EN 868-5 Packaging Materials Heat Self-Sealable Pouches Plastic Film

EN 868-5 is used to determine the peel strength of the heat seal joints used for heat and self-sealable pouches, as well as for reels used in packaging of medical devices that are sterilized. The EN 868-5 test method is suitable for use with a range of materials manufactured from paper and plastic film used in packaging. In principle, testing requires the free ends of the test specimen to be supported between two clamping jaws, and then then specimen is pulled apart in the tensile direction until failure at a constant rate of displacement. This test is performed to determine the peel strength characteristics of paper/plastic laminate products, in addition to determining the strength of the heat seal joint for pouches and reel material.

The challenges:

• Data rate used to capture peaks and troughs
• Gripping materials of varying thickness
• Eliminating slippage throughout the test

Our solutions:

• Data rate used to capture peaks and troughs – Instron 5900 Series frames enable data capture of up to 2.5 kHz to ensure that all fast changing test events are captured. Too low of a bandwidth may “dull” the system and lead to missed peaks and troughs, resulting in lower average strength values.
• Gripping materials of varying thickness – When testing an adhesive to a thick substrate, standard grips result in a misaligned specimen. The advanced screw action grips can be adjusted to offset to ensure that the specimen remains centered in the load string.
• Eliminating slippage throughout the test – The advanced screw action grips and pneumatic side action grips employ a patented “quick-change” jaw face design which enables operators to easily change jaw faces to accommodate the needs of their materials. Pneumatic grips are also able to maintain consistent gripping pressure throughout the test for materials which may be susceptible to slipping during the test.

For customers that need to meet 21 CFR Part 11 compliance, we offer ComplianceBuilder™. It is important to review EN 868-5 in order to fully understand the test setup, procedure, and results requirements.