Examinationmethods
Conformity Status
The conformity status is a summing up and evaluation of the available information concerning food regulatory assessment of the specified article. It identifies, where required, open issues of compliance work.
SML (specific migration limit) analysis of individual substances for compliance evaluation
Quantitative analysis of substances with limits (SML, SML(T), QM, QMA etc.) or non-evaluated substances by gas chromatography (e.g. HS-GC, GC/MS), liquid chromatography (e.g. HPLC/MS), mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) in food simulants or foodstuffs after migration or (residual) content determination in the material or article
10 ppb screening or NIAS screening (non-target analysis) semiquantitative
Semi-quantitative screening for the presence of NIAS (non-intentionally added substances) or some SML substances by GC/MS after migration with food simulant ethanol 95% for foods with hydrophilic or lipophilic properties or simulant E (poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide or Tenax ®) for dry foods. In principle, substances with molecular weights of approx. 100 - 700 Dalton (or approx. 100 -700 g/mol) can be detected.
Overall migration acc. Reg. (EU) No 10/2011 standard test conditions (OM 0 - OM 7)
Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 (PIM)/DIN EN 1186 classical food simulants for all filling goods (no alternative tests like Isooctane testing):
A = Ethanol 10 % (v/v), B = Acetic acid 3 % (w/v), C= Ethanol 20 % (v/v), D1 = Ethanol 50 % (v/v), D2 = Vegetable oil, E = poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) (Tenax ®)
sensory analysis of packaging materials/transition of sensory perceptible substances to (test) foodstuffs
Organoleptic determination of the flavour transition (gustatory, olfactory and trigeminal sensations may be influenced by tactile, thermal, painful and/or kinaestesic effects) from packaging materials to standard test foodstuffs, commonly known as the "Robinson test", as well as change in appearance and odour of the (test) foodstuff.
microbiological examination
Determination of total viabl count, yeasts and moulds resp. enterobacteria
Damage analysis/ analysis of complaints
In many cases, it is not immediately obvious which kind of tests are necessary and reasonable for the clarification. Furthermore, test results which are available in short time are often helpful for further decisions.
Our “diagnostic concept” provides the agreement of a limited budget (normally 700,- up to 1.000,- Euro) for the screening and evaluation of information already available as well as the realization and assessment of first tests according to an agreed schedule. The result is a more detailed view of the damage, possible solutions and indications for additional and reasonable investigations and researches are given. You will receive first reliable test results and an appropriate documentation of the current situation at short notice and at a fixed price.
Information on the frequency of the anomalies ,point in time of recognition, technical information such as material structure, yet present test results are known to be helpful for successfully examination. If available, please send us reference samples, data sheets, specifications.
Request for special tests
Here you can make a request for specific tests,you have not found in our testing methods directory. We are happy to investigate, whether we can support you with regard to the requested examination
Determination of thickness of plastic films, aluminium foils, plane multilayer-materials and sheets
Determination by mechanical scanning (accredited test method)
Surface resistance/ resistivity
Mit circular electrode with shielding or polymeric blade electrode (Bayer- electrode). Documentation in report as direct result (electrode-dependent) and surface resistivity. Conditioning as agreed, measurements even under conditions deviating from the standard climate of 23°C/ 50% r.h. possible in climate chamber.
storage test/ accelerated aging in lab drying oven or refrigerator (controlled temperature)
Storage tests with or without filling good for estimating the long-term stability of materials and packages. The storage tests, depending on the requirements, could be carried out in lab drying oven (convection), refrigerator, explosion-protected heating chamber (e.g. solvent-based media,T1- T3 max 105 °C;T 4 max. 70 °C), climate chamber (humidity and temperature controlled, temperature and humidity cycles possible). Please select the appropriate method to avoid unnecessary costs.
Tests by this method are common for accelerated assessment of material aging for long-term applications, also in terms of resistance against chemicals, foodstuffs or other filling goods. The assesment looks purely on technical aspects, for the assessment of compliance with food legislation is referred to relevant legal requuirements. Nevbermind, we strongly recommend parallel tests under real storage conditions to validate the meaningfulness of accelerated aging tests.
To prepare an offer we need the following information:
What type of packaging should be tested (size, filling volume)?
How many packages should be stored?
Are the packages empty or do they have to be emptied before testing?
Which contents are involved (CAS no./ safety data sheet)?
How long should the packages be stored?
Under what ambient conditions should the packages be stored (temperature, controlled relative humidity)?
Dimensions and repeating patterns on pouches, bags etc.
Dimensions like width, length, side gusset depth on bags, reels, packagings, repeat measurements, with calibrated metal measuring stick n = 5
Gelboflextest/Brugger KFT
Wrinkle test in which a piece of film of approx. DIN A 4 size is cylindrically wrung up at an angle of max. 440 ° in the Brugger KFT tester.
Usually 100 cycles are performed, afterwards the sample is tested e. g. on hole formation, delamination, oxygen or water vapour transmission rate, optical density or the like. The base price includes the examination of max. 4 sheets over 100 cycles at an angle of max. 440 °. Other test conditions are available upon request, calculation according to time spent. Minimum sample size 280 mm x 200 mm.
curling or flatness
The curl of sheet materials depends generally on temperature and conditioning state. So multilayer materials produced by usage of materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion or unequal expansion/ shrinkage due to differing hygroscopic tendency may tend to curl caused by a kind of bi-metall effect. In addition to that excessive mechanical stress in the processing of rolls can cause curl.
water absorption of paper/ Cobb- test
DIN EN ISO 535
penetrability of fat/ fat- proof test
Testing of paper, coated paper or plastic films with pigmented palm kernel fat. The sample is covered on the test surface with the test fat and then the glass pane and, if necessary, additional weights are placed on top.At the end of the exposure time, the grease spots up to 1 mm in size, visible to the naked eye on the display paper within the defined test area, are evaluated. If only grease spots up to 1,0 mm are observed, the test is considered to have been passed; in the case of grease spots larger than 1,0 mm, the test has to be performed with a more moderate test condition (a "poorer" grease permeability group).
Blocking test/ blocking strength
Test of the blocking tendency of plane packaging materials, in dependence of temperature T [°C], pressure p [MPa] and time t [h]. The evaluation is carried out either by manual test or by determination of blocking force Fmax [N] by shear test with tensile tester.
If the sample should by tested under several test conditions separately, please create multiple tests for each test parameter setting.
Curvature of films
This method is used for measuring the curvature of a lay flat film based on the longitudinal direction. This so-called sheet travel can e.g. be the result of a aslope bubble while blow- film extrusion prozess. The film tends then as to lobed edges of the reel or wrinkling during laminating. We will send you on request our SOP.
drop test of sacks and bags EN 13592
drop test of pouches resp. sacks or tie- band sacks, strength of closure
per test load, standard n = 10 (testing of n= 30 bags: extra charge)
Film construction/material characterisation - Analysis package at a fixed price
Qualitative characterisation of plastic films, laminates and plastic products concerning layer construction and basic materials, excepting adhesives, tie layers, inorganic coatings, e.g. metallisations. Methods: DSC screening (- 20 up to 300 °C/2 heating runs) of the material as received, microtome cut to determine and display visible layers and layer thicknesses, determination of the material class of the individual layers with FTIR spectroscopy; Beilstein test for presence of chlorine. Additional tests available by arrangement.
VA content determination in E/VA copolymers
Detemination by IR spectroscopy in combination with thermal analysis DSC.
Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of plastic films, laminates, coated papers, Alufoils, etc.
Coulombmetric (oxygen specific) carrier gas method Method (Ametek/ Mocon).
Oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of packages, pouches, moulded parts, bottles, etc. (only suitable for barrier materials, see also "i")
The measurement is carried out using the coulommetric, oxygen-specific carrier gas method.
Attention: This is only suitable for packages with a good oxygen barrier. Materials with high permeation coefficients, such as PP, PE or PS cups cannot be measured because the permeation is too high.
Water Vapour Transmission Rate (WVTR) bottles, packages, moulded parts, tubes, etc. (only suitable for barrier materials, see also "i")
The measurement is carried out by usage of the the water vapor specific hydrolysis- method, which allows to detect even the lowest permeabilities precisely and reproducibly. Besides the offered standard parameters it is also possible to measure under various different temperature and humidity conditions.
Attention: This method is only suitable for packs with a good water vapour barrier. Materials with high permeation coefficients, e.g. PA, thermoplastic starch, PLA cannot be measured due to excessive permeation.
Leak tightness/leakage test/pores
These tests are used to locate defects, leaks, micro-holes (pinholes), leakages and so forth in packagings, pouches, sacks and films. Depending on the problem and material, various methods are used, e.g. gas detection, dye penetration, chemical copper deposition, resistance against water or visual inspection on standardized light box. Please do not hesitate to contact us, we will be pleased to assist you in selecting a suitable method for your questions.
To prepare an offer we need the following information:
What type of packaging should be tested (size, filling volume)?
How many packages should be stored?
Are the packages empty or do they have to be emptied before testing?
Which contents are involved (CAS no./ safety data sheet)?
Carbondioxyde transmission (CO2 TR) rate of plastic films, laminates, coated papers, Alufoils, etc.
Testing performed with the manometric method acc. DIN 53380 T 2 resp. ISO 15105-1 (Brugger-method), also comparable to ASTM D 1434-procedure M.
Determination of (residual) oxygen and carbon dioxide content in ready-made packages
(Residual) oxygen and carbon dioxide content in sealed containers of any kind provided with modified gas atmosphere (MAP), e. g. cups, bottles, pouches, trays. The testing can be carried out with filled as well as empty packages. The method is not suitable for testing vacuum packages. Basic price, measurement of 5 emptied and cleaned packages included, additional measurements according to time.
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