Package seal strength testing shows the peel separation force required to separate two flexible materials that are bonded together. This test is also called a T-Peel test.
Applications
- Testing the seal on a sterilization pouch (Sterile Barrier System).
- Test the seal on food packaging
Purpose
- Confirm the reproducibility of the sealing process. Create a baseline to screen for changes negatively affecting the packaging seal.
- Determining if hot tack is creating a good seal.
- Adherence to design specifications
- Ease of opening for the user.
- Determine the packaging's ability to protect product with the package.
Standards
- ASTM F88/F88M Standard Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier Materials
- ASTM D1876 Standard Test Method for Peel Resistance of Adhesives (T-Peel Test)
Procedure
Ends of the T-Peel sample are clamped using vice grips and pulled using a motorized test stand until the sample as separated. The force required to separate the samples is recorded.
Equipment needed
- Motorized test stand-Settable speed is required for this test.
- Force gauge or load cell
- Manual or pneumatic vice grips
- Pneumatic is the better choice when running a higher quantity of tests.