This practice allows determination of the heatsealability of a surface or sealant layer. While it is necessary to have a heatseal surface layer that has adequate seal strength for the application, other material properties, such as the specific construction and total thickness, both chosen to satisfy requirements other than heatsealability, will impact the sealing properties of the material. This practice allows the impact of changes in material properties on heatsealability to be measured.

1.1 These practices cover laboratory preparation of heatseals and the treatment and evaluation of heatseal strength data for the purpose of determining heatsealability of flexible barrier materials. It does not cover the required validation procedure for the materials and production equipment.

1.2 Testing strength or other properties of the heatseals formed by these practices is not included in this standard. Refer to Test Method F 88 for testing heatseal strength.

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.

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.

1.5 The procedure of this practice with respect to choice of heatsealing conditions apply to ultimate seal strength or hot tack measurement.

1.6 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).

1.7 Strength of the heatseal as measured by Test Method F 88 is the criterion for judging heatsealability employed in these practices.

1.8 Determination of heatsealability as judged by seal continuity, typically measured by air-leak, dye penetration, visual examination, microorganism penetration, or other techniques, are not covered by these practices.

1.9 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.10 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.