ASTM D3090-72(2003)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Storage Testing of Aerosol Products
Standard Practice for Storage Testing of Aerosol Products
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Aerosol products are subjected to storage tests to ascertain the shelf-life of the complete package, and to evaluate the degree of suitability of the valve and container components for their intended uses.
It is impractical to promulgate a standard procedure for conducting storage tests, since variations will be necessitated by differences in the ultimate objective (for example, the primary interest of one test may be concerned with container suitability or shelf-life of a new product in an existing package, while another test may be concerned with valve evaluation).
It follows that storage testing must be flexible enough to accommodate the small procedural changes required. Thus, this recommended practice will only set forth those principles to be observed in establishing a definite procedure, in order to allow the individual operator the prerogative of adapting these to satisfy his particular requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the storage testing of aerosol products.
1.2 There are two major types of storage tests that may be performed on aerosol products:
1.2.1 Live Storage Testswhere the valves are actuated and the determinations are made at relatively frequent intervals (the purpose being to simulate consumer use of aerosol dispensers), and
1.2.2 Dead Storage Testsperformed to simulate warehouse storage conditions when shelf-life information is sought.
1.3 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. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 4.
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Designation:D3090–72 (Reapproved 2003)
Standard Practice for
Storage Testing of Aerosol Products
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3090; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope 3. General Requirements
1.1 This practice covers the storage testing of aerosol 3.1 Before making any aerosol storage tests, the following
products. should be borne in mind:
1.2 There are two major types of storage tests that may be 3.1.1 Sufficient test specimens should be available to re-
performed on aerosol products: place any that fail during the test, and to make it possible to
1.2.1 Live Storage Tests, where the valves are actuated and extend the storage period if desired.
thedeterminationsaremadeatrelativelyfrequentintervals(the 3.1.2 The test schedule and procedure should be well
purposebeingtosimulateconsumeruseofaerosoldispensers), planned. Only if this is followed, can there be any assurance
and thatimportantdevelopmentshavenotbeenmissed,andthatthe
1.2.2 Dead Storage Tests, performed to simulate warehouse results will correlate with other storage test results.
storage conditions when shelf-life information is sought. 3.1.3 Thetestsshouldbeperformedbycompetentpersonnel
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the wellqualifiedinthefield.Sincemostofthedataisnotobtained
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the bydirectmeasurementandisthereforenotentirelyobjectivein
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- nature, it is highly desirable to have the same operator perform
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- all of the tests on a given specimen. This, in addition to 3.1.2,
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific will do much to minimize the effect of the human element.
precautionary statements, see Section 4. 3.2 Before any specimens are committed to storage, the
following should apply:
2. Significance and Use
3.2.1 All pertinent background information concerning the
2.1 Aerosol products are subjected to storage tests to ascer-
problem should be assembled, so that the test specimen can be
tain the shelf-life of the complete package, and to evaluate the intelligently set up.
degree of suitability of the valve and container components for
3.2.2 Tests should be conducted to eliminate defective
their intended uses. containers and valves (the frequency of such defects should be
2.2 It is impractical to promulgate a standard procedure for
recorded). To make this segregation possible, pressure deter-
conducting storage tests, since variations will be necessitated minations, hot bath, vial leakage, and spray tests should be
by differences in the ultimate objective (for example, the
made on each filled dispenser.
primary interest of one test may be concerned with container 3.2.3 Conditions of filling and handling should as closely as
suitabilityorshelf-lifeofanewproductinanexistingpackage,
possible approximate those that would be encountered com-
while another test may be concerned with valve evaluation). mercially.
2.3 Itfollowsthatstoragetestingmustbeflexibleenoughto
4. Safety Precautions
accommodate the small procedural changes required. Thus,
this recommended practice will only set forth those principles 4.1 Aerosol storage tests involve a container, valve, or
to be observed in establishing a definite procedure, in order to product of unknown compatibility and performance. For this
allow the individual operator the prerogative of adapting these reason, serious accidents could occur. The operator should
to satisfy his particular requirements. employgloves,safetyshield,safetyglasses,andapparatuswith
proper controls.
4.2 If, during a test, container perforations or signs of
This practice is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
advanced corrosion are found, or if the product, dispensers, or
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.33 on Mechanical Dispensers.
valves otherwise become unmerchantable, the entire lot of
This practice was originally developed by the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers
Association.
Current edition approved July 28, 1972. Published November 1972.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D3090–72 (2003)
specimensshouldbedestroyed.Continuedtestingwouldwaste 6.2.2 Enough specimens should be provided for each test so
time and space, and could result in a serious accident. that a minimum of two dispensers of each variable from each
temperature can be evaluated and torn down at each scheduled
5. Live Storage Test examination. The other specimens remain untouched, with the
exception of weighing, until they are needed at a subsequent
5.1 Test Temperature—Specimens should be stored at room
examination.
temperature. In addition, a higher-temperature storage (for
6.2.3 A minimum of twelve extra specimens per variable
example, 98°F (36°C) may be employed. The use of the
should be stored at each temperature to allow for extension of
higher-temperature storage is particularly desirable when a
the test, if this later becomes necessary, and to allow a larger
new valve or product is being evaluated. The use of storage
number of specimens to be inspected at the final examination.
temperatures below 32°F (6 0°C), or the alternate exposure to
6.2.4 Thus, the minimum suggested number of specimens
subfreezing and elevated temperatures, has considerable merit
per product, container, or valve variable is as follows:
in the screening of new valves or new valve materials.
4np~4 1 y! (1)
5.2 Test Position and Number of Specimens—If the purpose
of the test is to evaluate a valve, half of the specimens at each
where:
storage temperature should be kept in an inverted position. If
y = duration of the test, years,
the product, or any constituent thereof, exerts a detrimental
n = number of storage temperatures, and
effect on the sealing material of the valve, the conditions may
p = number of storage positions to be employed.
be more readily observed in the case of inverted cans. Six cans
6.2.5 It is usually desirable to include a glass bottle of the
inverted and six cans upright for each temperature is the
aerosol concentrate with the specimens, in order to determine
minimum number of specimens for each variable that should
deteriorations that may take place that are independent of the
be considered. If the test involves only one temperature, ten to
aerosolcontainer.Oneortwoglassaerosolcontainersmayalso
twelve cans per variable (upright and inverted) is a more
be included.
desirable size.
6.2.6 It is often useful to place one or two empty metal
5.3 Test Time—The tests are usually considered completed
containers with the specimens, especially for internally lined
when 10 g or less of formulation remains in the containers.
variables, for possible future references.
Extension of the tests beyond this point may cause erratic and
6.3 Test Time—Most dead storage tests are concluded after
unreliable results.
24 months of storage, but a test may be extended for a much
5.4 Examination Schedule—Examinations of the specimens
longer period, if the previous results and the objective so
should be made weekly, or more often if the completion of the
require.
test in less total elapsed time is necessary.
6.4 Examination Schedule—Examinations are usually made
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