Optimization of Thermal Weld Parameters for the Loading Neck of a Flexible Polyethylene Container
5 affiliations
- 1Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
- 2School of Transport Engineering and Logistics Named After M. Tynyshpayev, Kazakh National Technical Research University Named After K.I. Satbayev, Almaty 050013, Kazakhstan
- 3Faculty of Information Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
- 4Institute of Energy and Green Technologies, Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Named After Gumarbek Daukeyev, Almaty 050013, Kazakhstan
- 5School of Applied Mathematics, Kazakh British Technical University, Almaty 050005, Kazakhstan
Abstract
This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the sealing performance of welded joints in flexible polyethylene containers subjected to external pressure during vacuum compaction of forage material. The objective was to improve the reliability of welded seams under vacuum gauge pressures of up to 75 kPa. A three-dimensional transient heat-conduction model was developed to investigate the thermal behavior of polyethylene film during heat sealing. The governing heat-conduction equation was solved using ANSYS Fluent based on the finite volume method, employing a pressure-based transient solver and first-order implicit time discretization. Temperature distributions and their temporal evolution, T(t), were determined at selected locations within the film. The strength of welded joints in thin polyethylene films subjected to pressure loading of up to 75 kPa was experimentally evaluated as a function of weld-seam width and clamping force at a selected heat-sealing temperature of 175 °C. High-density polyethylene film (PE-180) with a thickness of 200 μm was used to carry out research specimens measuring 100 × 100 mm. The experimental results were analyzed using a design-of-experiments approach, and a regression equation was developed to describe the dependence of welded-joint strength on seam width and clamping force. The combined numerical and experimental findings provide a basis for selecting appropriate heat-sealing parameters to enhance the reliability of welded seams at the neck of flexible polyethylene containers subjected to vacuum-induced loading.
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BibTeX
@article{kassymbayev2026optimization,
title = {{Optimization of Thermal Weld Parameters for the Loading Neck of a Flexible Polyethylene Container}},
author = {Bekbossyn Kassymbayev and Adilkhan Niyazbayev and Issa Tailer and Yelaman Zhumagaliyev and Baydaulet Urmashev and Aliya Borsikbayeva and Yerzhigit Saparbayev and Marat Khazimov},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/polym18212740},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2740},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Optimization of Thermal Weld Parameters for the Loading Neck of a Flexible Polyethylene Container
AU - Bekbossyn Kassymbayev
AU - Adilkhan Niyazbayev
AU - Issa Tailer
AU - Yelaman Zhumagaliyev
AU - Baydaulet Urmashev
AU - Aliya Borsikbayeva
AU - Yerzhigit Saparbayev
AU - Marat Khazimov
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/04
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18212740
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2740
AB - This study presents an experimental and numerical investigation of the sealing performance of welded joints in flexible polyethylene containers subjected to external pressure during vacuum compaction of forage material. The objective was to improve the reliability of welded seams under vacuum gauge pressures of up to 75 kPa. A three-dimensional transient heat-conduction model was developed to investigate the thermal behavior of polyethylene film during heat sealing. The governing heat-conduction equation was solved using ANSYS Fluent based on the finite volume method, employing a pressure-based transient solver and first-order implicit time discretization. Temperature distributions and their temporal evolution, T(t), were determined at selected locations within the film. The strength of welded joints in thin polyethylene films subjected to pressure loading of up to 75 kPa was experimentally evaluated as a function of weld-seam width and clamping force at a selected heat-sealing temperature of 175 °C. High-density polyethylene film (PE-180) with a thickness of 200 μm was used to carry out research specimens measuring 100 × 100 mm. The experimental results were analyzed using a design-of-experiments approach, and a regression equation was developed to describe the dependence of welded-joint strength on seam width and clamping force. The combined numerical and experimental findings provide a basis for selecting appropriate heat-sealing parameters to enhance the reliability of welded seams at the neck of flexible polyethylene containers subjected to vacuum-induced loading.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -