Finite element analysis of hot embossing of polymer optical sheet

Abstract

Finite element simulation of the hot embossing process used in manufacturing polymer optical components was performed using MARC code. This research focuses mainly on predicting contractive deformation during the cooling procedure in making a polymer optical sheet. A nonlinear viscoelastic model of temperature and pressure-dependent material properties, exhibiting creep, was used to capture the properties of amorphous polymer material. The simulation of contractive deformation confirms with the results of corresponding experiments, indicating that this finite element model can be used to simulate the hot embossing of a polymer with acceptable results.