Parameter Optimization of PET Plastic Preform Bottles in Injection Molding Process Using Grey-Based Taguchi Method
Ermias Aswossie Berihun, Teshome Mulatie Bogale
Abstract
The paper investigated the optimization design of plastic injection molding process parameters for preformed bottle production using the grey-Taguchi method to minimize shrinkage defects. Diametrical (radial) and length (axial) shrinkage were taken as the responses for one-liter PET plastic preform bottle to perform optimization by controlling four injection molding process parameters. The obtained optimum parameter combination was 260°C melting temperature, 70°C molding temperature, 120 MPa holding pressure, and 15 s cooling time. Melting temperature was the most significant factor according to the ANOVA in PET plastic preform of bottle production. The experimental validation test was also performed using the optimal level settings, five samples of preforms were taken, and the result showed that the shrinkage of the preform was reduced by 22.55%. The average grey relational grade, 0.853, of the confirmation results was found between the confidence intervals of 0.581 and 1.125 for the 95% confidence level. Therefore, the confirmation test showed a good agreement between the predicted and experimental values.