosity at its melt temperature
Cycle time, s
• material crystallization speed and mold temperature
• cavity flow resistance (geometry, wall thickness, flow length)
Figure 7.2. Cylinder Temperature Profile for Constant Melt
Temperature The resulting injection pressure may be much lower than pack
pressure, i.e. for thick parts with short flow length, or even
Shot Utilization much higher than pack pressure, such as thin parts with long
°F °C flow length.
20 3 min HUT
35
7 min HUT 80%
30
15 11 min HUT (decreasing profile)
Pack or Hold Pressure Phase
25
20 10
15
Recommended 5
melt 0 50% Appropriate pack pressures may be determined for any particular
temperature (flat profile)
–15
–5 molding by one of 3 typical methods:
–20 –10
–25
–30 –15 20% • step-wise increase in pack pressure until no statistical
–35
–20 (increasing profile)
increase in shot weight is observed.
• step-wise increase in pack pressure until no statistical
FRONT ZONE CENTER ZONE REAR ZONE
decrease in part sink (thickness shrinkage) is observed.
Nozzle Hopper
• step-wise increase in pack pressure before part flash is
observed.

It is recommended to begin with a pack pressure of 10% of the

Cavity Temperature peak injection pressure and increase in increments of 10% pack
pressure.
Mold temperatures must be controlled in order to mold Crastin®
PBT into parts with optimum mechanical properties and post- Typical pack pressures of 60 MPa (9 kpsi) are sufficient for many
molded dimensional stability. Mold temperature may influence parts made from Crastin® PBT.
molded-in stress levels and impact polymer crystallization.
Like any other semi-crystalline polymer, the pack pressure level
For Crastin® PBT, processing can be carried out with mold should be constant over the pack pressure phase time.
temperatures in the range of 30–130 °C (85–265 °F). Mold
temperature should be increased as the wall thickness of molded The correct pack pressure time, by the maximum shot weight
parts is reduced. method, is easy to determine on the injection molding machine.
Several different pack times are set 0.5 to 1.0 second apart,
Generally, a mold temperature of approximately 80 °C (175 °F) depending on the required resolution, and the resultant moldings
is sufficient to obtain parts with low post-mold shrinkage. For weighed on a laboratory balance after removing the runner and
precision parts which will be subject to high temperature in sprue. The optimum pack pressure time will be in the region
service, a mold temperature of over 100 °C (212 °F) may be where there is no longer any change in the weight of molded
necessary, particularly with unreinforced Crastin® PBT. High mold parts. This pre-supposes that the gate has been correctly
positioned and designed.

14
The following table helps to roughly estimate the required pack This will limit screw abrasion for glass-reinforced grades and will
pressure time for a given wall thickness. avoid excessive shear heating.

Crystallization Rate of Crastin® PBT Low to no back pressure should be used. Increasing back
Based on a 3 mm (0.12”) Wall Thickness pressure increases the work done by the screw on the molten
Crystallization time per polymer. This could incrementally increase melt temperature.
Material
1 mm (0.04”) wall thickness Where melt quality is marginal, higher back pressure may reduce
Unreinforced Crastin® PBT 3.5 to 4.5 s/mm unmelted particles, but it will not substantially increase melt
Reinforced Crastin PBT ®
2.5 to 3.5 s/mm quality. High back pressure should not be used to replace proper
screw design. An additional effect of increased back pressure on
In order to optimize the cycle time, the cooling time is usually set reinforced resins is to produce additional screw work which can
just longer than the screw retraction, or plasticizing, time. cause fiber breakage that may cause a reduction in the physical
properties of the molded part.
Screw Retraction Phase
Increasing back pressure also increases recovery time.
Even though Crastin® PBT resins are not specifically sensitive The lowest possible back pressure consistent with good
to high shear, it is recommended to respect the maximum melt quality is recommended during the molding of DuPont
rotational speed as shown in Figure 7.3. thermoplastic resins.
Figure 7.3. Recommended Limiting Screw Speed Based on
Normally only slight melt decompression is required in
Screw Diameter
order to avoid leakage of material from the nozzle. The use
Screw diameter, in of decompression helps to prevent nozzle drool from hot-
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 runner tools and to stop vent discharge in vented cylinders.
350
0.3 m/s Vented cylinders are not recommended for Crastin® PBT as a
300 (60 fpm)
Maximum rotational speed, RPM

Limit for glass reinforced replacement for dehumidified hopper drying of the material.
Limit for unreinforced
250
0.2 m/s Use of excessive decompression can cause air to be sucked in
(40 fpm)
200 through the nozzle. This can result in oxidation of material which
150 will be seen as areas of discoloration in the molding. Another
consequence could also be the injection of a cold slug in the next
100
shot, leading to surface defect and to part weakness.
50

0
Recommended Processing Parameters
0 20 40 60 80 100
The injection molding recommendations below provide Crastin®
Screw diameter, mm
PBT specific drying conditions, melt and mold temperatures,
screw speed, and packing-phase time and pressure information.
Note that most of the recommendations are uniform across
all Crastin® PBT grade families because they are processed
very similarly. Highlighted differences may be observed in the

Figure 7.4. Crastin Processing Summary

Screw
Dehumidified Moisture Melt Temp. Melt Temp. Mold Temp. Mold Temp. Pack Press. Pack Time
Dry Time Back Speed
Crastin PBT Series ®
Drying Temp. Max. Optimal Range Optimal Range Typ. Min. s/mm
hours Pressure Max
°C (°F) % °C (°F) °C (°F) °C (°F) °C (°F) MPa (kpsi) (1 mm = 0.04”)
m/s (fpm)
Crastin® unreinforced 4 0.3 (60)
Crastin® glass reinforced 250 240–260
Crastin® flame retardant (482) (465–500) 80 30–130 3
Crastin® low warpage 110–120 (175) (85–265) 60
2–4 0.04 Low to No
(230–250) 240 235–260 (9) 0.2 (40)
Crastin® super fast 4
(465) (455–500)
275 260–290 110 100–120
Crastin® thermal conductive 3
(525) (500–555) (230) (212–250)
“HR” hydrolysis resistance family—use glass reinforced recommendations
“T” and “ST” impact modified families—use respective unreinforced or glass reinforced recommendations
“FR” flame retardant and impact modified families—use flame retardant recommendations

15
recommended melt processing and mold temperatures and in Figure 8.1. Typical Flow Length of Unreinforced Crastin®
the required packing-phase time. PBT Grades Without Pack Pressure

Specific processing conditions for any Crastin® PBT resin are Wall thickness, in
available on our website. 350
0.4 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11

Ejection temperature data is developed from thermal cooling P6Q74H;60JE788ME70*!!0RJ.0S*#"'058B3T$

Injection Peak Pressure 100 MPa (14.5 kspi)
curves of the polymer and represent the temperature at which 300 U;0J.450JE788ME7$
No Pack Pressure 12
the polymer transitions from the liquid to solid state. The actual R7/?017@B7E.?ME70+%!VG0S#(!V:T$
Melt Temperature 250°C (480°F)
1;;/017@B7E.?ME700(!VG0S*'%V:T$
Mold Temperature 80°C (175°F) osity
part temperature to allow for distortion-free ejection may be visc
250 c e d , low 10
r
lower depending upon material modulus and part and tool design info
Unre
details.

Flow length, mm

Flow length, in
200 8
ity
ced, high viscos
Unreinfor

8. MATERIAL BEHAVIOR 150 6

Chemical Structure 100 4

The chemical structure of Crastin PBT is:
®

50 2
O O
0 0
C C O ( C H 2) 4 O 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0
n Wall thickness, mm

Crastin® PBT exhibits high modulus, strength, melting point,

Figure 8.2. Typical Flow Length of Glass Reinforced Crastin®
glass transition temperature and fast crystallization due to its PBT Grades Without Pack Pressure
chemical structure.
Wall thickness, in
Flow Length 350
0.4 0.05 0.06 0.07 0.08 0.09 0.10 0.11

Crastin® PBT thermoplastic polyester resin has very good flow Injection Peak Pressure 100 MPa (14.5 kspi)
No Pack Pressure 12
300 ed
properties. Parts with long flow paths and narrow wall thickness Melt Temperature 250°C (480°F) hen
Mold Temperature 80°C (175°F) n d toug
are easily molded. Good flow properties also contribute to ed a
forc
250 s rein 10
achieving high surface finish quality, even with glass fiber Gla
s ced
nfor
30% l a s s rei
G
Flow length, mm

reinforced products. Mold details are precisely reproduced. 15%

Flow length, in
200 8
rced
reinfo
Flow length data are generated on molds with a “spiral” or Glass
30% 6
150
“snake” flow pattern. Data from one study can vary compared to ss re inforced
45% Gla
some from other studies, as flow length is highly dependent on: 100 4

• molding parameters (fill speed, melt temperature, moisture,

50 2
residence time, and pack pressure and time )
• mold layout (channel width, gate design) and mold 0 0
1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0
temperature
Wall thickness, mm
• type of molding machine (valve response time, ability to avoid
hydraulic pressure peaks at transfer, v/p switch point)
DuPont offers a selection of unreinforced Crastin® PBT resins
Figures 8.1 and 8.2 show the flow properties within a test with viscosities which allow for a range of flow lengths. DuPont
spiral of common unreinforced and glass reinforced Crastin® also offers a selection of reinforced products with enhanced flow
PBT grades, respectively. The indicated flow lengths, at typical properties. Flow measurement tests run with different protocols,
molding thicknesses of 1 to 3 mm (0.04 to 0.12 in), were or with cavities of significantly different dimensions will alter
determined for this specific test spiral geometry when run the flow length results and may also impact the differentiation
without pack pressure. between glass reinforced and unreinforced grades.

For guidance on flow length estimates for specific Crastin® PBT

resin grades, please consult with your DuPont representative.

16
Shrinkage The degree to which the glass-fibers orient themselves is
For amorphous thermoplastics, shrinkage is caused primarily by determined by the design of the part, the design and position of
contraction of the molded part as it cools to room temperature. the gate, and details of flow conditions. This orientation is best
predicted with specialized computational analysis.
In semi-crystalline thermoplastics, which includes Crastin®
PBT resins, shrinkage is also influenced considerably by the The amount of glass-fibers also have an effect on the shrinkage
crystallization of the polymer. The degree of crystallization behavior of the Crastin® PBT resin. As shown in Figures 8.4 and
depends largely on the transient and local temperature changes 8.5 the shrinkage in the flow-direction will be higher for a smaller
in the molding. High mold temperatures and heavy wall thickness percentage of glass-fiber reinforcement. This also shows that the
(high heat content of the melt) promote crystallization and shrinkage differential between flow direction and transverse flow
therefore increase shrinkage. direction is lower for the lower glass loading.

Figure 8.4. Shrinkage of 30% GR Crastin® PBT Grades—

Optimum runner and gate design, as well as adequate pack
Effects of Wall Thickness and Fiber Orientation
pressure time are necessary in order to achieve minimum
shrinkage with semi-crystalline polymers. Wall thickness, in
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16
1.4
Shrinkage of Crastin PBT ®

The influence of wall thickness on shrinkage of unreinforced 1.2

kage
Crastin® PBT is shown in Figure 8.3. This shows the shrinkage rection shrin
1.0 Transverse di

Molding Shrinkage, %
value of plates 100 x 100 mm (4 x 4 in), with a wall thickness
of 1 to 4 mm (0.04 to 0.16 in), using standard processing 0.8

conditions. Unreinforced flame retardant grades have similar 0.6

shrinkage. These grades are much more isotropic than fiber shrinkag
e
ection
reinforced Crastin® PBT. 0.4 Flow dir

0.2
Figure 8.3. Shrinkage of Unreinforced Crastin® PBT as a
100 mm x 100 mm (4" x 4") Fan Gated Plate
Function of Wall Thickness
0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5
Wall thickness, in Wall thickness, mm
0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14
2.4

2.2 100 mm x 100 mm

Figure 8.5. Shrinkage of 15% GR Crastin® PBT Grades—
(4" x 4") Fan Gated Plate Effect of Wall Thickness and Fiber Orientation
2.0
age
hr ink e
Wall thickness, in
o ns kag
ti in 0 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16
Shrinkage, %

1.8
direc shr 1.4
w ection
Flo dir
rse
1.6 n sve 1.2
Tra kage
on shrin
e directi
1.4 1.0 Transvers
Molding Shrinkage, %

1.2 0.8
kage
0.6 irectio n shrin
1.0 Flow d
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Wall thickness, mm 0.4

0.2
100 mm x 100 mm (4" x 4") Fan Gated Plate
For glass-fiber reinforced Crastin® PBT, shrinkage is considerably 0
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5
influenced by the direction in which the glass-fibers are oriented. Wall thickness, mm
As a result, there is a larger difference in shrinkage parallel and
normal to the direction of flow. This makes accurate prediction
of the shrinkage difficult. Depending on the fiber orientation, Shrinkage data for specific Crastin® PBT resins at 2 mm
which is determined by the way in which the mold fills, resulting thickness according to ISO 294-4 is available on our website.
shrinkage values may lie between the longitudinal and transverse
shrinkage values shown in Figures 8.4 and 8.5. In extreme
cases, the difference in shrinkage may be greater than that
shown.

17
Post-Mold Shrinkage Figure 8.7. Post-Mold Shrinkage of 30% Glass Reinforced
Crastin® PBT—Effects of Mold and Conditioning
Post-mold shrinkage may be defined as the dimensional change
Temperatures and Wall Thickness
(in %) of a molded part measured at 23 ± 2 °C (73 +/- 3.5 °F)
after annealing for a specific period at a specific temperature. Conditioning temperature, °F
122 142 162 182 202 222 242
0.20
Complex parts may require lower annealing temperatures
and time, in order to minimize deformation at annealing
temperatures. We recommend some trials in order to find 0.15 3 hr conditioning time n
tio
ec

Post-mold shrinkage, %
optimum annealing conditions when annealing is necessary. ir
rd
be
al fi
rm
Within the group of semi-crystalline thermoplastics, Crastin® No
0.10 tion
irec
PBT grades exhibit low post-mold shrinkage values. As can be l l fi b er d
”) W
a ld,
Mo all
seen in Figures 8.6 and 8.7, post-mold shrinkage is an inverse (0.08 75 °F) ”) W
2 m m
C ( 1 m (0.08
0.05 80 ° a ll 2 m t n
i o
function of processing or molding shrinkage. Increasing the mold ”) W direc
m m (0.16 l d , fiber W all
temperature reduces post-mold shrinkage for a given, constant 4 ) Mo m (0.16”)
C ( 2 12 °C 4 m
conditioning temperature. However, post-mold shrinkage 100 °
0
decreases as the wall thickness increases. In the case of glass- 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Conditioning temperature, °C
fiber reinforced grades, these effects are minimal.

Figure 8.6. Post-Mold Shrinkage of Unreinforced Crastin®

PBT as a Function of Conditioning Temperature, The comparison of Figures 8.6 and 8.7 shows that glass-fiber
Mold Temperature, and Wall Thickness reinforced Crastin® PBT grades exhibit even lower post-mold
shrinkage than the unreinforced grades. Mineral filled and
Conditioning temperature, °F
thermally conductive Crastin® PBT grades behave similarly to the
122 142 162 182 202 222 242
0.40 unreinforced grades shown in Figure 8.6.
0.35
At a given conditioning temperature, post-mold shrinkage
0.30 all
3 hr conditioning time )W continues to occur with time. Most of the post-mold shrinkage
08”
Post-mold shrinkage, %

0.
m( is achieved after 3 hours conditioning but detectable shrinkage is
0.25 2m
ll virtually complete after 24 hours.
Wa
0.20 0.1 6”)
Mold m(
°F) 4m all
0.15 C(175 8”) W
80 °
2m
m (0.0 9. AUXILIARY OPERATIONS
0.10 ll
Mol d ”) Wa
(212
°C) 4 mm (0.16 Regrind
0.05 C
100 °
Only regrind from optimally processed original material should
0
50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120 be used. Material that has been degraded because of high
Conditioning temperature, °C moisture content and/or too long hold-up time in the barrel
cannot be re-used. Molded parts that become brittle as a result
of poor material handling (too high moisture content in the
This means that precision parts with very narrow tolerances granules) or material left in the barrel (too long hold-up time)
should be produced using higher mold temperatures, particularly must be discarded and not re-used. This avoids any dramatic
if the parts have thin walls. The degree of crystallinity will then be deterioration of properties if it were mixed with good regrind
sufficiently high so that little or no post-mold shrinkage occurs if and/or virgin resin.
the parts are used at continuous high temperatures.
The actual amount of regrind which can be added must be
Similar to processing shrinkage, glass-fiber reinforced products determined for each part by testing. Only the operational and
also exhibit different degrees of post-mold shrinkage in parallel performance requirements of a molded part can determine the
and normal orientations (Figure 8.7). amount of regrind that is acceptable.

18
In order to keep the loss of strength and toughness at a low Recycled material should have approximately the same size as
level, as a general rule no more than 30% regrind by weight fresh pellets or fresh granules. Grinder screens with a mesh size
should be added to unreinforced products. In the case of glass- of about 5 mm (0.2”) yield a grain size of approximately 3 mm
fiber reinforced grades, increased loss of strength must be (0.12”) in diameter. A screen with a mesh of approximately 2.5
expected due to the reduction of fiber length which occurs during mm (0.1”) can be used for removing dust particles in the regrind.
regrinding. For this reason, as a general rule not more than 25% Before processing, the regrind should be dried to avoid the
by weight of regrind should be added to reinforced materials. possibility of degradation due to the presence of moisture.
The reduction in the flexural and impact strength of 30% glass
reinforced Crastin® PBT with various regrind percentages and Coloring
repeated use is shown in Figures 9.1 and 9.2. A range of colorants can be added to DuPont thermoplastic
Figure 9.1. Flexural Strength Retention of 30% GR Crastin® resins. The freedom of design is even greater in that almost any
PBT with Regrind Level coloring system can be used: dry pigment, paste, liquid color or
dyes. Such systems can also lead to variations in properties and/
100 or performance.
90
When using colorants, special attention should be given to:
80
• Chemical compatibllity with base resin.
Flexural strength, % original

70
• Good thermal stability above the processing temperature of
60
the resin.
50
100% Regrind • Using only approved color formulations when working within
40
50% Regrind regulated industries.
30 25% Regrind
• Shrinkage variation due to the colorant, resulting from its
20 effect on the polymer crystallization rate.
10
Additionally, the carrier of liquid colors can be considered as a
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 surface lubricant, which may cause screw slippage leading to
Number of molding passes
screw feeding and/or filling problems.

To obtain optimum, homogeneous dispersion of colorant:

Figure 9.2. Charpy Impact Strength Retention of 30% GR
Crastin® PBT with Regrind Level • Use a ratio between polymer and master-batch that can be
acceptably mixed with available injection molding equipment.
100
• Ideally, use a screw with a mixing head, or use a high-
90 compression screw.
80
• Use a screw retraction stroke less than 30% of the maximum
Flexural strength, % original

70 screw retraction of the machine.

60

50
100% Regrind
40
50% Regrind
30 25% Regrind

20

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6
Number of molding passes

One should carefully consider the management and control of

regrind creation and handling processes as well as the effects
on molding and final properties when considering the use of
regrind within parts subjected to high mechanical loads. A higher
amount of regrind is feasible, for example, when in addition to
electrical insulating properties, the part needs only a high heat
deflection temperature.

19
10. TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE special circumstances may cause the suggested remedy
prioritization to change or make the opposite directional change
The following troubleshooting guide (Figure 10.1) is meant to
of the remedy to be more effective. For instance, sticking parts
provide prioritized suggestions for the improvement of some
may be a result of the interaction of many specific design and
common issues seen in plastic parts and their processing. Please
processing factors. In most cases increasing mold temperature
identify the column of the issue of concern and read down to
will increase shrink and the part will lock on a standing core
each row of the suggested remedies in numerical order. For
more readily. In some rare cases where large standing cores are
example, it is often more practical to explore the sensitivity of
present on the stationary tool half, decreasing mold temperature
a processing parameter like pack time first, before exploring a
may eliminate the sticking.
more time consuming and costly change in gate size.

The suggested remedies below have been found by experience

to address the most frequently encountered molding issues. In
some unique mold design or processing situations, however,

Figure 10.1. Crastin® Processing Troubleshooting Guide

Brittle Short Voids in Burned Warped Weak Sticking Sticking Poor Part Mold
Suggested Remedies* Parts Shots Parts
Sinks
Parts Parts Knit lines Sprue Parts Surface
Flashing Drool
Deposit
Ensure Resin is dry 1 1 1 1
Change Injection Pressure 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 3 4
Increase Injection Speed 3 4 2 6
Decrease Injection Speed 4 3 3 5 3
More Screw Forward Time 3 3 7
Less Screw Forward Time 8 3
Check Melt Temperature 2 4 5 5 1 6 6 4 3 2 1
Increase Mold Temperature 5 5 3 1 1
Increase Nozzle Temperature 1
Increase Gate (feed system) Size 7 6 6 5 9 7
Increase Vent Size 6 7 2 4 8 4
Use Reverse Taper Nozzle 4 3
Decrease Residence Time 3 7 5 2
Change Cycle 4 4 4 7
Check Pad Size (Cushion) 1 1 1
Repair Mold 5 5 6
Increase Taper 6 6
Change Gate Location 8 7 6 5 7 10 7
Reduce Regrind Level 4
Balance Mold Temperature 1 6
Check Puller Design 7
Check for Contamination 5 8 2 5
Check for Voids 6
Check V-­‐P Change Point 9 2
Add Melt Decompression 4
Check Clamp Force 5
Check Hot Runner System 7 8 11 8
*Suggested to try in order shown

20
NOTES
Visit us at plastics.dupont.com or crastin.dupont.com
Contact DuPont at the following regional locations:

North America Latin America Europe, Middle East, Africa

+1-302-999-4592 +0800 17 17 15 +41 22 717 51 11

Greater China Japan ASEAN

+86-400-8851-888 +81-3-5521-8600 +65 6586 3688

The information provided in this data sheet corresponds to DuPont knowledge on the subject at the date of its publication. This information may be subject to revision as new knowledge and experience becomes
available. The data provided fall within the normal range of product properties and relate only to the specific material designated; these data may not be valid for such material used in combination with any other
materials, additives or pigments or in any process, unless expressly indicated otherwise.
The data provided should not be used to establish specification limits or used alone as the basis of design; they are not intended to substitute for any testing you may need to conduct to determine for yourself the
suitability of a specific material for your particular purposes. Since DuPont cannot anticipate all variations in actual end-use and disposal conditions, DuPont does not guarantee results, makes no warranties and
assumes no liability in connection with any use of this information. All such information is given and accepted at the buyer’s risk. It is intended for use by persons having technical skill, at their own discretion and
risk. Nothing in this publication is to be considered as a license to operate under or a recommendation to infringe any patent.
CAUTION: Do not use DuPont materials in medical applications involving implantation in the human body or contact with internal body fluids or tissues unless the material has been provided from DuPont under a
written contract that is consistent with DuPont policy regarding medical applications and expressly acknowledges the contemplated use. For further information, please contact your DuPont representative. You may
also request a copy of DuPont POLICY Regarding Medical Applications H-50103-5 and DuPont CAUTION Regarding Medical Applications H-50102-5.
Copyright © DuPont. The DuPont Oval Logo, DuPont™, Crastin®, Delrin®, Hytrel®, Minlon®, Rynite®, Sorona®, and Zytel® are trademarks or registered trademarks of E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its
affiliates. All rights reserved.
Reference number: CRE-A11159-00-B0415

Cover photo courtesy of Winzeler Inc. Photographed by Erich Schrempp Photography and Digital Imaging Studio