Package testing
It can involve controlled laboratory experiments, subjective evaluations by people, or field testing.
Testing a new packaging design before full scale manufacturing can save time and money.
[7] Many suppliers or vendors offer limited material and package testing as a free service to customers.
Researchers are not restricted to the use of published standards but can modify existing test methods or develop procedures specific to their particular needs.
Suppliers publish data sheets and other technical communications that include the typical or average relevant physical properties and the test method these are based upon.
Other times, additional material and component testing is required by the packager or supplier to better define certain characteristics.
When a final package design is complete, the specifications for the component materials needs to be communicated to suppliers.
Legibility of text on packaging and labels is always subjective due to the inherent variations of people.
For example, paper based products are strongly affected by their moisture content: Relative humidity needs to be controlled.
Engineers have found it important to know the effects of the full range of expected conditions on package performance.
This can be through investigating published technical literature, obtaining supplier documentation, or by conducting controlled tests at diverse conditions.
Laboratory tests can help determine the shelf life of a package and its contents under a variety of conditions.
Exposures to expected and elevated temperatures and humidities are commonly used for shelf life testing.
The ability of packaging to control product degradation is frequently a subject of laboratory and field evaluations.
The ability of a package to control the permeation and penetration of gasses is vital for many types of products.
Packages can degrade with exposure to temperature, humidity, time, sterilization (steam, radiation, gas, etc.
Several types of accelerated aging of packaging and materials can be accomplished in a laboratory.
An Arrhenius equation is often used to correlate certain chemical reactions at different temperatures, based on the proper choice of Q10 coefficients.
This can be to: Both primary (consumer) packages and shipping containers have a risk of being dropped or being impacted by other items.
Tests are conducted to measure the resistance of packages and products to controlled laboratory shock and impact.
Testing also determines the effectiveness of package cushioning to isolate fragile products from shock.
The ability of insulated shipping containers to protect their contents from exposure to temperature fluctuations can be measured in a laboratory.
Some packages, particularly glass, can be sensitive to sudden changes in temperature: Thermal shock.
One method of testing involves rapid movement from cold to hot water baths, and back.
Other procedures use a static force by hanging a heavily loaded package for an extended time or even using a centrifuge.
More thorough validation may include evaluations after use (and abuse) testing such as sunlight, abrasion, impact, moisture, etc.
Some test the general ruggedness of the shipping container while others have been shown to reproduce the types of damage encountered in distribution.
Some base the type and severity of testing on formal studies of the distribution environment: instrumentation, data loggers, and observation.
Barrier properties, durability, visibility, sterility and strength need to be controlled; usually with documented test results for initial designs and for production.
The testing is based on the packing group (hazard level) of the contents, the quantity of material, and the type of container.
