Chemie Ingenieur Technik, Vol.82, No.12, 2073-2088, 2010
Product Design of Plastic Materials for the Detergent Industry
Water soluble polymers in the detergent industry represent on the one hand parts of the formulations of washing powder to improve the washing result, and are used on the other hand as foils for the packaging of liquid detergent portions. Insoluble, thermoplastic polymers (PE, PP, PET) are needed as packaging materials for solids, pastes, suspensions and liquids in the form of laminated cardboard, boxes, bags, bottles, buckets and tubes. The polymers can be tailored to the application. For this purpose, not only the possibilities of the reaction and synthesis technology are available, but the addition of additives manages the adjustment of the required physical, technical and optical properties, such as color and durability. In an extrusion process, the plasticized or melted material gets the product shape; any form can be produced. The packaging should convince not only in forms and functions, but also throughout the aesthetics relating to the specific brand. The product design is the sum of these parameters.
Keywords:Detergent;Packing;Polymers;Polymer design;Polymer engineering;Polymer shaping;Product design