Caracterización de las partes termoformadas y su incidencia en las propiedades mecánicas para la fabricación de guardachoques con polipropileno de alto impacto en la Empresa Carrocera Construcciones Mecánicas Albán en la ciudad de Latacunga

Abstract

The present experimental project was based on the analysis and determination of the mechanical properties of thermoformed pieces of high impact polypropylene, under the variation of the parameters in the thermoforming process; thickness, temperature and vacuum pressure, in order to establish the most suitable parameters of the thermoforming process that provide the best mechanical properties of the thermoformed parts for its application in the manufacture of bumpers. The tensile, bending and impact tests were developed under the standards ASTM D638, ASTM D790 and ASTM D1709 respectively. The specimens were manufactured by subjecting the polypropylene to the vacuum thermoforming process by varying the different parameters of thermoforming, obtaining 8 groups of specimens, and the sizing of the specimens was carried out as established in the standard. From the tests carried out it was possible to determine the mechanical properties, the data were tabulated, proceeding to the selection of the best and optimum combination of the parameters in the thermoforming process, the best combination being a thickness of 4mm, temperature of 200ºC and a pressure vacuum of 50 Psi, presenting good mechanical properties, an acceptable absorption of energy at impact, and in addition to a good distribution of stresses in the material.