ASTM F2029-16

Standard Practices for Making Laboratory Heat Seals for Determination of Heat Sealability of Flexible Barrier Materials as Measured by Seal Strength

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice facilitates the determination of laboratory heat sealability of flexible barrier materials. While it is necessary to have a heat seal layer that provides adequate seal strength for the application, other material properties, such as the overall construction and thickness, will impact the sealing properties of the material. This practice allows the impact of changes in material properties on heat sealability to be measured.  
4.2 Due to differences between a laboratory sealer and manufacturing equipment (for example, scale, size of sealing area, and processing speed), there may be a significant difference between the capability and output of a laboratory heat sealer and that of manufacturing equipment. Hence, care must be taken when applying a heat seal curve study as outlined in these practices to manufacturing equipment. The heat seal curve and the corresponding seal strength data are intended to provide a starting point for determination of sealing conditions for full scale manufacturing equipment.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices cover laboratory preparation of heat seals. These practices also cover the treatment and evaluation of heat seal strength data for the purpose of determining heat sealability of flexible barrier materials. It does not cover the required validation procedures for the production equipment.  
1.2 Testing of seal strength or other properties of the heat seals formed by these practices is not included in this standard. Refer to Test Method F88 for testing heat seal strength. This practice does not apply to hot tack testing, which is covered in F1921.  
1.3 The practices of this standard are restricted to preparing heat seals using a sealer employing hot-bar or impulse sealing methods, or both.  
1.4 This practice is intended to assist in establishing starting relationships for sealing flexible barrier materials. Additional guidance may be needed on how to set up sealing conditions for flexible barrier materials on commercial/production sealing equipment.  
1.5 Seals may be made between webs of the same or dissimilar materials. The individual webs may be homogeneous in structure or multilayered (coextruded, coated, laminated, and so forth).  
1.6 Strength of the heat seal as measured by Test Method F88 is the sole criterion for assessing heat sealability employed in these practices.  
1.7 Other aspects of heat sealability, such as seal continuity, typically measured by air-leak, dye penetration, visual examination, microorganism penetration, or other techniques, are not covered by these practices.  
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.  
1.9 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: 14-Nov-2016
• ICS: 83.180 - Adhesives
• Technical Committee: F02 - Primary Barrier Packaging
• Drafting Committee: F02.20 - Physical Properties

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: F2029 − 16
Standard Practices for
Making Laboratory Heat Seals for Determination of Heat
Sealability of Flexible Barrier Materials as Measured by Seal
1
Strength
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2029; 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 1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.1 These practices cover laboratory preparation of heat
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
seals. These practices also cover the treatment and evaluation
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
of heat seal strength data for the purpose of determining heat
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
sealability of flexible barrier materials. It does not cover the
required validation procedures for the production equipment.
2. Referenced Documents
1.2 Testing of seal strength or other properties of the heat
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
seals formed by these practices is not included in this standard.
F88 Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier
Refer to Test Method F88 for testing heat seal strength. This
Materials
practice does not apply to hot tack testing, which is covered in
F1921 Test Methods for Hot Seal Strength (Hot Tack) of
F1921.
Thermoplastic Polymers and Blends Comprising the Seal-
1.3 The practices of this standard are restricted to preparing
ing Surfaces of Flexible Webs
heat seals using a sealer employing hot-bar or impulse sealing
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or
methods, or both.
Packaging Components for Testing
1.4 This practice is intended to assist in establishing starting
3. Terminology
relationships for sealing flexible barrier materials. Additional
guidance may be needed on how to set up sealing conditions
3.1 Definitions:
for flexible barrier materials on commercial/production sealing
3.1.1 dwell time, n—the time interval when the sealing jaws
equipment.
areincontactwith,andexertingpressureon,thematerialbeing
sealed.
1.5 Seals may be made between webs of the same or
dissimilar materials. The individual webs may be homoge-
3.1.2 heat seal curve, n—a plot of measured seal strength as
neous in structure or multilayered (coextruded, coated,
a function of sealing temperature at a fixed dwell time and
laminated, and so forth).
sealing pressure.
1.6 Strength of the heat seal as measured by Test Method 3.1.3 heat seal strength, n—force per unit width of seal
F88 is the sole criterion for assessing heat sealability employed required to progressively separate a flexible material from a
in these practices. rigid material or another flexible material, under the conditions
of the test. Also known as seal strength.
1.7 Other aspects of heat sealability, such as seal continuity,
typically measured by air-leak, dye penetration, visual 3.1.4 heat sealability, n—the ability of thermoplastic poly-
mers and blends, when comprising a sealing surface of a
examination, microorganism penetration, or other techniques,
are not covered by these practices. flexible web, that defines how well the material bonds to itself
or a dissimilar material upon the application of pressure, heat,
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
and dwell (time), as judged by the heat seal curve.
standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
3.1.4.1 Discussion—Since heat seal strength can be mea-
only.
sured either while the seal is still hot (hot tack) or after cooling
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on Primary
Barrier Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 on
2
Physical Properties. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2016. Published November 2016. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F2029 – 08. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/F2029-16. 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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F2029 − 16
and stabilizing (ultimate seal strength), a complete evaluation and the precision of the controlling unit should be known and
of heat sealability of a material may include both tests. calibrated. The temperature should be verified periodically
using a calibrated pyrometer adequate for the range
...

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: F2029 − 08 F2029 − 16
Standard Practices for
Making Heatseals Laboratory Heat Seals for Determination
of Heatsealability Heat Sealability of Flexible Webs Barrier
1
Materials as Measured by Seal Strength
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2029; 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 These practices cover laboratory preparation of heatseals and heat seals. These practices also cover the treatment and
evaluation of heatseal heat seal strength data for the purpose of determining heatsealability heat sealability of flexible barrier
materials. It does not cover the required validation procedureprocedures for the materials and production equipment.
1.2 Testing of seal strength or other properties of the heatseals heat seals formed by these practices is not included in this
standard. Refer to Test Method F88 for testing heatseal strength. heat seal strength. This practice does not apply to hot tack testing,
which is covered in F1921.
1.3 The practices of this standard are restricted to sealing with a machine employing hot-bar jaw(s). Impulse, high-frequency,
and ultrasonic heating methods are not included.preparing heat seals using a sealer employing hot-bar or impulse sealing methods,
or both.
1.4 These practices apply primarily to webs intended to be used on commercial machines employing reciprocating sealing jaws,
such as most form-fill-seal packaging machines, platen heatsealers, and so forth. Conditions of dwell time and sealing pressure on
machines of this type typically are different from those on rotary machines.This practice is intended to assist in establishing starting
relationships for sealing flexible barrier materials. Additional guidance may be needed on how to set up sealing conditions for
flexible barrier materials on commercial/production sealing equipment.
1.5 The procedure of this practice with respect to choice of heatsealing conditions apply to ultimate seal strength or hot tack
measurement.
1.5 Seals may be made between webs of the same or dissimilar materials. The individual webs may be homogeneous in structure
or multilayered (coextruded, coated, laminated, and so forth).
1.6 Strength of the heatseal heat seal as measured by Test Method F88 is the sole criterion for judging heatsealability assessing
heat sealability employed in these practices.
1.7 Determination of heatsealability as judged byOther aspects of heat sealability, such as seal continuity, typically measured
by air-leak, dye penetration, visual examination, microorganism penetration, or other techniques, are not covered by these
practices.
1.8 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.
1.9 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:
F88 Test Method for Seal Strength of Flexible Barrier Materials
1
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on FlexiblePrimary Barrier Packaging and are the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 on
Physical Properties.
Current edition approved April 1, 2008Nov. 15, 2016. Published May 2008November 2016. Originally approved in 2000. Last previous edition approved in 20002008
as F2029 – 00.F2029 – 08. DOI: 10.1520/F2029-08.10.1520/F2029-16.
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

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
F2029 − 16
F1921 Test Methods for Hot Seal Strength (Hot Tack) of Thermoplastic Polymers and Blends Comprising the Sealing Surfaces
of Flexible Webs
D4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 dwell time, n—the time interval when the sealing jaws are in co
...