Food Packaging Materials, Barrier Properties, and Selection 303

Bursting Strength — This is the hydrostatic pressure required to produce rupture of the
material when the pressure is applied at a controlled increased rate through a rubber diaphragm
to a circular area of 30.48 mm (1.2 in) in diameter. "Points bursting strength" is the pressure
in pounds per square inch. This is the same test used for the bursting strength of paper and
paper products, ASTM D 774. Free falling dart method is described in ASTM D 1709.

Impact Strength — Impact strength is the energy required to puncture a flexible structure
to shock loading. This gives a measure of the toughness. The test is described in the
ASTM D 3420 and ASTM D1709.

Tear Strength —The measurement of tear strength takes into account the energy absorbed
by the film sample in propagating a tear. Two standard methods are available: ASTM standard
D 1004 describes the measurement for initial tear resistance, and ASTM D 1922 refers to the
energy absorbed by a test specimen in propagating the tear that has already been initiated by
cutting a small hole in the sample. The value of tear strength in one film may vary widely
depending on the degree of orientation such as oriented PP, and whether the measurement is
performed in the machine direction or cross machine direction. This is described by ASTM
D 1938.

Pinhole Flex Test —Pinhole flex resistance is the ability of a film to avoid the formation
of pinholes during repeated folding. A film that has a low value of pinhole flex resistance
will generate pinholes, at the folding line, following repeated flexing (ASTM F 456). A related
test is the folding endurance.

Folding Endurance This test measures the resistance of the material to flexure or creas-
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ing. The ASTM recommended procedure is described in the standard D 2176 which is used
to determine the number of folds necessary to break a sample film.

Heat sealing Temperature Important properties for wrapping, bag making, or sealing a
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flexible structure is the heat sealability characteristic of the material. To evaluate the seal,
two values are normally measured: the peel strength (ASTM F 88), and the hot tack strength.
As previously indicated, the absolute temperature and range of temperature must be consid -
ered. The polymer's average molecular weight determines the temperature level and the MWD
determines its range.

Coefficient of Friction The coefficient of friction (COF) is a measurement of the friction

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force between two surfaces. Cases in which friction is important include films passing over
free-running rolls, bag forming, wrapping film around a product, and bag stacking. Speed,
temperature, static, humidity, blocking, and surface smoothness affect the COF (TAPPI T 503
and ASTM D 1894).

Blocking — This is the tendency of two films to stick together when they are contacting
each other. This effect is enhanced by a smooth surface and when the films are left under
pressure, as is the case of stacked sheets or compacted rolls of film. Blocking can be measured
by the force needed to separate two sheets when force is applied perpendicular to them,
(ASTM D 1893 and D 3354, or Packaging Institute Procedure T 3629).

Haze —Haze is the percentage of transmitted light that, in passing through the sample,
deviates by more than 2.5° from an incident parallel beam. The appearance of haze is caused
by light being scattered by surface imperfections and nonhomogenous materials,
(ASTM D 1003).