Test and analysis of plastics

A project financed by the Danish Agency for Science and Innovation.

The composition, additive content, chemical resistance, mechanical properties, life-time, etc. of plastics can be uncovered by testing and analysis. Today this is done only to a limited extent and not in a systematic fashion.

The goal in this project was – for users and potential users of plastics materials – to clarify the scope of analysis and testing tools and their functions as well as to provide an introduction to statistical design of experiments (DOE).

By the use of DOE, a design is drawn up to determine which experiments are to be carried out and in what order. The data collected is subsequently analysed statistically to ensure that random or natural variations do not give rise to incorrect conclusions. In other words, it is possible to achieve much more valid conclusions on the tests and analyses performed.

Sunsil A/S participated in this project as a business case.

The company was in the process of developing a new generation of solar modules. It was necessary to keep the solar segments in place during lamination, and this was done with double sided tape. Apart from acting as an adhesive, there were a number of other requirements to the tape such as UV resistance and not being visible on the solar modules.

Plast Center Denmark carried out a large-scale accelerated experiment involving several types of double sided tape in collaboration with Aalborg University and FORCE Technology. This experiment is described in the report “Climate testing of double sided tape In solar modules”.

The project was finished in 2011.

A report describing the project have been prepared.

DMN members can read publications about the project in Danish here >

For further information, please contact:

• Dorte Walzl Bælum
• Network Director
• B.Sc. Chem. Eng., M.Sc. in Business
• M: 60 35 19 90
• E: dwb@dmn-net.com