Package and Product Integrity Blog

The recent ASTM F2 Committee meeting was held in a unique location…Prague, Czech Republic, and I was fortunate enough to represent DDL at the meeting. Regardless of the remote location, the meeting included about 18 US representatives and 20 European representatives. All representatives attended the regular meeting of the committee as well as the workshop on “Flexible Barrier Packaging Test Methods as International Standards.”

The meeting agenda included regular subcommittee meetings of the F2 Committee with most of the discussion revolving around dye penetration leak test methods and environmental stressing of packaging. Some of the highlights included: modifying Test Method F1929, developing new standards for dye penetration and discussion on a method for evaluating the quality of seals in plastic cups with heat sealed lids.

Standard Test Method F1929, the most widely used test method for package seal integrity, is in the process of being modified to include new test methods. Two alternative methods are in development for evaluating the seals of packages using dye solutions that seek out channels in seals through capillary forces. The first new method, known as the “Dip” method, is performed by dipping the outside edge of the package in a tray or container of dye solution. If any channels are present along the seal, the dye will migrate into the channel from the outside through capillary actions. The second method under development is the “Eye Dropper” method. This method uses an eye dropper or syringe to apply the dye to seals between the ‘seal allowance’ or excess material. The channel, if present, is manifest in the same way as all other methods, that being through capillary action. The procedures have been developed and written into the current F1929 standard. A vote for approval is eminent and a successful vote will prompt the start of a interlaboratory study (ILS) to determine the Precision & Bias (P&B) of the methods. It is anticipated that this process will require about 12 months. Contact Geoff Pavey for more details or to participate in the ILS.

A new standard for dye penetration is also being developed for testing the seal integrity of non-porous packages. The theory of the method is the same as F1929 except that, due to the nature of the materials used for non-porous packages, a different dye solution is required to manifest the seal channel leaks. Method A will be an injection method, as in the current F1929 standard. The dye solution will have a higher concentration of surfactant to reduce the surface tension of the liquid to allow for capillary action to occur. A second method is being developed to evaluate the surface of the package components. In this method the components will be separated so that flat sheets can be laid on a white absorbent medium. Next, the dye solution is applied to the surface using a dye soaked sponge. If material breaches are present in the material, it will be apparent by the white medium under the package material being stained by the dye. The test standard is being written and an ILS is in the planning stages.

Another activity for a new standard, involving a method for evaluating the quality of seals in plastic cups with heat sealed lids, is in the ballot process. This method measures the force required to peal a lid from a container. The method has been balloted once and received many good comments. A second ballot will occur before an ILS is developed to determine the P&B of the method.

An activity to develop a practice for subjecting packaging systems to environmental stressing is also occurring within subcommittee F2.50. This method is being developed to provide a standardized practice using environmental conditions that are extreme but realistic. The first draft of the standard has been voted at subcommittee level, but there is much work to be done including coming to a consensus on the temperature and humidity conditions to use for stressing packages.

Lastly, the F2 Committee hosted a workshop for the European contingent with the objectives of demonstrating the ASTM process of standards development and to provide technical information of some highly successful ASTM F2 standards, such as F88 for seal strength testing. The workshop was very successful as about 20 European packaging professional attended the two day event. Participants learned about the importance of validating test methods through r&R studies, the ASTM structure and framework for developing consensus standards, climatic conditions effecting packaging, and dye penetration seal integrity testing methods.

Committee F2 looks forward to the next opportunity to host a meeting at an international venue, as this meeting was deemed to be very successful in meeting the objectives of ASTM and the committee was able to be very efficient at carrying on the work of the Committee.