Degradation of polymers

The long-term durability and recyclability of polymer materials are becoming increasingly vital to our society. For almost all technical applications of polymers, a slow degradation during use will lead to longer service life. This is good for product reliability and for the CO2 footprint per year.

Slow and controlled degradation is also essential for recyclability since it will allow products to be recycled – even after many years of service – into new products of a similar type. The only negative effect of slow polymer degradation is accumulation of plastic waste – should the product by mistake find its way into nature.

The seminar provides state-of-the art knowledge on degradation of polymers covering both fundamental degradation principles and mechanisms involved. It will also feature industrial case stories highlighting the opportunities and limitations of currently used products and technologies.

Designers and mechanical engineers in production companies. Quality assurance people in general, as well as medical device or food processing equipment manufacturers – or other business segments with a high focus on polymer safety and reliability in harsh environments.

This seminar was organized in collaboration with our surface steering group Anette Alsted Rasmussen (Corrosion Advice) and Peter Torben Tang (IPU) and polymer steering group member Edwin Groothuis (Erteco Rubber and Plastics AB).

Anders Daugaard, Associate Professor, DTU – Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering

This presentation will take a starting point in polymer degradation and the primary mechanisms of degradation. For different polymer systems, there are very different mechanisms and these govern the possibilities for recycling and the possibilities of repairing damage to the polymer backbone during recycling. Through examples of different plastics investigated directly after processing or after a life-cycle, the presentation will conclude with an evaluation of the potentials and the critical factors for these systems.

Anders Egede Daugaard received his Ph.D. from DTU in 2009 and is currently an Associate Professor in polymer chemistry at the Danish Polymer Centre, Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, DTU. His main research interests are the characterization and preparation of functional polymer materials and the surface modification of polymers or (nano)particles by macromolecular synthesis. Recently, this has led to a range of new bio-based polymers for sustainable use of plastics, improved recycling of end-of-life plastics, and preparation of biopolymer-based composites employing waste as a resource.

Sanita Zike, Materials Testing Manager, Lego Group

At LEGO, we aim for our bricks to last for generations, allowing parents to pass down their childhood bricks to their children. To ensure this longevity, we must preserve the initially designed functionality of LEGO bricks. A key feature of LEGO bricks is their ability to be attached and detached repeatedly. To support this, we study material behavior under constant stress and strain. In addition, the principle of time-temperature superposition is applied to test the stability of newly designed bricks.

This presentation will introduce participants to LEGO’s methods for ensuring the functional longevity of LEGO bricks.

Sanita Zik has been working as a Materials Testing Manager at the LEGO Group for nearly five years. Her professional experience is related to mechanical characterization of various materials such as plastics, metals and composites.

11:20 - 11:50 Coffee and networking break

Maja Hirchel Mikkelsen, Product Developer, Aage Vestergaard Larsen A/S

This presentation will explore how polymer degradation is approached and managed within a plastic recycling facility. We will discuss how degradation can impact the quality of our plastic and potential challenges related to meeting customer specifications. We will explore key degradation mechanisms and their impact on material properties.

Strategies to reduce degradation during processing, including optimization techniques and stabilization measures, will also be discussed, highlighting our efforts to ensure consistent product quality and performance.

Maja Hirchel Mikkelsen holds a master’s degree in Material Technology with experience as Product Developers and Project Managers at Aage Vestergaard Larsen. She is skilled in managing interdisciplinary projects, focusing on material development, polymer processing and sustainability related to plastic recycling.

Daniel Minzari, Specialist Engineer, M.Sc., Ph.D., IPU

This presentation shares the experiences of IPU on polymer degradation, caused by sanitization processes such as UVC irradiation, cleaning agents/detergents, and vaporized hydrogen peroxide (VHP) processes. Through real-world examples, we will explore how these methods impact polymer durability and performance. The presentation will highlight the combined effects of these sanitization techniques and the influences from what is not in the product datasheet, such as fillers, additives, and pigments on degradation mechanisms. The examples are based on critical applications, ex. maintaining material integrity in aseptic cleanroom environments

Daniel Minzari, Ph.D. (Materials Science), has worked as specialist in surface- and materials technology at IPU during the last 14 years with extensive experience in process- and technology development projects related to materials integrity, surface degradation, hygienic surfaces and impact from sanitization processes.

14:00 -14:35 How to fast assess the degradation of PA6.6 in a hot wet environment?
Morten V. Ørsnæs, Lead Material Specialist – Polymers, Grundfos Holding

PA6.6-GF30 is the “state of the Art” material for use in pump housings for boilers and heat pumps. However, PA degrades in contact with hot water, so it is important to know the rate of degradation for a specific material under a given temperature profile.

The degradation model previously used by Grundfos took four years to develop. However, with the increased demand for agility in global markets, it is not realistic to use that long time to evaluate a potential new material. Over the past two years, we have been working on a new approach to evaluate the lifetime of a material with only 1.000 h of testing.

Morten V. Ørsnæs holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering. He has been working at Grundfos as a Material Specialist within polymers for almost 30 years, with a main focus on lifetime prediction of thermoplastics.

Ditte Andreasen Søborg, Head of research, Associate Professor, ph.d, Via University College

Polyethylene (PE) has been the most used pipe material for drinking water systems in Denmark since the 1980’s. Recently, various organic compounds have been found to migrate from plastic pipes to drinking water. When new PE pipes are installed in the drinking water system, a biofilm starts developing on the inner pipe surface. In the initial stages of biofilm formation, the organics leaching from the PE pipes may affect the composition of the biofilm and negatively impact the microbiological water quality.

On the positive side, this suggests that microorganisms can grow on and degrade the organic substances, reducing consumer’s exposure.

Gaining a deeper understanding of how biofilms form on newly commissioned PE pipes can help improve commissioning procedures for water utilities.

Ditte A. Søborg is a Researcher, Teacher and Head of the Program in Water Technology at VIA University College, Horsens. She holds a PhD in molecular microbiology and has been specializing in water technology as part of VIA since 2014. Ditte leads research focused on drinking water systems, biofilms, and environmental microbiology.

Camilla Marie Larsen, Material Engineer, Polytech

At Polytech we aim to make wind the preferred source of energy by improving the durability and performance of wind turbines. This is targeted by adding solutions that last a lifetime. BUT wind turbines all over the world are exposed to weathering and amongst other UV radiation – regardless of whether they are installed in a cold or warm climate. It is therefore key to understand how UV radiation degrade our materials both within controlled settings and the correlation to real-life environments. Furthermore, it is critical to understand which material properties are influenced by this and how to measure it. The learnings will allow material developers to better understand how different material choices will affect the lifetime of future material.

Camilla Marie Larsen and Anne Vetter Poulsen both holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering. Their everyday focus is on material development balancing material properties and processability.

Anne Vetter Poulsen, Lead Engineer, Polytech

Anne Vetter Poulsen and Camilla Marie Larsen both holds a master’s degree in chemical engineering. Their everyday focus is on material development balancing material properties and processability.

16:10 -16:15 Closing remark

 DKK 2,845 Members of Teknologisk Videndeling and promoting partners listed in the registration form

 DKK 3,395 Non-members

 DKK 1,125 PhD Students

 DKK 200 BSc and MSc students (To register as student you need to have a membership, which is free of charge for students – register here.)

All prices are excluded of Danish VAT 25 %.

Early bird discount of DKK 300 when restringing before 19 December 2024.

Early-bird discount does not apply to BSc, MSc and PhD students.