COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
three basic forms of testing - ANSWER-quality testing, environmental testing, shipping
& abuse testing
quality testing - ANSWER-uses standard methods and machines to determine quality of
materials or combo of materials (how smooth, how much water vapor transmission)
environmental testing (definition) - ANSWER-subjecting manufactured packages to the
environment it may be exposed to in the real world or simulated real world simulations
(packages fully made & approved)
accelerated aging - ANSWER-process of elevating conditions to speed testing
-Reaction rate doubles with every 10 degree C rise in temperature (Q10 law)
-Add temp in increments of 10 to best test for shelf life of product for over any amount of
time
functions of environmental testing - ANSWER-involves accelerated aging, measures
effects of environment on product and package and effects on product on the package
during storage
shock & vibration testing (transportation/distribution testing) - ANSWER-how packages
stand up to rigors of shipping, storage and handling, sophisticated machines used to
simulate conditions (1 hour on vibration table = 100 truck miles)
advantages of shock and vibration testing - ANSWER-short testing time, uniformity,
variability
ASTM - ANSWER-American Society for Testing and Materials
TAPPI - ANSWER-Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industries
FPA - ANSWER-Flexible Packaging Association
ABA - ANSWER-American Boxboard Association
ISTA - ANSWER-International Safe Transit Association
what do standard conditions help with? - ANSWER-eliminates variables due to changes
in climate or season, without them, specific climate/season package is passing in will
impact the product significantly different
, quality tests for paper - ANSWER-tensile strength & elongation, Mullen Burst test,
stiffness, opacity
quality tests for plastic - ANSWER-gloss, haze or clarity
slip, blocking, static
impact fatigue
flex resistance
permeability testing
blocking - ANSWER-how much plastic sticks/slides around
permeability testing - ANSWER-cc/mil/100in^2 for 24 hours
Mocon method for O2, CO2 and WVTR
Cup method for WVTR (weighing cup w/ evaporation)
quality tests for inks, lacquers, adhesives - ANSWER-weight per gallon, total solids,
Zahn cup (viscosity), printing characteristics (adhesion)
adhesion test - ANSWER-Scotch tape test: ripping tape off of graphic print
Sutherland rub test: ink adhesion to substrate, rub against a glass bottle to check for
runoff/scar)
accumulators - ANSWER-can improve output when put by the slowest piece of
equipment, separates upstream/downstream sides of process into two subunits
systems approach - ANSWER-- You develop the machine and the package it runs on
- Puts you in a powerful position
filling systems - ANSWER-- Products come in all forms:
liquid, powder, flakes, solid, sticky....
- Containers come in all forms and materials:
rigid, semi-rigid, flexible.... (glass, metal, plastic, paper and paperboard)
- Design machinery around different forms of package/products
liquid filler types - ANSWER-constant level, constant volume
accuracy consideration of fillers - ANSWER-- cost of "giveaway" vs cost of more
accurate filler
- idea is to reduce giveaway without underfilling
constant fill level - ANSWER-- same level/amount in each container
-high probability of "giveaway"
-transparent packages
-inexpensive product
constant volume - ANSWER--results in visible fill-level differences