Quality of food upon opening is directly related to the quality of the packaging material and the strength of the seal that locks freshness in. To ensure a quality adhesive seal in food packaging material the seal strength must be determined. To determine seal strength, adhesive seals undergo a peel test; 90 degree peel test, 180 degree peel test, and T peel tests are the most common variations of peel tests. The specific manner in which the peel test is done to determine the sealant properties of your product package is dependent of standards that must be met. These standards might be internally based, industry based, or requirement based. The standard test methods that TestResources suggests for determining the seal strength of food containers are ASTM F88, and ASTM D903. ASTM F88 is a general standard for seal strength of materials used in packaging. This standard is not used with sterile packaging. ASTM D903 is another general standard for determining the adhesive strength of materials. TestResources universal material testing machines are effectively used for determining the peel strength, bonding strength, and sheer properties of adhesives of materials used in food packaging. TestResources test machines meet the requirements specified in many standard test procedures for constant-rate-of-extension and constant-rate-of-load machines. This allows the machines to be programmed to perform many unique testing procedures. Load cells are fitted to specific load applications to ensure the highest resolution of tests.
Applicable Testing Standards
- ASTM D903 180 degree Peel Strip Strength of Adhesive Bonds
- ASTM F88 Seal Strength Testing Equipment for Flexible Barrier Materials
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
Forces up to 5 kN (1,125 lbf)
Low force tabletop systems
Tests at speeds up to 2,500 mm/min (100 in/min)
Best for high travel or high elongation test requirements
Recommended Testing Accessories
Rated to 500 N (112 lbf)
Maximum specimen thickness of 6 mm (0.23 in)
Pneumatic design allows for quick specimen setup
Consistant clamping force between tests
Rated to 220 N (50 lbf)
Maximum specimen thickness of 8 mm (0.31 in)
Wider model allows for specimens thicknesses up to 46 mm (1.8 in)
Cost effective option for low force testing
Rated to 1 kN (225 lbf)
Maximum specimen thicknesses from 10 mm to 50 mm (0.39 in. to 2.0 in.)
Simple design can be used for a multitude of tensile applications
Inexpensive and reliable
