Projectname:
Testing Method of the Thermoforming Behaviour of Plastics in the Packaging Industry
Workgroup: Filling and packaging processes
IVLV-Projectteam Leader: Herr R. Ruhland, Wolff Walsrode
Contract Partner: FhAVV, Dresden
Responsible: Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. H. Goldhahn
Financing: IVLV
Time: 1999 – 2000
Existing test methods of thermoforming of plastics describe only single properties. E.g., the so called shrink test describes the shrinking behaviour of plastic after the thermoforming process. The DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimeter) gives the context between the change of enthalpy and temperature. The measurements don’t provide satisfying data for judging of thermoformability. There is no possibility to compare plastics. Therefore communication between packaging machine manufacturer, supplier of packaging material and packaging company is difficult.
Aim of the project is the development of standardised measuring and testing procedures for thermoforming, including the necessary equipment. The thermoformability should be described by one integral value. The variation of the influencing parameter like forming speed and tool geometry must be possible. As a result of such a test method the thermoforming process can be optimised. Difficulties may appear through transformation of the test results to the real packaging machine.
As a first step a project-group was formed. Based on the experience of the industrial members of this group consisting of packaging machine manufactures, suppliers of packaging material and packaging companies a simplified procedure with significant parameters was acquired. The next steps will include the theoretical extension of processing. Depending on the broadened knowledge and test results a testing device will be designed and the test procedure will be verify.
