Injection-molding liquid-crystal polymers

摘要

With the miniaturization of many products, manufacturers are streamlining devices to pack more features into smaller packages. Liquid-crystal polymers (LCP) prove to be just the ticket when compared to other polymers. For the same reasons, LCPs are also injection molded into IC sockets, HF network switches, power modules for wind and solar inverters and converters, custom high-power electrical connectors, and many other precision devices. Liquid crystallinity in polymers comes about either by dissolving a polymer in a solvent, or by heating a polymer above its glass or melting transition point. Injection molding LCPs causes the chained molecules to orient in the flow direction near the mold wall. It is, therefore, important to carefully consider flow patterns and anisotropy in the cavities. LCP components are often manufactured by high-speed injection machines, so it is critical to design adequate air-venting in the cavity to ensure all gas remaining in the mold discharges quickly and effectively.