The Performance of Bio-produced PE and PET in Flexible Packaging Materials : a Benchmarking Evaluation
Abstract: The packaging market is starting to demand renewable materials to face out the fossil based materials mainly used today. This thesis investigate the possibility and advance to switch from conventional grades of polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalates (PET) towards bio-produced qualities of the same polymers. The work is divided into two parts starting with a carbon dioxide evaluation of the existing products benchmarked with an evaluation of these products with the two new polymer qualities. Following the two most interesting Flextrus’ products were produced with the new qualities and benchmarking analyses were performed to investigate if there was any difference between the grades. The two most interesting materials chosen for further investigation after the Carbon Footprint evaluation was Fibercote 50/25, a paper coated with a PET layer, and HiLite390/40, a laminated plastic sheet of PET and PE. At production there was some struggle with the Fibercote 50/25 which can have had an extensive impact on some of the tests. Over all there is no obvious difference between the materials. Concluded by the results the sealing temperature is lower for the Bio-HiLite 390/40. Possibly this is because of the lower melting temperatures of the bio-produced PE. In most of the tests the new qualities perform well enough to be used in the same combination as the conventional material and keep the standard of the product. This conclusion is after only one production and the tests should be repeated in further production to ensure these results.
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