Mechanical Characterization of HDPE Raw Material to Improve the Quality of Edible Oil Container Cans

This work aims to qualify the cans produced by WAFO Industry for the packaging of consumer oils in order to respond to the recurring concerns of consumers about the quality and food safety of the consumable products contained. This is an aspect of the support of this company towards the certification of their cans. The basic polymer raw material being high density polyethylene (HDPE), matrix in the formulation for the production of cans, a physico-mechanical characterization study is necessary, while having a look at the elements of contribution which are the calcium carbonate and the dye used. The cans being obtained by the extrusion blow molding process, the study seeks to see the influence of the transformation process on the raw material during extrusion. The methodology used is based on the determination of the mechanical characteristics by compression tests on 25-L capacity cans differentiated by their empty mass. We note that the compression tests carried out on cans produced with masses between 1.235 and 1.276 kg have a breaking strength which varies between 0.78 MPa and 0.90 MPa with a strain at break estimated at ε = 4, 6%. The raised elastic limit is equal to σe = 0.523 MPa for a modulus of rigidity E = 33.2 MPa. These results show that Wafo Industry’s edible oil container canisters meet the packaging requirements, from an environmental, mechanical and resistance point of view, at least for its primary role of protection against energy transfers and protection against material transfers. Thus for the improvement of the quality of the cans, some more tests are essential such as the perforation tests, the tests of control of thickness and the control of humidity of HDPE are the next lines of investigation.