ASTM F2824-10

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
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Designation:F2824–10
Standard Test Method for
Mechanical Seal Strength Testing for Round Cups and Bowl
Containers with Flexible Peelable Lids
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2824; 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 2. Referenced Documents
1.1 This test method describes a method for the measure- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
mentofmechanicalsealstrengthwhileseparatingtheentirelid D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
(cover/membrane) from a rigid or semi-rigid round container. Packaging Components for Testing
1.2 This test method differs from Test Method F88. Test E177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
MethodF88testsaportionofthesealwhereasthistestmethod ASTM Test Methods
tests the force required to separate the entire lid (cover/ E691 Practice for Conducting an Interlaboratory Study to
membrane) from the container. Determine the Precision of a Test Method
1.3 Thistestmethodisusedtodeterminethecontinuousand F17 Terminology Relating to Flexible Barrier Packaging
maximumforcesrequiredtoseparatethelid(cover/membrane) F88 Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier
from the container. Materials
1.4 This test method uses an angle of pull of 45°, however 2.2 Other Standard:
other angles of pull may be used provided results are docu- ANSI/AAMI/ISO 11607–1 Packaging for Terminally Ster-
mented noting the used angle of pull and said procedure is ilized Medical Devices—Part 1: Requirements for Mate-
validated. rials, Sterile Barrier Systems, and Packaging Systems
1.5 Typical examples of container shapes that could be
3. Terminology
tested using this or a similar method include oval, rectangular,
and circular with single or multiple cavities having a sealed lid 3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.1.1 average seal strength—the sum of the individual
(cover/membrane). Examples of products packaged in these
forces recorded divided by the total number of those measure-
types of containers are: ready meals, creamers, coffee, yogurts,
household fresheners, chemical and pharmaceutical products, ments. The calculation can be expressed as the average
between the peaks or within the peaks (see Fig. 1).
and numerous others not mentioned. However, this test
method, described within, is specifically for round containers. 3.1.2 flexible—See Terminology F17.
3.1.3 grip separation rate—a function of the test equipment
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical design and angle of peel to achieve the correct peel rate. It is
the actual peel rate of separating the lid (cover/membrane)
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard. from the container. For this test method, the actual separation
rate is 12 in./min (300 mm/min).
1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 3.1.4 maximum seal strength—the maximum force mea-
sured when separating progressively, under the conditions of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- the test.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on Flexible contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
Barrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 on Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Physical Properties. the ASTM website.
Current edition approved May 1, 2010. Published June 2010. DOI: 10.1520/ Available fromAmerican National Standards Institute (ANSI), 25 W. 43rd St.,
F2824–10. 4th Floor, New York, NY 10036, http://www.ansi.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F2824–10
FIG. 1 Average Seal Strength
3.1.5 peel angle—the angle of the lid (cover/membrane) the force measuring device (load cell). The lid (cover/
relative to the container seal surface at all points of removal of membrane) is peeled from the container at a constant rate of
the lid (cover/membrane) from the container seal surface. The speed along the peel line of the container and at a 45° angle
preferred angle for this test method is 45° (Fig. 2) but other (otheranglesarepermittedbutmustbenotedandreportedwith
angles can be used. test results) measured from the sealed surface of the container
3.1.6 peel line—the line of direction of peel, normally 90° and lid (cover/membrane). Forces measured during the test are
to the line beginning at the starting peel point and bisects the recorded and plotted for analysis and reporting.
container area evenly (see Fig. 2).
5. Significance and Use
3.1.7 seal area—the total area of the container which is
sealed to the lid (cover/membrane) and requires a force to 5.1 Test Method F88 has been the standard for the mechani-
separate them.
cal peel strength testing of peelable seals since the 1960s.
3.1.8 starting peel point—the extended tab provided by the Normally the testing is run on a portion of the seal. The result
design of the lid (cover/membrane).
isanactualsealstrengthpictureofthatportionoftheseal.This
3.1.9 work—the energy required to separate the lid (cover/ test method is different in that the entire package seal is peeled
membrane) from the test container. Typically, this calculation
open and data collected for the entire sealed area.
is made by the computer software or can be calculated as the 5.2 This test method is a tool for quality assurance use as
area under the force-displacement curve.
well as performance evaluation of a seal during separation.
5.3 With appropriate software, data is collected depicting
4. Summary of Test Method
the seal strength of the entire length of the seal. As a result, it
4.1 The test sample (container) is fastened securely to the is possible to see seal strength variations, as the seal is peeled
test fixture with the starting peel point (extended tab if apart, thereby evaluating the consistency and uniformity of the
provided) of the lid (cover/membrane) attached to the grip of seal (see Fig. 1).
F2824–10
FIG. 2 Peel Line and Peel Angle
6. Apparatus 7.2 Sample identification should be made prior to specific
testsamples,ifnecessary.Recordtheinformationsuchthattest
6.1 Testing machine of the constant-rate-of-peel type shall
results and anomalies are identifiable back to the individual
be used.
specimens.
6.2 The constant rate of peel between the clamp (grip) and
8. Preparation of Apparatus
the sample container shall be maintained at a constant rate of
12 6 0.5 in./min (300 6 12.7 mm/min). 8.1 Apparatus shall be positioned according to manufactur-
er’s instructions and in a suitable environment for testing
6.3 There shall be an electronic measuring device (force
conditions.
gage) capable of taking a sufficient number of readings per
second and compatible with the computer program such that a
9. Calibration and Standardization
continuousgraphofforceversusdisplacementisachieved.Itis
9.1 Calibration of the force gage shall be verified prior to
also possible to use an analog instrument which inputs to an
testing and accurate to 61 % of the full scale of the electronic
X-Y plotter to obtain the force versus displacement curve. A
measuring device.
clamp or grip is fastened to the electronic measuring device
9.2 Follow the gage manufacturer’s procedure for calibra-
andsuitableforholdingthelid(cover/membrane)shallbeused
tion.
(see Fig. 1).
10. Conditioning
6.4 There shall be a fixture suitable for securing the sample
10.1 Conditioning of the samples will depend on the mate-
container in such a position as to cause the lid (cover/
rial under evaluation. If conditioning before testing is appro-
membrane) to be peeled at a constant 45° angle during the
priate, normal, and desirable, then condition the test specimens
entire test. Since any movement of the container in the fixture
at 23 6 2°C (73.4 6 3.6°F) and 50 6 5 % RH until material
can affect the value obtained by the electronic measuring
has reached stabilization. See Practice D4332 for guidance on
device, the container must be held fast.
conditioning practices.
7. Sampling and Test Specs and Units
11. Procedure
7.1 Sample size is determined by using an approved statis-
11.1 Verify calibration of the force-measuring device prior
tically validated sampling plan. to proceeding with the test. See 9.2.
F2824–10
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