Hot-pressing and drying process of pulp molding tablewares

Based on the analysis of the hot-pressing technological process for pulp molding of instant noodle bowl, the partial differential equation (PDE) for heating conduction of hot-pressing mold was set up. The solution of the PDE is deduced by analytical mathematics method; the temperature distribution of the mold was also computed by numerical analysis method (infinite element method) adopting the PDE Toolbox of MATLAB software. The results of temperature distribution calculated respectively by the solution of PDE and infinite element method are roughly in accordance with the temperature values measured by ST2 infrared temperature measuring apparatus. Also, the computational equation of the hot-pressing time of pulp molding products was deduced by PDE. The hot-pressing time was determined by the calculated result according to the equation. This provides the theoretical basis for the design of the control system of the pulp molding product line.