The performance of package seals can be one of the most important attributes of customer satisfaction with the overall product experience. These packages must not break open during transportation to market despite heavy stacking weight and rough travel. Yet the ultimate consumer expects to be able to remove the package seal easily without tools and without a lot of hassle. For example, ketchup companies need to ensure that the seal on a ketchup container is strong enough to avoid blowing off the seal while being transported to market, but is weak enough so it can be removed by the consumer. Pharmaceutical companies must ensure that the seals on their vials maintain their integrity through the sterilization process, as well as transportation to market. Successful performance of the seals on these package containers is critical to the success of the product.
The design criteria for package containers and package seals can be rigorous and challenging. Comprehensive and accurate package seal peel testing is critical to the design of these seals. Adhesion of the seal to the package varies greatly based on the adherand materials, the adhesive and the manufacturing process. TestResources peel test machines are used by many, many successful companies to confirm success of the seals on their product packages. Good package seal designs and package seal manufacturing can meet these needs consistently. But it does require high-quality testing to develop the seal design, and high-quality production testing to ensure your manufacturing process continues to provide well-designed seals over time.
TestResources has extensive experience in package container seal peel testing. We offer a variety of geometries of vice grips to enable you to grab the edge of the seal. These grips come in manual or pneumatic actuation depending on how fast you need to conduct the test.
One issue that is always important to consider in any package seal peel test is the peel angle. It is important to keep this angle as constant as possible to minimize variability of peel force results. A simple way to reduce the change in angle during a seal peel test is to use a long chain from the pull force actuator down to the seal. The peel angle will vary, but only a trivial amount. A chain is used to minimize the change in peel angle during the package container seal peel test.
Another issue that we can help you with is gripping the package container in such a way that you do not create excessive internal pressure. Such pressure can apply internal force on the seal thus invalidating the seal peel forces. TestResources offers a wide variety of sizes and configurations of grips, and we have extensive gripping experience to assist you in avoiding this invisible error in your package container seal peel tests.
It is equally important to know how to interpret your seal peel data. A typical seal peel plot shows high forces at the start and end of the peel because the peel interface is longest at those locations. The high forces at the beginning and end of the peel must be designed so the consumer can reasonably open the seal. The lower forces in the middle of the peel must be strong enough so internal pressures caused by transportation movement are not capable of forcing the seal open. These forces can be designed by varying the seal adhesive and by varying the package design to increase or decrease the adhesion interface area.
TestResources has the technology and expertise to ensure the success in your package seal testing. Give us a call today to find the package seal peel test machine that meets your application requirements.
Recommended Test Machine
Forces up to 10 kN (2,250 lbf)
Low force tabletop systems
Modular series of five frame options with adjustable test space
Affordable testing option for tension, compression, bend, peel and much more
Recommended Testing Accessories
Force of 0.1 kN (22 lbf)
Applicable for small components
Chain mounting enables flexible positioning
Optional adapters or mechanical connections available for all test machines
