ASTM D4332-14

Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Many materials from which containers and packages are made, especially cellulosic materials, undergo changes in physical properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to which they are exposed are varied. Therefore, the package should be placed and kept in a specified atmosphere for a length of time such that subsequent measurements of physical properties will be meaningful and reproducible.  
4.2 The conditions described in this practice are either historically accepted standard conditions or special laboratory conditions chosen to represent particular phases of the distribution environment. These special conditions do not necessarily duplicate actual field conditions, but tend to simulate them and have effects on packages and materials which may be related to their field performance.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice provides for standard and special conditioning and testing atmospheres that may be used to simulate particular field conditions that a container, package, or packaging component may encounter during its life or testing cycle.  
1.2 This practice describes procedures for conditioning these containers, packages, or packaging components so that they approach or reach equilibrium with the atmosphere to which they may be exposed. This standard is commonly used for conditioning when conducting transit simulation tests.  
1.3 Practice D685 should be used as the relevant conditioning standard when quantification of box compression strength at standard atmosphere conditions is required.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Oct-2014
• ICS: 55.020 - Packaging and distribution of goods in general
• Technical Committee: D10 - Packaging
• Drafting Committee: D10.21 - Shipping Containers and Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D4332 − 14
Standard Practice for
Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging
1
Components for Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4332; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope F2825 Practice for Climatic Stressing of Packaging Systems
for Single Parcel Delivery
1.1 This practice provides for standard and special condi-
tioning and testing atmospheres that may be used to simulate
3. Terminology
particular field conditions that a container, package, or pack-
aging component may encounter during its life or testing cycle.
3.1 Terms and definitions used in this practice may be found
in Terminology D996, Terminology E41, or Specification
1.2 This practice describes procedures for conditioning
E171.
these containers, packages, or packaging components so that
they approach or reach equilibrium with the atmosphere to
4. Significance and Use
which they may be exposed. This standard is commonly used
for conditioning when conducting transit simulation tests.
4.1 Many materials from which containers and packages are
made, especially cellulosic materials, undergo changes in
1.3 Practice D685 should be used as the relevant condition-
physicalpropertiesasthetemperatureandtherelativehumidity
ing standard when quantification of box compression strength
(RH) to which they are exposed are varied. Therefore, the
at standard atmosphere conditions is required.
package should be placed and kept in a specified atmosphere
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
for a length of time such that subsequent measurements of
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
physical properties will be meaningful and reproducible.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
4.2 The conditions described in this practice are either
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
historically accepted standard conditions or special laboratory
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
conditions chosen to represent particular phases of the distri-
bution environment. These special conditions do not necessar-
2. Referenced Documents
ily duplicate actual field conditions, but tend to simulate them
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
and have effects on packages and materials which may be
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products
related to their field performance.
for Testing
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-
5. Atmospheric Conditions
ments
5.1 Preconditioning Atmosphere—20 to 40°C (68 to 104°F)
E41 Terminology Relating To Conditioning
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier and 10 to 35 % relative humidity.
Packaging
5.2 StandardConditioningAtmosphere— 23 6 1°C (73.4 6
E337 Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psy-
2°F) and 50 6 2 % relative humidity.
chrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Tem-
NOTE 1—Average values must fall within these limits. Short-term
peratures)
fluctuations and measurement limitations may cause individual measure-
ments to vary up to 62°C (63.6°F) and 65 % relative humidity without
significant impairment of test precision.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
5.3 Environmental ConditioningAtmosphere—The environ-
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Containers and
mental conditions shown in Table 1 may be selected when
Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods.
appropriate (also see Practice F2825).
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2014. Published January 2015. Originally
approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D4332 –13. DOI:
NOTE 2—In the absence of a specific requirement for a particular
10.1520/D4332-14.
2
atmospheric condition, use the conditioning atmosphere given in 5.2.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
NOTE3—Conditioningatthedesertcondition(seeTable1)ataconstant
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on temperature of 60°C (140°F) may have effects on some materials that do
the ASTM website. not relate to effects of cyclical field conditions.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4332 − 14
TABLE 1 Environmental Conditions
preconditioning or conditioning so that the water in the
Environmental Temperature, Relative adhesive will not be a factor in preconditioni
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D4332 − 13 D4332 − 14
Standard Practice for
Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging
1
Components for Testing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4332; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice provides for standard and special conditioning and testing atmospheres that may be used to simulate particular
field conditions that a container, package, or packaging component may encounter during its life or testing cycle.
1.2 This practice describes procedures for conditioning these containers, packages, or packaging components so that they may
approach or reach equilibrium with the atmosphere to which they may be exposed. This standard is commonly used for
conditioning when conducting transit simulation tests.
1.3 Practice D685 should be used as the relevant conditioning standard when quantification of box compression strength at
standard atmosphere conditions is required.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products for Testing
D996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environments
E41 Terminology Relating To Conditioning
E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible Barrier Packaging
E337 Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (the Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures)
F2825 Practice for Climatic Stressing of Packaging Systems for Single Parcel Delivery
2.2 ISO Standard:
3
2233 Packaging—Complete, Filled Transport Packages: Conditioning for Testing
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms and definitions used in this practice may be found in Terminology D996, Terminology E41, or Specification E171.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Many materials from which containers and packages are made, especially cellulosic materials, undergo changes in physical
properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to which they are exposed are varied. Therefore, the package should
be placed and kept in a specified atmosphere for a length of time such that subsequent measurements of physical properties will
be meaningful and reproducible.
4.2 The conditions described in this practice are either historically accepted standard conditions or special laboratory conditions
chosen to represent particular phases of the distribution environment. These special conditions do not necessarily duplicate actual
field conditions, but tend to simulate them and have effects on packages and materials which may be related to their field
performance.
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.21 on Shipping Containers and
Systems - Application of Performance Test Methods.
Current edition approved March 15, 2013Nov. 1, 2014. Published April 2013January 2015. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 20062013 as
D4332 – 01 (2006).D4332 –13. DOI: 10.1520/D4332-13.10.1520/D4332-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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D4332 − 14
5. Atmospheric Conditions
5.1 Preconditioning Atmosphere—20 to 40°C (68 to 104°F) and 10 to 35 % relative humidity.
5.2 Standard Conditioning Atmosphere— 23 6 1°C (73.4 6 2°F) and 50 6 2 % relative humidity.
NOTE 1—Average values must fall within these limits. Short-term fluctuations and measurement limitations may cause individual measurements to vary
up to 62°C (63.6°F) and 65 % relative humidity without significant impairment of test precision.
NOTE 2—The standard conditioning in the United States is different than in many other countries that use the ISO 2233 conditions.
5.3 Environmental Conditioning Atmosphere—The environmental condi
...