Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination"
Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination"
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Job description
The Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) has the following vacancy
Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination"
in the section Mechanics of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The postdoc position is available in the section Mechanics of Materials and will be supervised by prof. Marc Geers and dr. Hans van Dommelen.
Section description
The research activities of the section Mechanics of Materials concentrate on the fundamental understanding of various macroscopic problems in materials processing, forming and application, which emerge from the physics and the mechanics of the underlying material microstructure. The main challenge is the accurate prediction of mechanical properties of materials with complex microstructures, with a direct focus on industrial needs. The thorough understanding and modelling of 'unit' processes that can be identified in the complex evolving microstructure is thereby a key issue. The section has a unique research infrastructure, both from an experimental and computational perspective.
Air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination
Packaging steels are nowadays widely used in the beverage and food industry. These steel sheets are covered with a coating for preserving the quality of the content, preventing corrosion and enabling printability at the outside. Such coatings need to comply with strict health and environmental regulations. For this reason, thermoplastic polymers are nowadays used, which are laminated and bonded on the packaging steel. This industrial lamination process needs to handle large volumes at large speeds. However, at high line speeds, air bubbles get entrapped between the polymer coating and the steel substrate, which severely affect the quality of the final product. The physics governing this air entrapment process is poorly understood, and the relation with overall process parameters is critical in controlling this.
Project description
This project will address the problem of air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination, using a two-scale modelling strategy, complemented by experiments, and will be a collaboration with Tata Steel. The coarse scale is modelled to establish the link between processing parameters (line speed, roll pressure, temperature, etc.) and the actual loading conditions in the lamination nip where the film is bonded. The fine scale model descends to the level of the roughness asperities of the steel sheet, where the plastic flow of the film at high temperature into the roughness valleys is explicitly studied. At this scale, the formation of air bubbles due to incomplete filling or bonding, will be studied. By coupling the scales, a proper understanding of the emergence of entrapped air bubbles will be developed over the entire process, which will enable optimization of the lamination process by Tata Steel.
Tasks
As a Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination" you will fulfil the following activities:
Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination"
in the section Mechanics of Materials, Department of Mechanical Engineering.
The postdoc position is available in the section Mechanics of Materials and will be supervised by prof. Marc Geers and dr. Hans van Dommelen.
Section description
The research activities of the section Mechanics of Materials concentrate on the fundamental understanding of various macroscopic problems in materials processing, forming and application, which emerge from the physics and the mechanics of the underlying material microstructure. The main challenge is the accurate prediction of mechanical properties of materials with complex microstructures, with a direct focus on industrial needs. The thorough understanding and modelling of 'unit' processes that can be identified in the complex evolving microstructure is thereby a key issue. The section has a unique research infrastructure, both from an experimental and computational perspective.
Air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination
Packaging steels are nowadays widely used in the beverage and food industry. These steel sheets are covered with a coating for preserving the quality of the content, preventing corrosion and enabling printability at the outside. Such coatings need to comply with strict health and environmental regulations. For this reason, thermoplastic polymers are nowadays used, which are laminated and bonded on the packaging steel. This industrial lamination process needs to handle large volumes at large speeds. However, at high line speeds, air bubbles get entrapped between the polymer coating and the steel substrate, which severely affect the quality of the final product. The physics governing this air entrapment process is poorly understood, and the relation with overall process parameters is critical in controlling this.
Project description
This project will address the problem of air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination, using a two-scale modelling strategy, complemented by experiments, and will be a collaboration with Tata Steel. The coarse scale is modelled to establish the link between processing parameters (line speed, roll pressure, temperature, etc.) and the actual loading conditions in the lamination nip where the film is bonded. The fine scale model descends to the level of the roughness asperities of the steel sheet, where the plastic flow of the film at high temperature into the roughness valleys is explicitly studied. At this scale, the formation of air bubbles due to incomplete filling or bonding, will be studied. By coupling the scales, a proper understanding of the emergence of entrapped air bubbles will be developed over the entire process, which will enable optimization of the lamination process by Tata Steel.
Tasks
As a Postdoc "Unravelling air entrapment during polymer thin film lamination" you will fulfil the following activities:
- Perform scientific research.
- Present results on international conferences and publish results in scientific journals.
- Report progress.
- Contribute to the educational program in the department.
Specifications
- max. 38 hours per week
- Eindhoven View on Google Maps
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Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e)
Requirements
Qualification of applicant
Talented, enthusiastic candidates with excellent analytical and communication skills holding a PhD degree in computational mechanics, polymer mechanics, or applied mathematics are encouraged to apply. Experience in multi-scale modelling and micromechanics is of benefit.
Talented, enthusiastic candidates with excellent analytical and communication skills holding a PhD degree in computational mechanics, polymer mechanics, or applied mathematics are encouraged to apply. Experience in multi-scale modelling and micromechanics is of benefit.
Conditions of employment
A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:
- Full-time employment for 2years.
- Depending on knowledge and experience, the salary will amount to a minimum of € 2.960,- and a maximum of € 4.670,- (salary scale 10) gross per month under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
- A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
- High-quality training programs on general skills, didactics and topics related to research and valorization.
- An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
- Partially paid parental leave and an allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
- A TU/e Postdoc Association that helps you to build a stronger and broader academic and personal network, and offers tailored support, training and workshops.
- A Staff Immigration Team is available for international candidates, as are a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) and a compensation for moving expenses.
