EP2459465A1

EP2459465A1 - Shock-absorbing packaging element

Info

Publication number: EP2459465A1
Application number: EP10735015A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christof Zylla; Jens Assmann; Carsten Schips
Original assignee: BASF SE
Current assignee: BASF SE
Priority date: 2009-07-27
Filing date: 2010-07-27
Publication date: 2012-06-06
Also published as: WO2011012623A1

Abstract

A shock-absorbing packaging element (110) for protecting at least one product (112) sensitive to impact is proposed. The shock-absorbing packaging element (110) comprises at least one absorbing body (114). The absorbing body (114) comprises at least one ductile material. The absorbing body (114) further comprises at least one surface (116), which has absorbing ribbing in at least one region. The absorbing ribbing (122) has at least one V-notch (126) in the absorbing body (114).

Description

Shock absorbing packaging element Description Field of the invention

The invention relates to a shock-absorbing packaging element for protecting at least one shock-sensitive Guts and a method for producing a shock-absorbing packaging element. Such shock-absorbing packaging elements are used, for example, to avoid transport damage in sensible goods. These sensitive goods may be, for example, electrical appliances, machines, decorative items, wine bottles or other types of sensitive goods.

State of the art

Shock absorbing packaging elements are known from various fields of science and technology as well as everyday life. These shock-absorbing packaging elements can be designed, for example, as trays, half-sheep, edge protectors or generally as complete or partial enclosures of the product to be packaged. The Stoßdämpfendeπ packaging elements can be combined with other packaging elements, such as cardboard boxes. Thus, for example, a shock-sensitive good to be shipped or stored, individually or in a number of cases, can first be completely or partially protected with one or more shock-absorbing packaging elements and then inserted, for example, into a cardboard box. Several such cardboard boxes can then be recombined, for example to a pallet or a container.

During transport or storage, the shock-sensitive goods may be exposed to a variety of mechanical effects. These actions may include, for example, an impact on an object, a fall, or a hard element impact. This may include, for example, damage by forklift or dropping from a pallet or dropping when manually reloading. In general, therefore, the object of the shock-absorbing Verpackuπgselemente, which often protect valuable goods against mechanical overloads, for example, in shock or fall operations.

For this purpose, shock-absorbing packaging elements are on the move! tailored so that they represent optimal protection for the shock-sensitive goods for the respective case designs. The shock-absorbing packaging elements provide, in particular, a cushion which depends on the dimensioning and its design can be adapted to the respective conditions aπ. The design of such shock-absorbing packaging elements is basically known to those skilled in the art. For example, the design can be selected depending on the goods sensitivity, transport stresses, packaged goods weight or other parameters. In this case, for example, standardized dimensioning methods for the shock-absorbing packaging elements can be used, as described for example in DIN 55471, Part 2.

In many cases foam-like materials are used as cushioning materials in shock-absorbing packaging elements, in particular foamed plastics. In order for such foam packaging volume and thus Materia! savings and in order to reduce weight and costs, are in practice recesses in the

Foam moldings of the shock-absorbing packaging elements scheduled. As a constructive recesses are mainly trapezoidal, rectangular, round-arched or differently shaped recesses or combinations of these geometries in question. The recesses mentioned, for example, as

Notches be designed which are cut out of the foam moldings or otherwise worked out in the preparation. For example, under a load, such as a shock or a fall, they may be deformed to 90% of their original size.

One problem here is that in such deformations of the foam moldings occurring tensile and bending forces lead to internal stresses that can lead to tearing of the packaging. Upon re-loading, the foam package may be so severely damaged by breakage that its protective function as an energy absorber is lost. High loads occur especially in the case of impacts against the corners of a packaged item. This is known, for example, from EP 1 357 056 A1, which discloses a special corner profile for impact and load protection at the corners of packaged objects. Even with the packaging elements described there, however, a mechanical overloading can in principle occur, in particular with a renewed loading of the packaged goods. Especially with brittle EPS (Expanded Polystyrene), a typical foamed plastic for use in the packaging industry, the loss of structural integrity can lead to the loss of energy absorbing properties of the foam. This can damage the packaged goods.

One way to counteract the loss of structural integrity is to use specialized materials. For example, crack resistant, elasticized foams such as EPP (Expanded Polypropylene, Expanded Polypropylene) can be used instead of EPS. This is described for example in DE 296 08 026 U1. There is disclosed a flexible EPP corner, which for the protection of electronic or similar devices in packaging can serve. A disadvantage of this solution, however, is that the said elasticized foams are considerably more expensive, for example compared to EPS, and moreover generally have a lower energy absorption.

Another solution to the problem mentioned may consist of a combination of hard foam topcoats combined with soft foams. This is described for example in CA 2 358 165 A1. There is disclosed a retainer for glass panels having inner surfaces made at least in part of a compressible material and outer surfaces at least partially made of a material having a greater hardness. However, a disadvantage of this solution is that it requires a considerably more complicated production technique of the packaging. This, as well as the higher demands on the selection of materials, in many cases mean that the shock-absorbing packaging elements become unprofitable and there is an increased manufacturing effort.

Object of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a shock-absorbing packaging element and a method for its production, which the

Avoid disadvantages of known shock-absorbing packaging elements and manufacturing process. In particular, a structural integrity even with multiple load of

Packaging elements and the packaged Guts can be guaranteed, at the same time comparatively low demands on the choice of materials and the possibility of cost-effective production.

Disclosure of the invention

This object is achieved by a shock-absorbing packaging element and a method for producing a shock-absorbing packaging element, with the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention, which can be implemented individually or in combination, are shown in the dependent claims. The invention is based on a plurality of crack formation tests on conventional packaging elements in which damage has been investigated under standardized conditions, as can occur in particular in dynamic case loads. As stated above, such initial damage when reloaded can result in the shock-absorbing packaging elements completely losing their function. It was surprisingly found that just conventional geometric designs of packaging elements to a tend to have relatively high cracking. In the case of such conventional packaging elements, recesses, in particular in the form of ribs, which have a trapezoidal, circular arc-shaped, rectangular or round cross-section or combinations of the mentioned geometries as the base surface are frequently used, as stated above. It has surprisingly been found that such geometries are more or less prone to cracking under stress due to compression and thus can lead to the loss of structural integrity of the shock-absorbing packaging elements, in particular of foam moldings. Surprisingly, however, it has been found that notches with a triangular footprint can provide excellent geometric elements for volume savings, particularly in foam packages without tearing themselves under compression stress. Even at high compressions of up to 90% no tearing of the specimens was found in such geometries.

It is therefore proposed a shock-absorbing packaging element to protect at least one shock-sensitive Guts. In this case, a shock-absorbing packaging element is understood as meaning a packaging element, that is to say an element which at least partially surrounds the product to be packaged individually or in groups. For example, several similar or different types of packaging elements can be combined to protect the goods. In this case, the packaging element should have shock-absorbing properties, ie in comparison to an unprotected Good acting on the goods forces in a mechanical load, such as a shock or a case, reduce. The shock-sensitive Good can basically be designed arbitrarily, as already stated. For example, these may be electrical appliances, machines, porcelain vases or wine bottles, but also goods which in turn have packaging, such as packaged bulk or liquid goods whose outer packaging, which in turn is protected by the Verpackungsseiement, should not be damaged. In principle, therefore, any types of goods can be protected by the shock-absorbing packaging element.

The shock-absorbing packaging element comprises at least one damping body which has at least one deformable material. In particular, the deformable material may have plastic and / or elastic properties which lead to a deformation of the damping body in the event of normally occurring loads, for example during loads which normally occur during transport and / or storage.

The damping body has at least one surface. For example, this surface may be an inner surface facing the impact-sensitive material and / or at least one outer surface opposite the inner surface, ie one Surface facing away from shock-sensitive Good have. The measures described below can be realized with regard to the inner surface and / or with respect to the outer surface. Various configurations are possible.

The surface has a damping ribbing in at least one area. Under a damping ribbing is basically any configuration to understand in which in the otherwise preferably substantially smooth and / or continuous surface, one or more recesses are introduced. These recesses, wherein one or more such recesses may be provided, are hereinafter also referred to as ribs or damping ribs, regardless of their actual shape.

As already explained above, the experimental findings described above are implemented by the damping ribbing comprising at least one pointed notch in the damping body. A notch is a recess which has substantially no bottom, as is the case, for example, with the above-described trapezoidal, U-shaped or round recesses known in the art. Instead, the notch represents a recess whose side walls, preferably exactly two or even three or four or more side walls may be provided from the surface obliquely to the surface, that is, in particular at an angle deviating from 90 ° in the damping body lost to meet there. The angle at which the side walls meet is also referred to below as the point angle. This Spitzenπwinkel can basically have any angle <180 °, for example, an acute angle or an obtuse angle !. Particularly preferred is an embodiment with point angles <150 °, in particular <120 ° and particularly advantageous <90 °. The illustrated geometry of the shock-absorbing packaging element has numerous advantages over conventional geometries. However, a combination of the described notches with conventional ribs, such as trapezoidal ribs, U-shaped ribs or round ribs, but in principle possible. In the experiments, which are shown in part below, it was shown for the first time that pointed notches, for example in the form of triangular notches, in particular in foam moldings, are more suitable as a structural element for saving volume than the geometries commonly used. In particular, it could be shown that tearing of the foam test specimens was prevented even at very high compression, so that even multiple loads should not lead to loss of function of the shock-absorbing packaging elements. This effect is surprising in that pointed notches, in particular with a triangular base, are normally introduced in compact materials for targeted crack generation. Examples are the artificially introduced pointed or V-notches in the Charpy notch impact test, as described, for example, in DiN EN 10045. Without limiting the invention by this theory, it can be presumed that in the present case, the prevention of cracking can be attributed to the foam structure of the specimens used, which was composed of foam cells. In particular, a different crack propagation mechanism than in the case of compact materials may be present in these, so that a pointed notch, in particular a triangular notch, is advantageous under load. However, these advantages can also be realized in principle in other materials.

The illustrated invention can be advantageously developed in various ways. Thus, as stated above, the surface in which the at least one pointed notch is introduced can in principle be made geometrically arbitrary, that is, for example, it may also be curved or curved or even angular. However, it is particularly preferred if this surface is designed substantially flat at least in the region of the notch. In this way, the substantially planar surface comes in contact at all or several points simultaneously with a planar mechanical body which exerts a load on the packaged product, for example a bottom surface in case loading. Starting from this earth contact is then a uniform compression in which the at least one notch can bring out their advantages shown above particularly well.

By "substantially planar", a completely flat configuration can be understood, but also a configuration which deviates slightly from a planar shape, for example, deviations can occasionally be tolerated by material irregularities, for example by individual foamed grains of a foamed material Even in the planar embodiment, there is a roughness, which is due to the material properties and which should still be encompassed by the term "substantially flat". In addition, in principle also slight curvatures in the surface, preferably foundations with a radius of curvature of not less than 0.2 m, can be tolerated.

The notch can in a sectional plane perpendicular to the surface in particular have a triangular profile, wherein the surface or its continuation within the notch may form a side of the triangle, which is opposite to the apex angle. The pointed notch may in particular have the shape of an elongate groove with a triangular profile. In particular, this groove can extend linearly, for example parallel to an edge of the packaging element and / or to packaging goods. However, a curved course of the groove is also possible in principle. It can also be provided a plurality of grooves, for example, a plurality of parallel, elongate grooves. Alternatively or in addition to the configuration of the notch as a groove but also another embodiment of the notch comes into consideration. For example, a shape of a punctiform depression with a triangular profile can be provided. For example, this can be a depression with a cross-section that is substantially rectangular, in particular square, in a viewing direction on the surface. In this case, for example, four Seitenπwände the groove may be provided, which, starting from the surface, obliquely to the surface into the damping body into it to meet there, for example, in a line or a point at one or more point angles. Thus, one and the same notch can also have several point angles, depending on the orientation of the section plane. In particular, such a punctiform depression can thus have the shape of a pyramid and / or a tetrahedron and / or a prism.

The pointed notch preferably has a substantially triangular profile in at least one cutting plane perpendicular to the surface. By "substantially", a slight deviation from this triangular profile, in particular in the region of the deepest point of the pointed notch within the damping body, can also be tolerated If foamed plastics are used, for example, as explained in more detail below, which in many cases have a granular structure and, for example, be made from pre-expanded particles, it may be the case that such pre-expanded particles come to lie exactly in the region of the point of the notch, Such deviations from the triangular geometry, which typically include disturbances of the order of no more than 6 mm, However, in principle, the sidewalls of the pointed notch, together with a third side to be completed, for example a continuous continuation of the surface, but preferably a triangular-shaped geometry, can exhibit this triangular profile may be formed substantially isosceles, for example, so that the notch preferably forms an isosceles triangle in section.

As already mentioned above, the at least one pointed notch can be used at different locations on the surface. In particular, this at least one pointed notch may be disposed on the at least one inner surface facing the impact-sensitive good. Alternatively or additionally, however, the damping ribbing with the at least one pointed notch can also be arranged on the outer surface, that is to say the surface facing away from the shock-sensitive good to be protected. Various configurations are possible. As already mentioned above several times, the deformable material, which forms the damping body and / or is part of the damping body, in particular comprising at least one foamed plastic and / or be a foamed plastic, in particular, the foamed plastic may comprise one or more of the following plastics: a polystyrene; a polyethylene; a polypropylene, It is particularly preferred if non-elasticized, inexpensive foamed plastics are used, such as polystyrene in the form of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene). An advantage of the proposed shock-absorbing packaging element is precisely that such non-elasticized foams can be used because the tendency to cracking according to the invention by selecting a suitable geometry is reduced. At the same time, EPS is distinguished from elasticized foams in that it has a comparatively high energy absorption.

In particular, the foamed plastic can be produced from prefoamed particles. These prefoamed particles may, for example, on average have a particle size between 2 and 6 mm, preferably between 3 and 4 mm. Correspondingly, disturbances, that is to say deviations from a pointed shape, can also be provided in the size of one or more particles which signify a deviation from this perfect pointed notch shape. These are exceptions.

Besides the shock-absorbing packing member in one or more of the above-described embodiments, there is further provided a method of manufacturing a shock-absorbing packing member for protecting at least one shock-absorbing member

Guts proposed. In particular, it may be a shock-absorbing

Packaging element according to one or more of the above

Embodiments act, so that for possible embodiments of the shock-absorbing packaging element in the above description or to the following

Description of embodiments may be referenced.

The shock-absorbing packaging element has at least one damping body with at least one deformable material. The damping body in turn has at least one surface and is configured in the method such that the surface has a damping ribbing in at least one area. This damping beripuπg comprises at least one pointed notch in the damping body.

The damping ribbing can be designed according to conventional construction methods and can form an important element for load distribution in order to guarantee a uniform setting of the foam pad, in particular under impact loading. With regard to such conventional Koπstruktionsverfahren for planning the damping ribbing, for example, refer to DIN 55471, Part 2. In the proposed method, to determine a dimensioning of the at least one pointed notch, for example, first of all a desired cushioning surface be determined. The cushion surface is the surface of the damping ribbing, with which this actually rests on a flat support surface. The cushion surface is reduced due to the recesses by the damping ribbing in the Regge over the entire surface, so that a uniform surface pressure is obtained in Belastungsfali. The padding surface can be determined for example from the Schaumstoffrohdichte, the Packgutgewicht, an assumed drop height and a shock factor or a packaged goods sensitivity with the help of standardized or predetermined by the manufacturer of the deformable materials upholstery diagrams. For example, reference may be made in this regard to the brochure "Styropor® - Dimensioning of Shock-Absorbing Foam Packaging", Technical Information, December 2005, available from BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen, Germany The damping body may then be designed such that it is in at least one surface In this way, with the aid of the pointed notches, the entire surface can be reduced to the desired padding surface since corresponding notches are provided by the pointed notches. Overall, it is therefore, as shown above, preferred to determine the desired cushion surface of one or more of the following variables: a known bulk density of the damping body, a Packgutgewicht the shock-sensitive Guts; ei an assumed case height; a packaged goods sensitivity; a cushion thickness. The determination of the desired cushion surface can be carried out according to standardized methods, in particular according to DIN 55471. Even if no optimization is carried out, in particular no exact calculation of the desired cushion surface, it is generally possible by the provision of the pointed notches to reduce the weight of the damping body and thus save material, without increasing the crack formation under load.

Overall, it is possible by means of the proposed method to produce a shock-absorbing packaging element which can resort to cost-effective materials, in particular materials with high energy absorption, while at the same time the proposed at least one pointed notch constructively achieves increased crack resistance than conventional recesses with trapezoidal, round-arched, rectangular or round geometry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES Further details and features of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments, in particular in conjunction with FIG the dependent claims. In this case, the respective features can be implemented on their own or in combination with one another. The invention is not limited to the embodiments. The embodiments are shown schematically in the figures. The same reference numerals in the individual figures designate the same or functionally identical or with respect to their functions corresponding elements.

1 shows a sectional view of a conventional shock-absorbing

Packaging elements with a damping ribbing with trapezoidal profile;

FIGS. 2A

and 2B embodiments according to the invention of a shock-absorbing

Packaging element with a damping ribbing with pointed notches;

FIGS. 3A

up to 3C high-speed recordings of compression tests on one

Test specimen with inventive notch;

Figures 4 A

to 4C high-speed recordings of compression tests on one

Reference body with trapezoidal recess; Figures 5A

to 5E geometries of different specimens for a first series of experiments, with FIG

Fig. 5A shows a notch according to the invention and Figs. 5B to 5E show other non-inventive configurations of the recesses; and

FIGS. 6A

FIGS. 6A to 6E show geometrical embodiments of test specimens of a second test series, wherein FIG. 6A again shows a notched groove according to the invention and FIGS. 6B to 6E show other embodiments of recesses not according to the invention.

embodiments

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a conventional shock-absorbing packaging element 10, whereas FIGS. 2A and 2B show two different ones

Embodiments of inventive shock-absorbing packaging elements show. FIGS. 2A and 2B are intended to further clarify that the selection of different pointed notch geometries can realize differently sized recesses on the shock-absorbing packaging element 110, whereby the requirements for packaging design can be met.

The shock-damped packaging elements are arranged to protect at least one shock-sensitive material 112, which is only indicated in the figures, from mechanical stresses, such as, for example, a shock or a fall. For this purpose, the shock-absorbing packaging elements 110 have a damping body 114 made of a deformable material, for example EPS.

The damping body 1 14 has a surface 116 which can be roughly subdivided, for example, into an inner surface 1 18 facing the impact-sensitive material 112 and an outer surface 120 opposite the inner surface 118.

The surface 1 16 has a damping ribbing 122 to improve the shock-absorbing properties and / or to reduce the weight of the damping body 1 14. In the illustrated case, this damping ribbing 122 is provided only in the outer surface 120, but in an analogous manner, alternatively or additionally, the inner surface 118 could also have such a damping ribbing 120.

The outer surface is, without limitation, possible other embodiments in the illustrated embodiments substantially planar and here, for example, parallel to the inner surface 1 18. The Dämpfungsberippung 122 each includes recesses 124 in the surface 116. These recesses are in the state of Technology corresponding embodiment according to Figure 1 designed trapezoidal. In the embodiments according to the invention in Figures 2A and 2B, however, these recesses 124 are configured in the form of pointed notches 126. These pointed notches 126 each comprise side walls 128 extending from the surface 116, which extend at an angle to one another and meet at a point angle, which is denoted by α in FIG. 2A by way of example. The side walls 128 may preferably be flat, but may in principle also have a slight curvature. For example, these may run curved convex toward the recess 124. However, a flat configuration is preferred.

The exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 2A and 2B differ only with regard to the number of pointed notches 126 and / or tip angle α and / or the depth of the pointed notches 126. By means of these parameters, for example a pad thickness and / or a pad surface can be set, for example by the Number of the notches 126 and the tip angle α is specified by how much the outer surface 120 is reduced by the recesses 124 to the actual pad area. These Sizes thus represent design factors, for example in the adjustment of the cushion surface and the adaptation to a desired cushion surface.

In order to test the effectiveness of the improvement of the shock-absorbing packaging element 110 by using notches 126 instead of other geometries, such as the conventional trapezoidal notches 124 shown in Figure 1, various comparative experiments were performed.

From an EPS foam block (Styrofoam P 226 from BASF SE, density 20 g / l) 10 foam cubes with an edge length of 5 cm and a volume of 125 ml were cut out. These foam cubes were then each split in half on two series Ka and Kb and cut out notches of different geometry.

These different geometries are shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E and FIGS. 6A to 6E. The data in these figures are in each case the dimensions in millimeters. The indication R in each case designates a radius, also indicated in millimeters.

The series Ka, which is shown in FIGS. 5A to 5E, comprises test bodies each having the same volume of approximately 95 ml. For the sake of simplicity, the test body shown in FIG. 5A and having a pointed notch according to the invention is denoted by Ka 1, and the test specimens are not - inventive recesses in Figures 5B to 5E with Ka2, Ka3, Ka4 and Ka5. Analogously, the series Kb, which is shown in FIGS. 6A to 6E, includes test specimens with the same volume of approximately 106.5 ml. Due to the manufacturing tolerances, the volume, as well as in the series Ka ₁ , can be approximately ± 2 fluctuate. In an analogous manner, for the sake of simplicity, the sample bodies with the pointed notch-shaped recess according to the invention are designated Kb1 in FIG. 6A, and the sample bodies with the non-inventive cutouts in FIGS. 6B to 6E with Kb2, Kb3, Kb4 and Kb5. Overall, therefore, in the designations each number designates the shape of the recess, where 1 stands for a triangle, 2 denotes a trapezoid, 3 a trapezoid with round arch, 4 a round arch and 5 a rectangle. All test specimens are shown in Figures 5A to 6E each with dimensions.

For the tests, the notched specimens according to EN ISO 4651 at 23 ° C with a falling mass of 8.26 kg and a test speed of 3.83 m / s at a shock factor G ₁ so a ratio of height of fall h to thickness of the sample d of 15 compressed to about 90% of the original size. During the compression of the specimens, the time course of the force-displacement diagram was recorded. All experiments were additionally filmed with a high-speed camera at 500 frames per second. By way of example, two examples of these film recordings are shown in image sequences in FIGS. 3A to 3C and 4A to 4C. The FIGS. 3A to 3C show compression tests on the test body Kb1 with the pointed notch according to the invention, whereas FIGS. 4A to 4C show upsetting tests on a test specimen with a not-inventive recess of the Kb2 type. FIGS. 3A and 4A respectively denote the non-compressed state before the test, FIGS. 3A and 3B the compressed state, and FIGS. 3C and 4C the test specimen after the compression test.

It can clearly be seen that in the test piece with the non-inventive, trapezoidal recess in Figures 4A to 4C tearing occurs during compression. The cracks in the test piece are designated by the reference numeral 130 in FIGS. 4B and 4C. In the test body 3A to 3C, which has a notch recess according to the invention, however, no such cracking is recorded. The time of rupture was determined from the high-speed films, which was assigned from the force-displacement diagrams, the associated energy uptake to the crack. This was done by integration over the curve of the force-displacement diagram.

Table 1: Notched specimens with a constant volume of approx. 95 ml

Table 2: Notched specimens with a constant volume of approx. 106.5 ml Tables 1 and 2 summarize the results of the above measurement. Here, Table 1 shows the series Ka in FIGS. 5A to 5E ₁ and Table 2 shows measurement results of the series Kb according to FIGS. 6A to 6E. These results clearly show that from all possible geometries surprisingly the inventive notches (samples Ka1 and Kb1) have no crack formation. As shown above, this result is surprising because pointed notches are being used for notched impact testing for targeted cracking. However, the tests listed show that this prejudice against a Spitzkerbe geometry, especially in damping bodies made of foams, unfounded, and that such a notch geometries are even distinguished from other geometries. Even with a previously uniquely upset specimens, such as the test specimen shown in Figure 3C with the inventive notch geometry, carried out on a re-load without the shock-absorbing packaging element has lost its function to any significant extent and / or without this being subject to breakage. However, the upset with cracks 130 upset specimens can lead to fractures in a re-load, so that such specimens can completely lose their function and thus are unsuitable for repeated loading.

As an alternative to the Styrofoam P 226 EPS foam blocks described above, foam blocks having the described geometries made from expanded granules as described below were also used. For this purpose, the expandable granules described below with water vapor in a prefoamer to foam particles were prefoamed and processed in a mold to form EPS foam blocks according to the geometries shown above.

The expandable granules were prepared by a melt impregnation process. The recipe included polystyrene (PS 158K, BASF, 71, 0 phr), polyolefins (LLDPE 1201 XV, Exxon Mobil, 13.0 phr, Engage 841 1, DOW, 7.0 phr), styrenic copolymers (Kraton G 1650E, Kraton Polymers, 2.5 phr; Styrolux 3G55, BASF, 6.0 phr) and talc, added as concentrate granules in polystyrene (50 wt% talc Luzenac Pharma in PS 158K, 1.0 phr). All ingredients are reported as weight based values as "phr" (parts per hundred). Due to this procedure, the mixture may exceed 100 phr. Subsequently, the polymers as well as the talc feed were introduced by means of a cold-extruder into a co-rotating twin-screw extruder (Berstorff, thread diameter 40 mm, thread 42 D), with Kraton G1650E added either by cold-extruding or alternatively , Was added directly to the already molten polymer by means of a twin-threaded feeder. The extruder was operated at a thread speed of about 200 rpm. Due to the Thread designs, all polymers were melted and the other ingredients were homogeneously incorporated into the melt. Subsequently, the melt was transferred to a series of static mixers and heat exchangers, and the physical blowing agent isopentane (purity 95%, Haitermann, 6.5 phr) was added to the first static mixer. Due to the mixer design, the blowing agent was dissolved in the melt and the mixture was cooled. The throughput was 70 kg / h in total.

The entire mixture was pressurized via an inlet pressure controlled gear pump (inlet pressure 40 bar) installed at the extruder exit to a bypass valve and an electrically heated die for granulating the material (die head diameter 0.6 mm, 49 die head diameter). Holes, die plate temperature about 270 ⁰ C) to flow through. The die plate design was chosen to ensure a Newtonian wall shear rate of at least 15,000 / s, in this case about 20,000 / s. The Newtonian wall shear rate f _{w Newton was} calculated

Where m is the total mass flow rate, n _{f is} the number of nozzle head holes, ρ _{m is} the density of the melt, and d is the nozzle head hole diameter. The material was granulated in the presence of water pressure (about 8 bar) at a water temperature of about 45 ° C. The melting temperature immediately before the granulation was about 203 ⁰ C. The resulting die head outlet pressure of the melt was about 200 bar. The mean final particle size of the expandable granules was approximately 1.25 mm, as determined by an ongoing sieve analysis.

Bezugszeicheπliste

1 10 shock-absorbing packaging element 1 12 shock-sensitive material

1 14 damping body

1 16 surface

1 18 inner surface

120 outer surface

122 damping ribbing

124 recesses

126 pointed notches

128 side walls

130 crack

Claims

claims

1. Shock-absorbing packaging element (1 10) for protecting at least one

shock-sensitive material (112), comprising at least one damping body (114), wherein the damping body (1 14) comprises at least one deformable material, wherein the damping body (1 14) has at least one surface (116), wherein the surface (116) in at least a region comprises a damping ribbing (122), wherein the damping ribbing (122) comprises at least one pointed notch (126) in the damping body (114).

2. Shock absorbing packaging element (1 10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the surface (1 16) at least in the region of the notch (126) in the

Essentially just designed.

3. Shock absorbing packaging element (1 10) according to one of the preceding

Claims wherein the pointed notch (126) has one or more of the following shapes: a shape of an elongated groove of triangular profile,

in particular a linear groove; a form of punctiform depression with a triangular profile.

4. shock-absorbing packaging element (1 10) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the notch (126) in at least one sectional plane perpendicular to the surface (1 16) has a substantially triangular profile.

5. shock-absorbing packaging element (1 10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the triangular profile is formed substantially isosceles.

6. Shock-absorbing packaging element (110) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the surface (1 16) at least one of the shock-sensitive Good

(112) facing inner surface (118) and at least one of the inner

Surface (118) opposite outer surface (120), wherein the pointed notch (126) in the inner surface (118) and / or the outer surface (120) is introduced.

7. Shock absorbing packaging element (110) according to one of the preceding

Claims wherein the pointed notch (126) has a point angle which is less than 150 °, preferably less than 120 °, and more preferably less than 90 °.

8. Shock absorbing packaging element (110) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the deformable material at least one foamed

Plastic includes.

9. Shock vapors of the packaging element (110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the foamed plastic comprises one or more of the following plastics: a polystyrene; a polyethylene; a polypropylene.

10. Shock-absorbing packing element (110) according to one of the preceding

Claims, wherein the foamed plastic can be produced from prefoamed particles.

11. Shock absorbing packaging element (1 10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the prefoamed particles have an average particle size between 2 and 6 mm, preferably between 3 and 4 mm.

12. A method for producing a shock-absorbing packaging element (110) for protecting at least one shock-sensitive Guts (1 12), in particular a shock-absorbing packaging element (110) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the shock-absorbing packaging element (110) at least one damping body (114) with at least a deformable material, wherein the damping body (114) at least one surface (1 16), wherein the damping body (114) is configured such that the surface (116) in at least one region has a damping ribbing (122), wherein the damping ribbing (122) at least one pointed notch (126) in the

Damping body (114) comprises.

13. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the determination of a

Dimensioning the notch (126) a desired cushion surface is determined, wherein the damping body (114) is configured such that in at least one surface (116) at least one pointed notch (126), wherein the

Notched notch (126) is dimensioned such that a pad surface of the surface (116) corresponds to the desired pad surface.

14. The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the desired cushion surface is determined from one or more of the following sizes: a known bulk density of the damping body (1 14); a Packgutgewicht the

shock-sensitive material (112); an assumed case height; one

Packgutempfindlichkeit; a cushion thickness.

15. The method according to one of the two preceding claims, wherein the determination of the desired cushion surface according to DIN 55471 takes place.