LABTHINK INSTRUMENTS CO., LTD.

Food Package Testing

The purpose of food package testing is to check whether the packaging materials are processable, to guarantee the package can protect the food. Protection includes guarantee of the shelf life of the food, the appearance of the package to attract the consumersf attention, and to guarantee the packagesf properties during full transportation. To meet the demands for food packaging testing, and to help the food companies and food packaging companies on quality testing of of the food packaging testing, Labthink Instruments Co. Ltd. Integrates and introduces all relative food package testing items and instruments in this article.  
 
Food Package Testing Instruments for Barrier Property: Barrier property, also called permeability, is defined as the barrier property of packaging materials on gas (e.g., oxygen), vappr (e.g., water vapor) and other infiltrations. Barrier Property is an important factor affecting the product shelf-life.

Relevant instruments are listed below:

- PERME-DM2/330 Differential and Equal Pressure Methods Gas Permeability Tester
- PERME OX2/230 Oxygen Transmission Rate Testing System
- VAC-V Series Differential Pressure Gas Permeability Testers includs VAC-V1, VAC-V2 and VAC-V3, etc.
- PERME@W3/330 Water Vapor Transmission Rate testing system
- TSY-T Series Water Vapor Permeability Tester includes TSY-T1H, TSY-T1L and TSY-T3, etc.

Food Package Testing Instruments for Strength: Strength testing includes index testing like material tensile strength testing, peeling strength testing of laminated films, hot seal strength testing, tearing strength and pouch resistance testing. Tensile strength is the maximum strength value just before the material is broken. Peeling strength testing, also called complex strength testing, tests the bonding strength between the layers of laminated films. Hot seal strength testing is to test the strength of the seals. Pouch resistance is the index evaluating the anti-puncture strength of the package against rigid material. Relevant testing instruments are as follows:

- XLW Series Auto Tensile Testers
- HST-H3 Heat Seal Tester and the luxury model of RTD-R2 Gradation Heat-Sealing Instrument

Food Package Testing Instruments for Leak Property: Through the sealing property testing can guarantee the completeness of the whole package and avoid leakage and deterioration thereby by the inferior sealing property.

- MFY-01 Leak Tester
- LSSD-01 Leak and Seal Strength Detector

Food Package Testing Instruments for Headspace Gas Analysis: HGA-01 Headspace Gas Analyzer is used for the measurement of the content of oxygen, carbon dioxide and mixing proportion in the sealed bags, bottles, cans and other packages. It can be used to evaluate the gas components, content, mixing proportion in the package rapidly and accurately in production lines, warehouses, laboratories and other occasions, thereby to guide the production and ensure the shelf life of products.

Food Package Testing Instruments for Impact Resistance Property: Impact resistance property testing of packaging materials can guarantee the effective protection of the contents. Impact resistance property testing can be classified as dart impact and pendulum impact.

- BMC-B1 Falling Dart Impact Tester
- FIT-01 Film Impact Tester

Food Package Testing Instruments for Tearing Property: Tears and breakage of products in storage and transportation occurs because of external forces. Sufficient tearing resistant forces can reduce tearing and avoid leakage.

SLY-S1 Tearing Tester: complies with Elmendorf method, and is applicable in tearing resistance test of films, laminated films, foils, paper and paper boards.

Food Package Testing Instruments for Coefficient of Friction (Surface Smoothness): Proper smoothness of the two sides of the material can guarantee the good open easiness as well as smooth transportation and packaging in the assembly line.

- MXD Series of Coefficient of Friction Testers includes MXD-01, MXD-01A and MXD-02.
- FTP-F1 Friction/Peel Tester

Food Package Testing Instruments for Thickness: Thickness is the basic index to test films. Uneven thickness would influence the tensile strength and barrier property as well as the following processing.

- CHY-C2 Thickness Tester
- CHY-CA Thickness Tester

Food Package Testing Instruments for Printing Testing: This is to test the ink layer bonding force of the printed materials.

- Ink-layer Bond Strength: YGJ-02 Adhesive Tensile & Shear Tester and BLJ-02 Disk Stripping Tester co-works together.
- MCJ-01A Rub Tester
- RT-01 Rub Tester

Food Package Testing for Solvent Residual: Packaging bag solvent residual quantity directly links to the safety of users. Gas chromatograph, for the safety guarantee, is applied for resolution residual quantity testing.

- GC6890 Gas Chromatograph Tester
- GC7800 Gas Chromatograph Tester

Cosmetics Packaging Testing Items and Methods

Cosmetic Package Testing plays an important role in cosmetic package quality control. As fashionable products, cosmetics need exquisite packages and best protection during Transmit and shelf-life time. Labthink Instruments Co. Ltd. (www.labthink.cn), the world famous testing instrument and service provider, meets the demands for cosmetic packaging and application, integrates testing items and instruments as follows, so as to contribute to the package quality testing of cosmetic companies and relevant package suppliers.

BARRIER PROPERTY TESTING OF COSMETIC PACKAGES: Barrier property testing of packages is one of the vital testing items for cosmetic packages. Barrier property is the definition for the barrier effect of packaging materials against gas, liquid and other permeable substances. Barrier property is the important factor affecting the product quality during shelf life period.

The unsaturated links in the cosmetic ingredients are easy to be oxidized and deteriorated; the lost of moisture in the cosmetic would lead to hardening of the cosmetics. At the same time, the fragrance of the cosmetics has great influence on the marketing of cosmetics. Therefore, the barrier property testing includes the permeability testing of oxygen, water vapor and fragrant gases through cosmetic packages.

- Oxygen Barrier Property Testing: This index is mainly for the oxygen transmission rate testing of films, laminated films, cosmetic pouches or bottles. Hereinafter, we take Labthink PERME OX2/230 Oxygen Transmission Rate Test System as the example. Clamp the pre-conditioned specimen in between the testing chamber, oxygen or air flows in one side of the film, and high pure nitrogen flows on the other side. Oxygen molecule migrates through the film and into the high nitrogen side, and is carried by the nitrogen flow to the sensor. With the oxygen concentration analysis of the sensor, the oxygen transmission quantity can be calculated. The testing principles of pouches and bottles are similar.

- Water Vapor Transmission Rate Testing: Water Vapor Transmission Rate Testing is mainly for the testing of water vapor transmission rate of film materials and packaging containers like bottles, bags and cans. Through this WVTR testing, technical indexes for control and adjustment of packaging materials can be achieved so as to meet the varied application needs. Take PERME W3/330 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Testing System as an example. Clamp the specimen in between the testing chamber, a constant and stable nitrogen flow flows in one side of the film and dry nitrogen flows in the other side of the film. Owing to the humidity difference, water vapor would penetrate from the high humidity side into the low humidity side. The penetrated humidity (moisture) is carried by the dry nitrogen to the sensor, who would output electronic signal and then, calculate water vapor permeability quantity. For packaging bags and bottles, dry nitrogen flows inside the container and the outside is in high humidity state.

- Fragrance Maintenance Property Testing: This Index is of great importance to cosmetics. Once the fragrance loses, there would be great influence on selling. Take PERME OR2/410 Organic Gas Transmission Rate Test System as the example. In the regulated temperature, separate the chamber into two halves by the specimen with one side as dense fragrance side and the other side as low concentrated fragrance, thus, forming a concentration difference between the sides. Fragrance gas will penetrate into the low concentration side and be carried to the isolation chamber by the carrying gas. FID, hydrogen flame ionization detector, can measure the quantity of the fragrance gas and further calculate the fragrance gas quantity in a unit area within a unit time.

THE SEAL AND LEAK TESTING OF COSMETIC PACKAGES: The seal and leak testing of cosmetic packages is to test the integrated performance to avoid external migration into the packages and content leakage. The commonly used testing methods are as follows:

- Underwater Decompression Method: Take Labthink MFY-01 Leak Tester as example, this leak tester is made according to underwater decompression method. The testing procedure is as follows: put proper amount of distilled water in the vacuum chamber, and immerge the specimen completely into the chamber. Set the vacuum pressure and time, start the test. The tester will begin vacuumizing the chamber to form inner-out pressure difference for the immerged specimen. Observe the gas leakage of the specimen and determine the sealablity of the specimen.
 
- Positive Pressure Testing Method: Take Labthink LSSD-01 Leak and Seal Strength Detector as example. This tester applies positive pressure testing method. Through pressure exertion into the inner package to test the compression resistance, sealing performance and leak indexes so as to achieve the aim of integration and seal strength testing.

HEADSPACE ANALYSIS OF COSMETIC PACKAGES: Oxygen and moisture are the main factors affecting quality guarantee period of most products. According to researches, the control of gas proportion inside cosmetic packages can effectively prolong the product quality guarantee period or improve storage. Little amount of air would be left inside cosmetic packaging after filling. Therefore, the testing and analysis of internal oxygen or air headspace analysis requires headspace analyzer. Take Labthink HGA-01 Headspace Analyzer as example. This headspace air analyzer can be applied in oxygen, carbon dioxide content and proportion testing inside sealed bags, bottles and cans. This analyzer can help accurate and prompt evaluation of inside gas ingredient analysis in production, warehouse and lab, so as to guide production and guarantee product shelf life.

Introduction to Relevant Cosmetics Testing Instruments

TRANSMIT PACKAGE TESTING FOR COSMETICS: The cosmetic products should reach the customers in good condition, after Transmit, shelf display and other procedures. Now, the Transmit package of cosmetics are mainly corrugated paper boxes, and the main testing indexes are compression strength and stacking testing of plastic boxes.

- Compression Strength Testing for Corrugated Paper Boxes: We hereby take Labthink XYD-15K Box Compression Tester for introduction. When testing, place the corrugated box in between the compression plates of XYD-15K Box Compression Tester; and then, set the speed and start the test until the occurrence of breakage of the box. The pressure is the compression strength in kN. When doing such tests, a preset pressure, normally 220N, is a must before testing. 

- Stacking Tests of Corrugated Boxes: During Transportation, corrugated boxes needs to be stored in the form of stack. The boxes at the bottom endure more pressure than the upper ones. In order to avoid collapse, proper compression strength is needed after stacking. Therefore, stacking testing and max. compression strength are of great importance. Labthink XYD-15K with stack testing function, can output stacking test result directly.

PRINTING QUALITY TESTING OF COSMETIC PACKAGES: In order to achieve better visual sense of beauty, cosmetic packages need to have beautiful packages. Therefore, the testing for cosmetic package printing quality is of great importance. The routine testing items including ink layer abrasion resistance (anti-abrasion performance) and ink layer falling-off as well as color identification.

- Abrasion Resistance Testing: Take Labthink MCJ-01A Rub Tester as an example. Specimen are prepared according to GB7706, and fastened on the testing platform of the rub tester. Then, put 80g clean offset paper on the load. Set the rubbing times (generally 40 rounds) and start testing. The printing quality is evaluated on the density change before and after the test. Generally, 70% and above are qualified conditions.

- 5.2 Ink Layer Decrement/Falling-Off/Bond Strength Testing: For plastic printing, tests should be carried out according to GB7707. Labtink BLJ-02 Disk Stripping Tester and YGJ-02 Adhesive Tensile & Shear Tester are taken as the example. Paste the scotch tape on the ink printing side first. The specimen is pressed and rolled back and forth for three times in the YGJ-02 Adhesive Tensile & Shear Tester, and lay aside for 5min. Then, clamp the specimen on Plate A of BLJ-02 Disk Stripping Tester, the exposed tape is fastened on Plate B. Start the tester, and Plate A turns around to separate the tap at a speed of 0.8m/s. observe the falling-off status of the ink layer so as to judge printing ink layer bond strength

- Color Identification: People usually observe and identify color in the daylight. The precise color identification requires that lighting should assimilate with the frequency distribution of daylight, that is, CIE Standard Illuminant D65. However, in color matching, there is a special phenomenon: specimen is identical to the sample in one illuminant and appears differently in another. This phenomenon is called metamerism. Therefore, color assessment cabinet should be double light source. Labthink SGB-80 D65/A Standard Light Source is equipped with D64 and A light and resolves the metamerism phenomenon.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE LABEL TESTING FOR COSMETICS: Pressure sensitive label, also called self-adhesive label has found its wide application in cosmetic packaging. The main testing for pressure sensitive labels is to test the adhesive bond performance, namely primary adhesive, lasting adhesive and peeling strength.

- Primary Adhesive Testing: Take Labthink CZY-G Primary Adhesive Tester as the example. This tester applies rolling ball principle; primary adhesive performance is tested through the immediate contact of the steel ball and the pressure sensitive tape under very low pressure. The primary adhesive performance is expressed with the number of the largest steel ball that is tacked.

- Lasting Adhesive Performance Testing: Labthink CZY-6S hangs the panels covered by adhesive tapes on to the test shelf vertically; and hangs poises with specific weight on the end of the panel. After a certain period of time, test the displacement of the specimen or test the time during which the specimen leaves the panel totally to express the ability to remain adhesive.

- Peeling Strength is an important index to evaluate adhesive performance of pressure sensitive labels. Here, we take Labthink XLW Auto Tensile Tester or BLD-01 peeling tester as the example. Cut the label into a width of 25mm with the sample cutter, press the lab on to the standard testing panel with compression roller and then, pre-peel the sample from the panel, clamp the panel and pre-peeled label on the up/down or left/right collets of the Auto Tensile Tester or the peeling tester. Set the testing speed at 300mm/min and start the test so as to get the final peeling strength in KN/M.

Introduction to Relevant Testing Instruments contd…

OTHER PHYSICAL INDEX TESTING OF COSMETIC PACKAGING MATERIALS: The mechanical performance of cosmetic package plays an important role in the packaging & processing, transportation and shelf life. Its quality directly affects cosmetic safety during distribution. The testing items include: tensile strength & elongation rate, peeling strength of laminated films, heat seal strength, sealing and leakage, impact resistance and surface smoothness, etc.

- Tensile Strength and Elongation, Peeling Strength, Heat Seal Strength and Tearing Performance: Tensile strength is the maximum force before material breakage so as to resolve the problem of inferior mechanical strength and the corresponding package breakage under external forces. Peeling strength is also called composite strength or compound strength; it is the testing of the bond strength between the layers of the laminated film. If the bond strength is too low, separation of layers and leakage are easily to appear during application. Heat seal strength is the testing of the enclosure strength. During product storage and transportation, the heat seal place would break and the content would leak if the heal seal strength is too low.

In order to test the above-mentioned indexes, tensile tester is a necessity. Take Labthink XLW (PC) Auto Tensile Tester as an example. Prepare specimens according to different standards, clamp the specimen in between the clamps of the tensile tester and set the testing speed at 300mm/min (for tensile testing, 500mm/min is also available). Start the tester and the testing results would be calculated. XLW (PC) Auto Tensile Tester is equipped with function menu, through which, standard testing can be accomplished by choosing different testing items. Besides, for heat seal strength testing, Heat Seal Tester is needed for the specimen preparation. This instrument is a routine instrument in cosmetic packaging labs.

- Impact Resistance Testing: A good status of the impact resistance performance will avoid the packaging breakage due to low ductility; and effectively avoid goods damage of low impact resistance and low falling resistance during circulation. Usually, falling dart impact tester is applicable. Take Labthink BMC-B1 Falling Dart Impact Tester as an example, it determines the impact resistance of plastic film by free-falling dart. This is a commonly accepted testing method by cosmetic producers and relevant packaging manufacturers. It’s to test whether the required energy can damage the film specimen under the impact of the free falling dart. If 50% of the specimens damage under regulated condition, estimate the required energy.

- Coefficient of Friction of Material: Coefficient of friction is the smoothness performance of material surface, an important index evaluating the inner and external smoothness of materials. This index can guarantee good open easiness and smooth assembly process. The coefficient of friction tester is made under ASTM 1894. Labthink MXD-02 is taken as an example.

• Firstly, prepare specimen. Put the testing side of one specimen upward on the testing platform neatly. The specimen should be parallel to the length direction of the testing platform.
• Secondly, put other specimen with the testing area of 63mmX63mm downwards and pack the sled. Fasten the specimen with adhesive tape on its front and up parts.
• Thirdly, place the sled with specimen on the center of the first specimen. Make the testing direction and sled direction parallel and no force for the strength measurement system.
• Fourth, start the instrument, the two specimen moves relatively so as to obtain kinetic and static coefficient of friction.

- The Thickness Testing of Cosmetic Packaging Material: Whether the thickness of cosmetic packaging materials is identical is the premise for testing other indexes. The uneven film will not only influence the permeation and elongation strength but the following processing of those film materials.

There are several means for thickness measurement, namely contact and non-contact type. Non-contact type includes rays, eddy current and ultrasonic waves, etc. Contact type is also called mechanical thickness testing, which is further classified into point contact and surface contact.

Now, the film thickness testing of cosmetics adopts mechanical surface testing method, which is also called the arbitration method for thickness. Take Labthink CHY-C2 Thickness Tester as an example. Place a piece of even material on the testing platform, set the testing intervals and statistical times and start the tester with the automatic performance. The resolution of this tester is 0.1um.

PACKAGE TESTERS OF COSMETIC BOTTLES: Bottle package is a commonly used packaging means. The open easiness and torque value are the most important online/offline indexes of the manufacturers. Whether the torque is proper would greatly influence transportation and consumption. The open and lock strength testing can be executed with the help of Labthink NJY-20 Torque Tester.

Medical Packaging Testing Items and Methods

Medical Packaging testing mainly includes the following items: barrier property testing (gas transmission quantity testing and moisture transmission testing), coefficient of friction(smoothness of material surfaces),tensile and elongation, peeling strength, heat seal strength, leak & seal, tearing and printing quality testing. Labthink Instruments Co. Ltd., meeting the demands for medical packaging testing, integrates medical packaging instruments as follows, so as to contribute to the quality testing of medical packaging enterprises.

MEDICAL PACKAGING BARRIER PROPERTY TESTING: Barrier property is defined as the barrier effects of packaging materials on gas (e.g., oxygen), liquid (e.g., water vapor) and other infiltrations. Barrier Property is the important factor affecting the product shelf-life. Relevant instruments are listed below:

- PERME-DM2/330 Differential and Equal Pressure Methods Gas Permeability Tester: This instrument combines differential pressure method and equal pressure method in one unit. It is applicable for the gas transmission rate testing of plastic films, laminated films and sheets as well as finished packages. This instrument is fully automatic with three independent chambers and random temperature data curve fitting. It’s with temperature control and LAN data management.

- PERME OX2/230 Oxygen Transmission Rate Testing System: This is of coulometric principle and equal pressure method. This instrument is applicable for the oxygen transmission property testing of films and sheets, as well as bottles, cans and boxes. This instrument is of master base and satellite module mode: one master base can support 9 satellite modules with the realization of 30 samples tested simultaneously.
 
- VAC-V Series Differential Pressure Gas Permeability Tester: This is applicable for the oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide permeability testing of plastic films and sheets as well as laminated films. This series of instruments, including VAC-V1, VAC-V2 and VAC-V3, etc., complies with differential pressure method.

- PERME W3/330 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Testing System: This is used for the water vapor transmission rate testing of films and sheets as well as bottles, bags, cans and boxes. This instrument is of Master–satellite mode, one master base can connect 9 satellite modules with the realization of 30 samples tested simultaneously.

- TSY-T Series Water Vapor Permeability Tester: This is applicable in the water vapor transmission testing of packaging materials such as films and laminated films as well as high polymer products. This series of products are fully automatic, computer control and of weighing method. The series includes TSY-T1H, TSY-T1L and TSY-T3, etc.

MEDICAL PACKAGING STRENGTH TESTING: Medical packaging strength testing includes index testing like material tensile strength testing, peeling strength testing of laminated films, hot seal strength testing, tearing strength and pouch resistance testing. Tensile strength is the maximum strength value just before the material is snapped. Through testing, the package damage and rapture caused by external forces and insufficient packaging material mechanical strength can be resolved effectively. Peeling strength testing, also called complex strength testing, tests the bond strength between the layers of laminated films. If the bond strength is too low, leakage is easily caused by separation among the layers. Hot seal strength testing is to test the strength of the seals. During storage and transportation of products, low hot seal strength will cause problems such as rending and leakage. Pouch resistance is the index evaluating the anti-puncture strength of the package against rigid material. Relevant testing instruments are as follows:

- XLW Series Auto Tensile Testers: These are for the peeling, tensile, heal seal and tearing tests of films, laminated films, adhesives and tapes.

- BLD-200S Auto Stripping Tester: This is for the peeling, tensile and heat seal testing for films, laminated films, adhesive and tapes. The standard specifications are 200N (100N, 50N and 30N); mini-printer and computer connective.

- HST-H3 Heat Seal Tester: This is for the specimen preparation for the heat seal strength testing of films. Testing pressure, temperature and time are adjustable. This instrument adopts microcontroller for intellectual operation and PID high precision components for temperature so as to ascertain accurate temperature.

- RTD-R2 Gradation Heat-Sealing Instrument: These can prepare five groups of plastic films or flexible packaging laminated films simultaneously under five independent temperatures; and seal five groups of specimen simultaneously and efficiently.

Introduction to Relevant Medical Testing Instruments

MEDICAL PACKAGING SEALING PROPERTY TESTING: The medical packaging sealing property testing can guarantee the completeness of the whole package and avoid leakage and deterioration caused by the inferior sealing property.
 
MFY-01 Leak Tester: This is applicable for the package seal reliability testing by vacuumizing test chamber. Micro-computer control, panel operation, digital parameter pre-set and full-automatic testing.

- LSSD-01 Leak and Seal Strength Detector: This is for the heat seal and sealing completeness testing of bags, plastic bags and packages. The instrument is with intellectual testing process, LCD display, statistics communication and positive principle.

MEDICAL PACKAGING IMPACT RESISTANCE TESTING can guarantee the effective protection of user. Impact resistance property testing can be classified as dart impact and pendulum impact.

- Labthink BMC-B1 Falling Dart Impact Tester: This is applicable in quality and energy testing of plastic films and sheets under the attack of free-falling dart at given heights, according to free-falling dart theory.

- Labthink FIT-01 Film Impact Tester: This is applicable to evaluate the force damaging the plastic film, laminated film, sheet and foil sample with its hemisphere head falling at certain speeds, so as to bring forward shock resistance evaluation of the material by measuring the consumed energy of the head.

MEDICAL PACKAGING TEARING PROPERTY TESTING: Tearing of medical packaging may occur because of external forces in storage, transportation and usage. Sufficient tearing resistant forces can reduce tearing and avoid dangers.

SLY-S1 Tearing Tester complies with Elmendorf method, and is applicable in tearing resistance test of films, laminated films, foils, paper and paper boards.

MEDICAL PACKAGING COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION TESTING (SURFACE SMOOTHNESS): Proper smoothness of the two sides of the clothing material can guarantee the good performances as well as smooth transportation and packaging in the assembly line.

- MXD Series of Coefficient of Friction Tester is applicable in static and kinetic coefficient of friction test to plastic film, foils, sheets and paper. Through testing the smoothness of the materials, comfortableness and safety of medical packaging can be guaranteed to meet the demands. This series of products includes MXD-01, MXD-01A and MXD-02.

- FTP-F1 Friction/Peel Tester is computer control, and can test the material coefficient of friction between room temperature and 99.9 Centigrade as well as peeling strength of laminated films and adhesive products.

MEDICAL PACKAGING TESTING FOR THICKNESS: Thickness is the basic index to test films. Uneven thickness would influence the tensile strength and barrier property as well as the following processing.

- CHY-C2 Thickness Tester is for the measurement of films, sheets and paper with mechanical contacting method, with no limitation for measured materials. Import high quality sensor with the resolution up to 0.1 ìm. The contact area and pressure between measure head and film/paper complies with relevant standards strictly, including multi-standards such as ISO and ASTM.

- CHY-CA Thickness Tester is of high precision up to 0.1ìm, multi-point automatic continuous testing, LCD display, micro-printer and other distinguished functions of statistics and communication.

MEDICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTH PRINTING QUALITY TESTERS: Ink-layer Bond Strength: YGJ-02 Adhesive Tape Roller and BLJ-01 Disc Peeling Tester work together to test the ink-layer bond strength of plastic films and cellophane paper (including laminated film printing products). Those testers can also be applied to test the adhesive state between the layers of vacuuming coating, exterior coating and compound.

MCJ-01A Rub Tester is applicable for the abrasion resistance testing of ink layers and the photosensitive coating of PS board, so as to effectively analyze the issues of low abrasion resistance, ink layer falling-off, low press resistance and inferior coating rigidness of other products.

- RT-01 Rub Tester is for ink layer abrasion resistance testing of printing products. Arc moving mode; and double station design. This tester is highly effective and complies with ASTM, TAPPI and other international standards.