ASTM D6653/D6653M-13(2021)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6653/D6653M − 13 (Reapproved 2021)
Standard Test Methods for
Determining the Effects of High Altitude on Packaging
Systems by Vacuum Method
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6653/D6653M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
Packaging Components for Testing
1.1 These test methods determine the effects of pressure
D4991 Test Method for Leakage Testing of Empty Rigid
differentialwhenpackagedproductsaretransportedbymeansn
Containers by Vacuum Method
of certain modes of transport, such as feeder aircraft or ground
D5094 Test Methods for Gross Leakage of Liquids from
over high mountain passes. The results of these tests are
Containers with Threaded or Lug-Style Closures
intended to be used for qualitative purposes.
E122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units
Specified Precision, the Average for a Characteristic of a
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in
Lot or Process
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each
2.2 Other:
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining
Altitude-pressuretablesbasedontheUnitedStatesStandard
values from the two systems may result in non-conformance
Atmospheres
with the standard.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3. Terminology
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.1 Definitions—Terms and definitions used in these test
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
methods may be found in Terminology D996.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.2 Definition of Term:
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.1 feeder aircraft, n—small, potentially nonpressurized
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
aircraft used to transport express air packages to remote areas.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
4. Significance and Use
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical 4.1 Packaged products transported by meansn of the feeder
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. aircraft network are liable to experience altitudes as high as 5
791 m [19 000 ft]. When exposed to these high altitude
2. Referenced Documents
conditions, products or packaging systems, or a combination
thereof, may be affected negatively by the resultant pressure
2.1 ASTM Standards:
differential.
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
ments
4.2 These test methods are suitable for evaluating the effect
D3078 Test Method for Determination of Leaks in Flexible
of high altitude on packaging systems.
Packaging by Bubble Emission
4.3 These test methods are suitable for package or product,
D4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-
or both, development and engineering.
tainers and Systems
4.4 Other test methods, such as Test Methods D3078,
D4991 and D5094, test for leakage of packaging systems by
These test methods are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on
vacuum method and are applicable for testing the effects of
Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping
high altitude.
Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2021. Published November 2021. Originally
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D6653/D6653M – 13.
DOI: 10.1520/D6653_D6653M-13R21. Available from http://naca.larc.nasa.gov/reports/1936/naca-report-538.
2 4
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Basedonfieldtestinganalysis.SeeSingh,S.P.,Singh,J.,Stallings,J.,Burgess,
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM G., and Saha, K., “Measurement andAnalysis of Temperature and Pressure in High
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on AltitudeAirShipments,” Journal of Packaging Technology and Science,Vol23,No.
the ASTM website. 1, pp. 35–46, December 2009.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6653/D6653M − 13 (2021)
5. Apparatus 9.1.3 The vacuum pressure may be modified based on
knowledge of shipping environment, product value, desired
5.1 Vacuum Chamber—Any suitable chamber capable of
damage level acceptances, or other criteria (see Appendix X1
withstanding approximately one atmosphere pressure differen-
and Table X2.1 for guidance).
tial fitted with a flat-vacuum-tight cover or equivalent chamber
providing the same functional capabilities, such as an altitude
9.2 Maintain the vacuum for 60 min. The test duration may
chamber. be modified based on knowledge of shipping environment,
product value, desired damage level acceptances, or other
5.2 Vacuum Gauge, Inlet Tube from a Source of Vacuum and
criteria (see Appendix X1 and Table X2.1 for guidance).
Outlet Tube to the Atmosphere, shall be sealed to the chamber.
Theinletandoutlettubesshallbeequippedwithhandoperated
9.3 Partially open the chamber inlet valve and release the
valves. The vacuum gauge shall be laboratory quality with a vacuum at a rate of approximately 305 m [1 000 ft] per 30–60
full-scale range of 0 to 100 kPa [0 to 30 in. Hg] with minimum
s.
graduation no greater than 2 kPa [1 in. Hg] and accuracy to
9.4 Open the chambers cover and remove the test specimen
within 2 %.
and examine for any damage or deformation.
5.3 The Chamber, shall be large enough to contain the test
9.5 Record the results of examination.
specimen, as well as allow for the expansion of the product or
package, or both.
10. Interpretation of Results
6. Sampling
10.1 If a distribution packaging system was tested and the
closure, shipping container, internal packaging and product are
6.1 The test specimens and number of samples shall be
intactandfreeofdamage,thenthepackagingsystemshouldbe
chosen to permit an adequate determination of representative
reassembled for testing in accordance with an industry ac-
performance (see Practice E122).
cepted packaged-product performance test, such as Practice
6.2 In the absence of any sampling plan, at least three
D4169.This will help determine if the pressure differential had
representative specim
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