Low Injection Speed Research Articles

High-Pitch Coronary CT Angiography at 70 kVp Adopting a Protocol of Low Injection Speed and Low Volume of Contrast Medium.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the feasibility and image quality (IQ) of prospectively high-pitch coronary CT angiography (CCTA) with low contrast medium injection rate at 70 kVp.Materials and MethodsOne hundred and four patients with suspected coronary artery disease (body mass index < 26 kg/m2, sinus rhythm and heart rate < 70 beats/min) were prospectively enrolled and randomly divided into two groups. In group A and group B, 28 mL and 40 mL of 370 mgI/mL iodinated contrast media was administrated at a flow rate of 3.5 and 5 mL/s, respectively. CT values, noise, signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the proximal segments of coronary arteries and subjective IQ were evaluated.ResultsThe CT values and noise in group A were significantly lower than those in group B (434–485 Hounsfield units [HU] vs. 772–851 HU, all p < 0.001; 17.8–22.3 vs. 23.3–26.4, all p < 0.005). The CNRs of the right coronary artery and left main artery showed no statistical difference between the two groups (42.1 ± 13.8 vs. 36.8 ± 16.0, p = 0.074; 38.7 ± 10.6 vs. 38.1 ± 17.0, p = 0.819). No statistical difference was observed between the two groups in IQ scores (3.04 ± 0.75 vs. 3.0 ± 0.79, p = 0.526) and diagnostic ratio (96.1% [50/52] vs. 94.2% [49/52], p = 0.647).ConclusionProspective high-pitch CCTA at 70 kVp with 28 mL of contrast media and injection rate of 3.5 mL/s could provide diagnostic IQ for normal-weight patients with heart rate of < 70 beats/min.

Numerical investigation of liquid methanol evaporation and oxy-combustion inside a button-cell ITM reactor

A numerical study is conducted to investigate the performance of a button-cell LNO-ITM reactor utilizing the soot-free oxygenated liquid methanol under oxy-combustion condition. The Euler-Lagrange approach is utilized to solve discrete phase model. Taylor analogy breakup (TAB) model is used due to its convenience with the cases of low injection speed. A plain orifice atomizer is used for fuel atomization and CO2 is used as sweep gas. A semi-empirical oxygen permeation model (ABn model) is validated with the available experimental data and is, then, applied in the present model. Over a wide range of inlet fuel concentrations, the results showed increase in oxygen permeation flux of about five times in cases of reacting conditions as compared to the cases of non-reacting cases. The results showed high oxygen permeation flux at low inlet fuel concentrations due to the improvement in the oxygen to fuel ratio toward the stoichiometric conditions. At inlet gas temperatures of 1223K, 1123K, 1023K and 923K, the combustion temperature approached 1423K, 1347K, 1284K and 1231K, respectively, indicating an average combustion efficiency of 43% at moderate inlet gas temperatures. High fuel concentration at low inlet sweep flow resulted in high oxygen flux and high combustion temperature.

Study of Polydiacetylene-Poly (Ethylene Oxide) Electrospun Fibers Used as Biosensors.

Polydiacetylene (PDA) is an attractive conjugated material for use in biosensors due to its unique characteristic of undergoing a blue-to-red color change in response to external stimuli. 10,12-Pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA) and poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO) were used in this study to develop fiber composites via an electrospinning method at various mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, solution concentrations, and injection speeds. The PEO-PDA fibers in blue phase were obtained via photo-polymerization upon UV-light irritation. High mass ratios of PEO to PCDA, low polymer concentrations of spinning solution, and low injection speeds promoted fine fibers with small diameters and smooth surfaces. The colorimetric transition of the fibers was investigated when the fibers were heated at temperatures ranging from 25 °C to 120 °C. A color switch from blue to red in the fibers was observed when the fibers were heated at temperatures greater than 60 °C. The color transition was more sensitive in the fibers made with a low mass ratio of PEO to PCDA due to high fraction of PDA in the fibers. The large diameter fibers also promoted the color switch due to high reflectance area in the fibers. All of the fibers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and compared before and after the color change occurred. The colorimetric transitional mechanism is proposed to occur due to conformational changes in the PDA macromolecules.

Experiment and simulation of foaming injection molding of polypropylene/nano-calcium carbonate composites by supercritical carbon dioxide

Microcellular injection molding of neat isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and isotactic polypropylene/nano-calcium carbonate composites (iPP/nano-CaCO3) was performed using supercritical carbon dioxide as the physical blowing agent. The influences of filler content and operating conditions on microstructure morphology of iPP and iPP/nano-CaCO3 microcellular samples were studied systematically. The results showed the bubble size of the microcellular samples could be effectively decreased while the cell density increased for iPP/nano-CaCO3 composites, especially at high CO2 concentration and back pressure, low mold temperature and injection speed, and high filler content. Then Moldex 3D was applied to simulate the microcellular injection molding process, with the application of the measured ScCO2 solubility and diffusion data for iPP and iPP/nano-CaCO3 composites respectively. For neat iPP, the simulated bubble size and density distribution in the center section of tensile bars showed a good agreement with the experimental values. However, for iPP/nano-CaCO3 composites, the correction factor for nucleation activation energy F and the pre-exponential factor of nucleation rate f0 were obtained by nonlinear regression on the experimental bubble size and density distribution. The parameters F and f0 can be used to predict the microcellular injection molding process for iPP/nano-CaCO3 composites by Moldex 3D.

Effects of injection molding conditions on the electrical properties of polycarbonate/carbon nanotube nanocomposites

Polycarbonate/Carbon nanotube (PC/CNT) nanocomposites containing various CNT contents (0–5 wt%) were prepared by injection molding. The effects of CNT contents, injection speed (V) and injection temperature (T) on the electrical resistivity of the PC/CNT nanocomposites were investigated. It was found that the tensile strength of nanocomposites was enhanced slightly with increased CNT contents, and the tensile modulus was 29% greater after the 5 wt% CNT addition, but the brittle tendency became stronger. Aside from tensile properties, the electrical resistivity of the nanocomposites dropped 12 orders of magnitude after the 5 wt% CNT addition. Also, there was a tendency that the electrical resistivity was lower in the case of higher injection temperature and lower injection speed. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and the distribution of surface layer electrical resistivity, clearly showed a notable influence by surface layer microstructures on the electrical resistivity, and the injection conditions affected both the value of the maximum electrical resistivity and the position where it occurred. This study offers an alternative green and simple molding process to prepare conductive PC nanocomposites and to achieve the industrialization of PC/CNT nanocomposite products which can be used in electromagnetic shielding and anti‐static fields. POLYM. COMPOS., 37:3245–3255, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

Optimization and evaluation of metal injection molding by using X-ray tomography

6061 aluminum alloy and 316L stainless steel green bodies were obtained by using different injection parameters (injection pressure, speed and temperature). After injection process, the green bodies were scanned by X-ray tomography. The projection and reconstruction images show the different kinds of defects obtained by the improper injection parameters. Then, 3D rendering of the Al alloy green bodies was used to demonstrate the spatial morphology characteristics of the serious defects. Based on the scanned and calculated results, it is convenient to obtain the proper injection parameters for the Al alloy. Then, reasons of the defect formation were discussed. During mold filling, the serious defects mainly formed in the case of low injection temperature and high injection speed. According to the gray value distribution of projection image, a threshold gray value was obtained to evaluate whether the quality of green body can meet the desired standard. The proper injection parameters of 316L stainless steel can be obtained efficiently by using the method of analyzing the Al alloy injection.

Molding and Optical Performance Simulations of a New Plastic Grating Lens for an Asymmetric LED Fog Lamp

This research focuses on the effect manufacture factors about the brightness and uniformity of multi-stage reflector. Trace-pro and 3D CAD model were used for optical simulations. The optical simulation results of grating lens and reflector were done as well as successfully developed the LED fog lamp. The results meet the regulations, R19 CLASS F3, of Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) at the test distance of 25 meters, and central zone under line6 achieves average over 3200cd. The optimal design of reflector is of third-order paraboloidal one to improve the brightness and uniformity. The acuter the microstructure’s tip is(R below 0.1mm), the better the apparent improving of eliminating stray light. In accordance with microstructure of grating lens, Moldex-3D is used to help the mold flow filling simulation and mold design. The mold cavity with microstructure was manufactured by the wire cutting and polishing processing. And the molding plastic was optics level PC (Polycarbonate). Both Taguchi’s method applied in Moldex-3D and real injection molding experiments showed that high melt temperature, low injection speed and suitable holding time can reduce warpage; in addition, using higher melt temperature, mold temperature and injection pressure can achieve higher degree of replication of micro features.

The supermolecular structure of isotactic polypropylene/atactic polystyrene blends

AbstractThe supermolecular structure of binary isotactic polypropylene/atactic polystyrene (iPP/PS) injection‐molded blends were studied by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and optical microscopy. The combination of different methods gives a possibility of analysis of relation between the phase transformation in polypropylene and crystallization parameters. Effect of compatibilization of poly(styrene‐b‐ethylene‐co‐butylene‐b‐styrene) grafted with maleic anhydride (SEBS‐g‐MA) block copolymers in the iPP/PS blends on the structure, nucleation, crystal growth, solidification, and the phase morphology was analyzed. We found that the β‐crystallization tendency of polypropylene matrix can be enhanced by adding atactic polystyrene. However, the incorporation of SEBS‐g‐MA into iPP/PS blends resulted in an important decrease in β‐content of iPP. It is evident that the presence of compatibilizing agent caused a very significant reduction of the α‐spherulite growth rates and the crystal conversion as well as increases of half‐time crystallization in comparison with the iPP/PS systems. The relation between kinetic parameters of crystallization process and polymorphic structure of iPP in blend systems has been satisfactorily explained. Moreover, a strong effect of processing parameters on the β‐phase formation was observed. The results clearly show that at a higher temperature of mold and lower injection speed, the amount of β‐phase of iPP matrix slightly decreases. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2011. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers

A universal piezo-driven ultrasonic cell microinjection system

Over the past decade, the rapid development of biotechnologies such as gene injection, in-vitro fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and drug development have led to great demand for highly automated, high precision equipment for microinjection. Recently a new cell injection technology using piezo-driven pipettes with a very small mercury column was proposed and successfully applied in ICSI to a variety of mammal species. Although this technique significantly improves the survival rates of the ICSI process, shortcomings due to the toxicity of mercury and damage to the cell membrane due to large lateral tip oscillations of the injector pipette may limit its application. In this paper, a new cell injection system for automatic batch injection of suspended cells is developed. A new design of the piezo-driven cell injector is proposed for automated suspended cell injection. This new piezo-driven cell injector design relocates the piezo oscillation actuator to the injector pipette which eliminates the vibration effect on other parts of the micromanipulator. A small piezo stack is sufficient to perform the cell injection process. Harmful lateral tip oscillations of the injector pipette are reduced substantially without the use of a mercury column. Furthermore, ultrasonic vibration micro-dissection (UVM) theory is utilized to analyze the piezo-driven cell injection process, and the source of the lateral oscillations of the injector pipette is investigated. From preliminary experiments of cell injection of a large number of zebrafish embryos (n = 200), the injector pipette can easily pierce through the cell membrane at a low injection speed and almost no deformation of the cell wall, and with a high success rate(96%) and survival rate(80.7%) This new injection approach shows good potential for precision injection with less damage to the injected cells.

Distribution and occurrence of localized-bursts in two-phase flow through porous media

This study examines the dynamics of two-phase drainage with experiments of air invasion into a translucent water-saturated porous medium, at low injection speeds. Air displaces the water by irregular bursts of motion, suddenly invading small portions of the medium. These periods of activity, followed by dormancy, are similar to descriptions of systems at a self-organized critical point, where a slight disturbance may induce an avalanche of activity. The fractal characteristics of the invading air structure at breakthrough are examined through static (box-counting) calculations of the air mass and through an evaluation of the time-dependent motion of the invading mass; results are compared with prior low-velocity two-phase studies in porous media. Dynamic, power-law scaling for invasion percolation is shown to be well suited to describing the structure of the invading fluid. To examine the applicability of self-organized criticality predictions to the invading fluid movement, a new image analysis procedure was developed to identify the location of individual bursting events during the drainage experiments. The predictions of self-organized criticality, namely the scaling of the occurrence of bursts to the mass of the bursts and a spatio-temporal randomness of different sized bursts, are also examined. Bursts of a wide range of sizes are shown to occur throughout the porous medium, over both time and space. The mass distribution of burst sizes is shown to be well described by self-organized criticality predictions, with an experimentally determined scaling exponent of 1.53.

Hierarchy structure in injection molded polypropylene/ethylene–octane copolymer blends

AbstractIn this article, the phase morphology and mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/ethylene–octane copolymer (POE) blends with fixed ratio (60/40) obtained via different processing conditions, including barrel temperature, injection speed, and mold temperature, have been investigated. SEM was carried out for detailed characterization of phase morphology from the skin to the core, layer by layer. It was interesting that for all the processing conditions no dispersed POE elastomer was observed in the skin layer but elongated POE particles with large size were observed in the subskin layer. From the transition zone to the core layer, an increased phase separation was observed, which could lead to a formation of cocontinuous morphology, depending on the processing condition used. Higher barrel temperature, lower mold temperature, and higher injection speed could result in a smaller size of POE phase. The tensile strength and impact strength were found not sensitive to barrel temperature and mold temperature but to the low injection speed, both tensile strength and impact strength had a higher value for specimen obtained via low injection speed. The formation of the skin‐core morphology and the effect of processing conditions on the phase morphology were discussed based on crystallization kinetics of PP matrix, rheology, and shear induced phase mixing. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007

In vitro measurement of pressure differences using manometry at various injection speeds during discography

Lumbar discography has been widely used to evaluate discogenic low back pain. Anecdotal evidence suggests that pain reproduction during discography is more closely correlated with peak dynamic pressure than with static postinjection pressure. Although there can be a significant difference between dynamic and static pressures, to date most discographic evaluations use static pressure recorded postinjection (which is stable and easily measured). The use of readings taken after injection, rather than readings of maximum dynamic peak pressure recorded during injection, appear to increase false positives in lumbar discography. High-speed intradiscal injections also appear to have potentially confounding effects that may increase the rate of false-positive responses during lumbar discography. To date there has been no study for the evaluation of peak dynamic intradiscal pressures or for differentiating dynamic from static pressures in the nucleus pulposus (NP) in response to various speeds of intradiscal injection. The goal of this study was to obtain additional data on potential confounding factors that could affect discographic results by assessment of pressures within the NP during discography at various injection speeds. The purpose of data collection was to more precisely evaluate pressure differences between dynamic and static pressure within the NP, evident during discography. In vitro laboratory study. A total of 82 trials were performed on intervening discs of 82 porcine cadaver lumbar spines. Dynamic and static intradiscal pressures were measured with manometry, using two pressure sensors simultaneously during intradiscal injection of contrast media at various speeds. The tip of a 25-gauge needle was placed in the center of the NP and connected with a pressure manometer, which recorded the pressure and therefore the speed of injection. A second pressure reading was obtained using a sensor tip connected to a transducer; the sensor tip was located separately in the same NP tissue. The needle and transducer locations were confirmed by fluoroscopy. At low controlled injection speeds (below 0.08 mL/s), the mean peak pressure difference in the NP was 4.06 (+/-1.52) psi. With high-speed injections of 0.08 mL/s or greater, the mean increased abruptly up to 14.52 (+/-4.11) psi (p<.05). The data indicate that injections applied slowly resulted in smaller differences in pressure within the NP, registered by both manometry and the needle sensor tip. Additional samples were taken using both devices to confirm this threshold level. With low injection speeds, especially those below 0.08 mL/s, differences between dynamic and static pressures on both pressure sensors were minor. These differences increased as injection speed became faster. However, at fast injection speeds of 0.08 mL/s and above, those differences were significantly higher. Dynamic and static intradiscal pressures are of similar value when measured by manometer and by needle sensor at slow injection speeds during discography. However, the pressure differences appeared to rapidly increase in response to incremental increases in injection speed. The data from these 82 samples suggest that uncontrolled high speeds of intradiscal injections are a potential confounding factor, which may increase false-positive responses during lumbar discography.

Biofluid aspects of embryo transfer.

Embryo transfer (ET) is the last stage of extracorporal fertilization during which the embryo is placed in the uterine cavity with a medium-filled catheter 2-3 days after in vitro fertilization. While fertilization in the laboratory occurs at very high rates (> 90%), the overall success of the procedure (i.e., take home baby) is still very low (< 25%) and assumed to be mainly due to implantation failure. A computational model was developed to simulate ET within the uterine cavity by a fluid-filled catheter inserted into a two-dimensional channel with oscillating walls. The results showed that the speed at which the embryos are injected from the catheter dominates the procedure and controls the velocity of their transport within the uterine cavity. ET at excessively high injection speeds may lead to ectopic pregnancies, while uterine peristalsis affects transverse dispersion only during injection at low injection speeds. The presence of the catheter within the uterus does not affect flow patterns downstream of its tip. The potential risks to implantation failure due to mechanical factors involved in the ET processes are discussed.

Toughened poly(butylene terephthalate) by blending with a metallocenic poly(ethylene–octene) copolymer

New toughened poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) materials were obtained by melt blending with poly(ethylene–octene) copolymer (PEO) and maleic anhydride grafted PEO (gPEO) in a twin screw extruder followed by injection moulding at two injection speeds. The presence of either PEO or gPEO did not influence either the nature of the PBT phase or the crystallisation of PBT. Low injection speeds (7 cm 3/s) and gPEO provided the best mechanical response. Increasing levels of maleic anhydride in gPEO led to a continuous overall decrease in the particle size, that was the most important when the particle size of the ungrafted PEO and that of the PEO at the minimum grafting level were compared. The decrease stopped at a grafting level between 1.14 and 1.80 due to the viscosity increase with the grafting level. Super-tough PBT based blends with impact strength more than twenty-fold that of PBT were obtained at PEO contents equal to or higher than 15%, and at decreasing PEO contents when the grafting level increased. The inter-particle distance ( τ) is the parameter that controls toughness in these PBT/PEO blends. When the critical τ ( τ c) measured in this work for PBT was compared with those obtained in other toughened blends at constant test conditions and rubber properties, τ c decreased as the modulus of elasticity of the matrix increased. When τ c of this work was compared with those obtained in other PBT/rubber blends, it depended on the modulus of elasticity of the dispersed phase, and it increased rather linearly as the PBT modulus to rubber modulus ratio increased.

Experimental determination and numerical prediction of mechanical properties of injection molded self-reinforcing polymer composites

Abstract A novel method to calculate the distribution of tensile modulus of injection molded PET/LCP blends across the thickness of the mold cavity has been developed, based on the generalized Halpin–Tsai composite model, but with a variable fiber aspect ratio. Using this method, we are able to make a number of predictions regarding the effects of melt temperature, mold temperature, injection speed, and LCP volume fraction on the moduli of the injection molded blends. Our predictions show that in order to optimize the reinforcement effect of the in-situ formed LCP fibers in the blends, low mold temperature and low injection speed are required. These results are in good agreement with experimental results.

Instrumented tensile and falling weight impact response of injection-molded ?- and ?-phase polypropylene homopolymers with various melt flow indices

In this study the instrumented tensile (ITI) and falling weight impact (IFWI) behavior of injection-molded α- and β-phase polypropylene (PP) homopolymers were compared at ambient temperature in a broad melt flow index (MFI = 0.7–13 dg/min) range. It was found that the toughness of β-PP is superior to the α-PP: the difference between them increased with decreasing MFI or increasing molecular weight (MW). As expected, the injection molding induced skin layer thickness increased with increasing MW. Effects of the skin-core morphology were deduced indirectly by considering the results achieved on specimens molded at low and high injection speeds (vinj = 6 and 150 mm/s), respectively. It was found that the effect of the skin-core structure is markedly stronger under uniaxial in-plane (i.e., ITI) than in biaxial out-of-plane type loading (i.e., IFWI). © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1205–1214, 1999

Structural hierarchy developed in co-injection molded polystyrene/polypropylene parts

In this paper, the structural gradients developed in co-injection molded polypropylene/polystyrene parts were investigated as a function of process history and injection sequence. For this purpose, a series of parts with PP skin/PS core, PS skin/PP core, and PP skin/PP core were prepared under selected mold temperatures and injection speeds and detailed structural analyses were performed using a series of structural analysis techniques. The optical microscopy, microbeam-WAXS and birefringence techniques revealed that crystalline orientation levels in PP are high when it is injected first to form the outer (skin) layer of the part. On going from the mold surface to the polystyrene surface the orientation level decreases slightly but remains high even at the PS/PP interface that is located at the interior of the part. This result is mainly caused by the additional deformation that the PP experiences as a result of secondary shearing by the polystyrene injection that occurs a short time delay after the primary injection. When PP is injected as a core layer, the orientation levels in PP were found to be low and mainly concentrated near the PP/PS interface. This low level of orientation is as a result of slower cooling that causes the relaxation of the chain orientation developed during the flow prior to the crystallization. In all polystyrene skin samples, the birefringence between the two skins was found to be the highest at the intermediate distances. When the injection speed of the core polypropylene is increased, this peak position shifts towards the mold surface as a result of shear heating. The use of low injection speeds in the core layer injection was found to distribute this layer more uniformly along the flow path. This is attributed to the attainment of increased levels of viscosity for the first injected layers during the course of injection of core layers at slower speeds.

Structure and properties of polyblends of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer with an alloy of polyamide-6 and ABS

The relationship between the microstructure and corresponding mechanical properties developed during injection molding of blends containing a liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) as the minor component and an engineering polymer system has been studied. A wholly aromatic copolyester LCP (Vectra A950) was melt blended at different compositions with a thermoplastic matrix consisting of a commercial compatibilized blend of polyamide-6 and ABS (Triax 1180). These blends were prepared under two different sets of injection molding conditions. In the first case, a higher melt temperature, higher barrel temperature, lower injection pressure, lower mold temperature, and shorter residence time in the mold were used during injection molding, as compared with the second case. The mechanical properties of the blends were superior to those of the base polymer. In the second case, the resulting injection-molded specimens had a distinct skin–core morphology where elongated fibrils of LCP constituted the skin layer. The mechanical properties of the blends processed under the second set of processing conditions were superior to those of the first, though the trends in both cases were the same. To study the effects of process variables the 15% LCP blend and the second set of processing conditions were taken as the base. Samples were injection-molded by varying one parameter at a time. It was seen that the properties of the blend were increased by maintaining a lower barrel temperature, greater injection pressure, lower injection speed, higher mold temperature, and a greater residence time in the heated mold. Thus it was found that the processing conditions played a vital role in determining the mechanical properties and morphology of the polyblends. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Injection Molding of Rubber Compound with Rheology Affected by Vulcanization: Part II. Modeling and Experiment

Abstract Experimental and theoretical results are reported on the effect of vulcanization on viscosity and yield stress during cavity filling with an SBR compound. Rheological and vulcanization models were utilized in simulation of the cavity filling process. Numerical schemes was based on the hybrid approach of control volume finite-element and finite-difference techniques. The pressure profiles at various locations along the flow path in the mold during cavity filling were obtained by conducting the experiments at various mold and inlet temperatures and mold injection speeds. It was found that the predicted pressure profiles followed the trend determined in the experiments. Comparing two versions of the modified Cross viscosity models — with and without the effect of cure on viscosity — it appears that use of a viscosity model which accounts for the cure-effect improves the accuracy, and thus the usefulness, of the cavity pressure prediction models. Evolution of the state-of-cure in the postfilling process are predicted and compared with the state-of-cure in moldings. The predicted results on the development of the state-of-cure during the postfilling stage show good agreement with the experimental data. The rubber compound exhibits yield behavior during cavity filling at very low injection speeds. The modified Cross model was further extended to include the yield stress and was implemented in the simulation program. In the case of low injection speed, the results showed a significant improvement in the prediction of cavity pressure, compared with the earlier reported predictions.

Processing, morphology and properties of a thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer

The relationship between processing parameters, morphology and properties has been investigated for injection mouldings and extrudates of filled and unfilled grades of a thermotropic copolyester. Low injection speeds were found to result in a significant increase in tensile strength and modulus in the flow direction. This was correlated with an increase in the thickness of the highly oriented skin layer and also with improved molecular orientation of the core regions. Tensile tests on single layers confirmed the skin to have a higher tensile strength and modulus than the core, and the tensile properties to correlate well with the local orientation. With the addition of mineral filler, the influence of injection speed on tensile properties became less marked, and the properties within the mouldings were more homogeneous. The adhesion between the layers also improved in the presence of filler. Additional tests were carried out on extruded tubes. The extensional flows associated with the extrusion process lead to relatively high molecular orientation in the extrusion direction and therefore to good mechanical properties.