5.1 With the proper precautions and background experience, results can be useful for estimation of the loss of a packaged product through the walls of a container during shelf storage. The test is also useful for isolating the effects of a container design and materials, and is applicable for development and research and for specification purposes.

5.2 In the absence of adequate supporting data, extrapolations or correlations of results to conditions beyond those of the test are not recommended because of possible product alteration, solvency, or chemical effects on the plastic, etc.

5.3 Before proceeding with this test method, refer to the specification of the material being tested. Any test specimen preparation, conditioning, dimensions, or testing parameters, or combination thereof, covered in the materials specification shall take precedence over those mentioned in this test method. If there are no material specifications, then the default conditions apply.

1.1 This test method covers procedures for determining the permeability of thermoplastic containers to packaged reagents or proprietary products under specified conditions of exposure. The exposures used are intended to simulate the normal and elevated temperature-storage conditions that might be encountered in end-use application.

1.2 This test method is applicable only to those types of containers designed to allow positive, leakproof closure.

1.3 Two procedures are provided:

1.3.1 Procedure A is specific to testing only with a standard design container. This procedure provides for determinations of rate of weight loss (or gain) and for calculation of a permeability factor.

1.3.2 Procedure B applies to tests of all other container designs. Permeability data by this procedure are expressed only in terms of rate of weight loss (or gain) for the particular container tested.

1.4 Units—The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system are not necessarily exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems has the potential to result in non-conformance with the standard.

Note 1: There is no known ISO equivalent to this standard.

1.5 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.