Laboratory film testing
We test the film on the properties that come first on the packing line and on the shelf: mechanical strength, barrier, seal strength and the strength of the surface in contact with the product, visual appearance. Tests follow ASTM or ISO standards or, where applicable, internal methods, on specified samples.
Equipment used and possible tests
For each device: its role in this service, what it measures, the standards and the average time.
Mechanical strength
Tensile-elongation, impact-puncture, friction: the equipment used and the possible tests, specific to checking the mechanical properties.
Tensile & elongation tester
ZwickRoell zwicki · cadru 2,5 kN, celulă de forță 100 N · testXpert IIITensile strength and elongation of the film, in machine and transverse direction.
- Tensile strength at break (MPa)
- Elongation at break (%), MD and TD
- Modulus of elasticity
- Force at yield point
Impact and puncture resistance
Rycolab RL-FDT-A (în curs de etalonare/verificare) · ZwickRoell (perforare)What the film takes from a drop or from a sharp corner of the product.
- Dart drop, method A — mass at which 50 % of specimens fail (instrument calibration/verification in progress)
- Puncture force and energy
Coefficient of friction (COF)
ZwickRoell · modul COFHow easily the film slides on metal and on itself — static and dynamic.
- Static and dynamic COF
- Film to film and film to metal
- Difference between inner and outer side
Barrier
Oxygen (OTR) and water vapour (WVTR) permeability: the equipment used and the possible tests, specific to checking the barrier properties.
Oxygen transmission rate (OTR)
AMETEK MOCON OX-TRAN 2/22 HThe amount of oxygen passing through the film in one day, per square metre.
- OTR in cm³/m²·24 h at atmospheric pressure, in the 0.05–200 range
- Variation with temperature and relative humidity
- Comparison of candidate structures
Water vapour transmission rate (WVTR)
AMETEK MOCON AQUATRAN 3/34 HHow much moisture passes through the film — for products that dry out or go soft.
- WVTR in g/m²·24 h, in the 0.05–100 range
- Behaviour at 38 °C / 90 % RH (warm climate)
- Estimated mass loss over shelf life
Seal strength
After cooling and while hot (hot tack), variable-angle opening force (peel): the equipment used and the possible tests, specific to checking the heat-sealing properties.
Seal strength & hot tack tester
RDM HT-2PC · ZwickRoell (ASTM F88)How strong the seal is, cold and immediately after sealing, while still hot.
- Seal strength (N/15 mm)
- Hot tack — strength of the still-hot seal
- Sealing window (temperature × time × pressure)
- Failure mode: peel, delamination or break
- Seals made at controlled time, pressure and temperature, for other tests
Variable-angle peel (opening force)
ZwickRoell · dispozitiv de prindere a probei realizat după specificațiile MTC, cu masă înclinabilăThe force needed to open a tray, at an angle adjustable between 0 and 180°.
- Tray opening force (N): peak at release and average force over the peel
- Seal uniformity along the whole peel
- Adjustable peel angle, 0–180°, constant during the test
- Comparison of easy-peel lids
Visual appearance
The equipment used and the possible tests, specific to checking light diffusion, transparency and colour difference against the reference.
Haze and transparency
Labtron Haze Meter LHM-A10How clearly the product shows through the film.
- Haze (%) — light diffusion
- Total light transmission
- Colour difference against the reference sample
Structure
Analysis of the film layers: their number and thickness, defects, the cause of a delamination.
Microscope for layer analysis
Bruker LUMOS II FT-IR · detector MCTA cross-section through the film: how many layers, how thick each is, where it delaminated.
- Number and thickness of layers, with images at a resolution of about 2 µm
- Chemical identification of the components (FT-IR)
- Quality of the lamination line
- Defects: bubbles, inclusions, gels
- Analysis of the failure surface
Operations and lead times
Lead times count from receipt of the samples and include conditioning. For a test set, the total is set by the longest test.
Sending a sample
The quantity and format of the film samples are agreed with the laboratory, depending on the type of test requested. Note the structure and the reference batch on the sample.
Address the parcel to the laboratory: MTC ROMANIA IMPEX SRL, TRC Park, Jucu de Sus, Hall J5, Module 3.