Numberdpev1ECTS3.0LevelintermediateOverviewA good product is based on the proper material choice and the according manufacturing process. The huge success of polymer applications is mainly based on the versatile and efficient possibilities of the more and more digitalized polymer processes.
In this module, students will learn the most important polymer processes:
- Injection moulding for the discontinuous manufacturing of complex products (e.g. interior automotive parts, housings for mobile phones…)
- Digital process control with temperature and pressure sensors
- Extrusion as a continuous manufacturing method (e.g. pipes or films)
- Mixing and compounding of polymers with additives, fillers and reinforcements
- Additive manufacturing
- Joining technology: Adhesives and welding
- The students will actively participate in a complete digitalized process chain of a polymer product. This includes a polymer compatible product design and calculations with CAE, a flow simulation in Moldflow, a mould design and finally the production of the mould and the parts by 3D printing and injection moulding.
Learning objectives
- Students will be able to describe the process and the special features of the different processing methods.
- The interrelationships between material properties, mixing and processing parameters can be explained and used for the component design and dimensioning.
- The students are in a position to take a holistic view of the design of components made of thermoplastics and the appropriate processing procedures.
- They are also capable of selecting the appropriate material to perform.
- Possibilities and limits of digitalization of manufacturing processes and tool-less manufacturing processes can be explained.
Previous knowledge
- Materials 3 (werk3)
- Polymer Engineering 1 (kt1)
- Polymer Engineering 2 (kt2) and Digital Product Development and Processing 2 (dpev2) parallel
Exam formatContinuous assessment grade 
