Experimental investigation towards the transport‐optimized design of peelable polymer tray packaging

• Published in: Packaging technology & science Vol. 35; no. 7; pp. 529 - 541
• Main Authors: Weber, P., Wolf, J., Stephan, B., Hauptmann, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2022
• Subjects: Damage assessment; Design optimization; Food packaging; Packaging design; Parameters; peelable packaging; Polymer films; Polymers; Seams; Thickness; transport; Transportation safety
• ISSN: 0894-3214; 1099-1522
• DOI: 10.1002/pts.2649

Demands of peelable food packaging require a design to ensure both ease of usage as well as sturdiness in order to endure multiple loadings during transport. To aid the design processes in addressing these criteria, this paper aims to present factors influencing the closure safety and damaging behaviour during transport. Regarding this, we first present a methodology for the experimental investigation of transport safety, based on a substitute test, which aims to reflect the effects of vertical impact during transport. To achieve these conditions, we propose both the construction of a test rig and subsequent evaluation parameters to assess the damage of the packaging's sealed seam. Following that, the specific parameters of the experimental study based on the proposed method are presented. These include strength of a sealed seam, the thicknesses of used polymer films and the tray geometry itself. The results of this study and limitations are addressed in the final chapter, whereby first qualitative influences of the parameters become assessable, along with suggestions for further scientific work on the subject matter. fundamental requirements: ‐ easy to open ‐ safe for transportinvestigation of opening and damaging behaviour during transporttest rig and method for damage quantification