Drying is required for some specialty GLS TPEs, including Versollan™ Elastomer alloys. Drying is required for some specialty GLS TPEs, including Versollan™ Elastomer alloys.

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Imerys, “Specialty Carbons for Polymer Compounds” http://www.imerys-graphite-and-carbon.com/wordpress/wp-app/uploads/2014/04/Polymer_compounds1.pdf 2http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Metallic_fiber

Design Guide 25 CHAPTER 6 | TROUBLESHOOTING FOUR MAIN AREAS Check all of these areas before changing anything in the process. 4 Mold • Cooling channel obstructed • Vent plugged • Core bent • Damaged tooling • Runner shutoff partially closed • Part stuck • Gate plugged • Tooling shifted Machine or Equipment • Thermolator unplugged • Variac unplugged • Material bridging • Drying turned off Material • Contamination • Lot change • Poor mixing • Material dust • Material not dried Process • Changes - Documented - Undocumented OBTAIN INFORMATION Obtain as much information as possible about the defect • Ask operators - When did it start occurring - Is it on every part • Set-Up Tech - Is this how the process started up - Has this happened before STRATEGY THEORY Part Consistency • Does the defect happen randomly or every part Machine Cycle • Is it consistent • Injection pressure limited • Screw hesitation Check Settings • What changed • Did a heater band turn off • Are valves sticking Determine at which point in the process the defect occurs • Injection • Hold time • Gate frozen • Ejection • Part deforming due to ejection • Do a short shot progression Change ONE setting at a time, and allow time for adjustment to affect the defect • Change speeds and pressures first - Take immediate effect and easily reversed • Change temperatures last - Take time to settle in • Extreme Measures - Put mold into different press 26 Gravi-Tech Damages or worn gate/sprue Temperature settings overriding or changed Sprue breaks too soon Lower viscosity lot Nozzle too hot Cooling time too low Not enough Reduce gate size Increase cooling in gate areas Check gate for blockages Install a shorter nozzle or specialty nozzle Ensure nozzle is temperature controlled Dry material Add screw Reduce nozzle tip Angel Hair • Commonly occurs on sprues and hot runner gates • Long, thin strands of plastic material, which can tangle and cause components to stick together • Can cause ejection problems Root cause: Gate or sprue is not frozen and draws molten material with the sprue/part during mold open phase.

Design Guide 25 CHAPTER 6 | TROUBLESHOOTING FOUR MAIN AREAS Check all of these areas before changing anything in the process. 4 Mold • Cooling channel obstructed • Vent plugged • Core bent • Damaged tooling • Runner shutoff partially closed • Part stuck • Gate plugged • Tooling shifted Machine or Equipment • Thermolator unplugged • Variac unplugged • Material bridging • Drying turned off Material • Contamination • Lot change • Poor mixing • Material dust • Material not dried Process • Changes - Documented - Undocumented OBTAIN INFORMATION Obtain as much information as possible about the defect • Ask operators - When did it start occurring - Is it on every part • Set-Up Tech - Is this how the process started up - Has this happened before STRATEGY THEORY Part Consistency • Does the defect happen randomly or every part Machine Cycle • Is it consistent • Injection pressure limited • Screw hesitation Check Settings • What changed • Did a heater band turn off • Are valves sticking Determine at which point in the process the defect occurs • Injection • Hold time • Gate frozen • Ejection • Part deforming due to ejection • Do a short shot progression Change ONE setting at a time, and allow time for adjustment to affect the defect • Change speeds and pressures first - Take immediate effect and easily reversed • Change temperatures last - Take time to settle in • Extreme Measures - Put mold into different press 26 Gravi-Tech Damages or worn gate/sprue Temperature settings overriding or changed Sprue breaks too soon Lower viscosity lot Nozzle too hot Cooling time too low Not enough Reduce gate size Increase cooling in gate areas Check gate for blockages Install a shorter nozzle or specialty nozzle Ensure nozzle is temperature controlled Dry material Add screw Reduce nozzle tip Angel Hair • Commonly occurs on sprues and hot runner gates • Long, thin strands of plastic material, which can tangle and cause components to stick together • Can cause ejection problems Root cause: Gate or sprue is not frozen and draws molten material with the sprue/part during mold open phase.