Research of mold cooling process optimization for production of expanded polystyrene with the application of experimental measurements on the test form

An important step in the production cycle of pressing the expanded polystyrene is cooling of the mold and the molding. The paper describes the execution and analysis of experimental measurements in order to identify the influence of the cooling system on the quality of products produced by the technology observed. For the purpose of the experiment, a test mold with specific properties of the mold parts of the mold cavity was designed and manufactured. By means of the measuring circuit, the knowledge of the course of temperatures in the mold cavity during the pressing cycle was obtained. At the same time, the temperature distribution on the moldings and in the mold was monitored by means of a thermal imager. Two press cycles, with and without water cooling, were performed in course of the tests. Subsequently, the quality of the test pieces produced was checked. Based on the experiments conducted, the parameters influencing the water-cooling process of the mold for the production of expanded polystyrene have been identified. A significant element of the water-cooling system, which affects the quality of products and the technological process, is the application of spray nozzles – their location, orientation, and density. In order to optimize the cooling process observed, a multiple-nozzle spray head has been designed to produce water mist as a tool for more efficient distribution and application of the coolant.