Bachelor’s thesis or master’s thesis
© IKVThematic Classification of your Thesis:
The packaging industry faces a significant regulatory and technological challenge: Starting 2030, manufacturers will be required to incorporate a specified minimum proportion of recycled content in packaging. This mandate aims to reduce resource consumption and to strengthen the circular economy within the field of plastic packaging.
In practice, there are currently limitations associated with post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials, particularly regarding the necessary barrier properties. Of primary concern is the reliable retention of potentially migrating substances, which is critical for a wide range of packaging applications.
Against this backdrop, our plasma research group aims to enhance the barrier performance of PCR-based packaging materials through the targeted application of plasma technology. The focus lies on the development of effective migration barriers, enabling the safe use of recycled materials in demanding packaging systems. The objective is to provide industry with a technologically robust and economically viable solution that consistently meets required quality and safety standards.
Despite our extensive expertise in the development of barrier coatings, there remains substantial potential for technological advancement. The process gas required for the PECVD process is introduced into the substrate to be coated via gas lances. In order to ensure a homogeneous gas distribution, which is essential for the uniform formation of the barrier layer, a fluid-dynamic optimisation of the gas lances is required.This approach enables a significant enhancement of the barrier layer performance.
Scope of your Thesis:
In this thesis, a simulation model will be developed to describe the gas distribution in hollow-body samples coated in our plasma reactor using PECVD. The objective is to model and evaluate the flow and distribution characteristics of the process gases in order to ensure the most homogeneous possible gas distribution within the hollow bodies. To this end, various geometries will be investigated, with particular emphasis on systematically varying the gas inlet configuration to achieve a uniform and efficient flow throughout the interior of the hollow bodies.
For the stepwise development and improved understanding of the model, simplified cylindrical geometries will initially be simulated. Building on these results, the approach will then be extended to more complex hollow body structures.
Finally, the developed model will be experimentally validated using one of our reactors, allowing the simulation results to be compared with real process conditions and their predictive accuracy to be assessed. Depending on the scope of the project, the methodology may further be applied to additional complex geometries, which will also be experimentally validated.
I will assist you in familiarising yourself with the broad field of plasma coatings and take your creative ideas into consideration. Close supervision is essential, particularly for thesis projects, and will serve as the foundation for your successful completion.
Work Packages:
| For a Bachelor`s thesis, you will address the following tasks: | Additionally for a Master`s thesis: |
| Development of a simulation model to describe gas distribution within a cylindrical hollow body | Extension and adaptation of the model to more complex geometries, including the investigation of gas flow in close proximity to the walls |
| Experimental validation of the developed simulation model | Experimental verification of the simulation results for the extended geometries |
The specific content and timeline of your thesis will, of course, be determined in consultation with you, taking your prior knowledge into account.
Your Profile:
- Technical or scientific degree (e.g. mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, materials science, environmental engineering…)
- Willingness to learn and familiarize yourself with new problems relating to plasma technology
- Independent and structured way of working
- Initial experience in a laboratory environment is desirable, but not necessary
- · Initial experience with simulation work is desirable, but not essential
AG Plasma offers you a dynamic, young team in which you and your skills can grow during the course of your thesis, with clear objectives and diverse tasks. If you are interested in contributing to the field of plastics processing with your creative ideas, please feel free to get in touch with me!