Containers encompass bottle and cup forms. Bottle caps should be designed for easy opening, typically by controlling the torque force required for rotation. Special attention is given to pull-tab caps, ensuring they open with a designated amount of force. Cups are generally opened by peeling a sealed area or puncturing the rim using tools like straws. Here, the focus is on adjusting the seal strength or puncture resistance of the material according to the package's contents and target consumers. For instance, children's beverage packaging should consider a child's grip and wrist strength when designing the opening mechanism.
Several key parameters are identified to improve opening easiness in containers:
Friction Coefficient Testing: This test measures the friction on the external package wall, bottle cap surface, and cap material surface. A low friction coefficient on the external wall can make the bottle slippery and difficult to hold during opening. Conversely, a high friction coefficient between the bottle cap and hand improves grip during twisting. Similarly, a high friction coefficient on the sealing film of a cup lid enhances grip while peeling it open.
Torque Force Test: This test is crucial for containers opened by rotating a cap. By controlling the torque force applied during cap placement on the production line, a consistent opening experience is ensured.
Seal Strength Test: This test is vital for cups sealed with a film material at the rim, such as yogurt cups. The seal strength needs to be balanced - too weak and the seal might break during transportation, while too strong and it becomes difficult to peel open. The test considers the cap material, cup body sealing method, film sealing type, and the shape of the seal.
Puncture Resistance Test: This test is relevant for packages opened by puncturing the lid, such as some yogurt cups. The puncture resistance needs to be adequate to withstand external force during transportation without breaking, but also allow for easy opening with a tool like a straw.
Flexible bags come in various forms and are commonly used for small packaged foods, medical granules, and daily-use items. Ideally, these packages should be opened conveniently without scissors or other tools, aligning with their portability and ease-of-use characteristics. Here are some parameters to consider for improving opening easiness in flexible bags:
Friction Coefficient: Similar to containers, the friction coefficient of the external package surface is crucial for consumers to grip the bag and avoid slippage while opening.
Tearing Strength Test: Easy-open apertures are a preferred opening method for flexible bags as they require minimal force and no tools. The force required to open an easy-open aperture is estimated by measuring the tearing strength of the film. The tearing strength can vary depending on the direction of force applied due to the inherent properties of the film material. Therefore, the design of the easy-open aperture should consider the material's tearing strength to optimize the opening experience.
Seal Property Testing: Another common opening method involves peeling open the sealed end of the bag. The seal strength in this area needs to be sufficient to protect the contents during storage and transportation. However, it should also be weak enough to allow for easy peeling without compromising the integrity of the contents. The optimal seal strength depends on the specific package material and its contents and should be determined through comprehensive testing.
As the demand for functional packaging materials grows, testing methods are evolving to ensure a more comprehensive evaluation of packaging films. Labthink encourages collaboration with packaging industry companies for quality control! Visit the website www.labthink.com to learn more!
No comments:
Post a Comment