PAExSiDur - Polymer ageing in experiment and simulation for the targeted service life extension of blow-moulded hollow parts

PAExSiDUR addresses key R&D issues in the field of developing processes to reduce energy and material consumption and extend the service life of large industrial packaging produced by extrusion blow moulding.

One reason for the premature failure of blow-moulded packaging articles is chemically and physically induced ageing processes in the plastic. Ageing processes in plastics are highly dependent on the material, processing method, external stresses such as pressure, weathering and temperature, and their interactions during use are therefore extremely complex. Although a great deal of information on plastic ageing can be found in the literature, the complexity of the subject, the ever-increasing technical challenges and sustainability efforts mean that this knowledge cannot simply be transferred to the material polyethylene or the blow moulding process.

The project aims to use experimental investigations to enable the simulative prediction of complex ageing processes and determine this as a function of various influences during the product use period, as well as enabling product development to be adapted. This is to be realised through the creation of a knowledge database for the consideration of material ageing in the product development process. The characteristic values to be determined are generated by means of material tests, time-lapse product tests and modern simulation techniques such as FEM and molecular dynamic simulations (MD).

The specific aim of the project is to take ageing into account as early as the product development process. The simulation techniques allow an improved service life prediction and an extended product service life. The established product development process in the blow moulding industry is therefore to be expanded to include ageing modelling for the first time.