Physical Testing Laboratory
| Coefficient of Friction- COF: |
ASTM D-1894 Standard test Method for Static and Kinetic Coefficients of Friction of Plastics Film and Sheeting. |
DDetermination of the Coefficient of static and kinetic friction on plastic films and sheets on a stationary plane. Performance evaluation of the Gliding Agent. |
| Grammage: |
ASTM D-646 Standard Test Method for Grammage of Paper and Paperboard (Mass Per Unit Area). |
Determination of the Grammage (weight) of plastic films (Mass per Unit Area). Directly related to the mechanical resistance and barrier properties. |
| Film Resistance to Dart Impact: |
ASTM D-1709 Standard Test Method for Impact Resistance of Plastic Film by the Free-Falling Dart Method. |
Determination of Polyethylene film and plastic bag impact resistance using the free falling dart method. This test determines the energy necessary to rupture a flexible film under specific impact conditions. |
| Plastic T-shirt Bag Dart Impact Resistance: |
NBR 14937 Plastic T-shirt Bags Requirements and Testing Methods. |
| Sealing properties: |
ASTM F-1921 Standard Test Method for Hot Seal Strength (Hot Tack) of Thermoplastic Polymers and Blends Comprising the Sealing Surfaces of Flexible Webs
. |
A test that determines the curves for the Hot Tack and Ultimate Strength (final seal resistance), as well as the ideal conditions for a good seal, and compares different samples' sealing abilities. |
| Elmendorf Tear Tester in Plastic Films: |
ASTM D-1922 Standard Test Method for Propagation Resistance of Plastic Film and Thin by Pendulum Method. |
The determination of the average force required to diffuse a tear in a plastic film along a specified distance. |
| Hardness Type A and D: |
ASTM D-2240 Standard Test Method for Rubber Property - Durometer Hardness. |
The determination of Type A and D material hardness in pre-defined conditions. |
| % gloss: |
ASTM D-2457 Standard Test Method for Specular Gloss of Plastics Films and Solid Plastics. |
The determination of reflective gloss on plastic films and sheets. |
| % Haze, Clarity and Transmittance: |
ASTM D-1003 Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics. |
The determination of the % haziness, clarity and luminous transmittance of plastic films. |
| Superficial and Volumetric Resistance: |
ASTM D-257 Standard Test Method for DC Resistance or Conductance of Insulating Materials. |
The determination of resistance is a parameter that allows for the evaluation of the effects of Antistatic Agents on the dispersion of electric charges on films. |
| Penetration Resistance in Plastic Films: |
ASTM F-1306 Slow Rate Penetration Resistance of Flexible Barrier Films and Laminates. |
Penetration resistance is an important parameter for materials used in packaging products with edges and points that may damage the package. |
| Penetration Resistance in Stretch Films: |
ASTM D-5748 Standard Test Method for Protrusion Resistance of Stretch Wrap Films. |
| Film Tensile Properties: |
ASTM D-882 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting. |
An evaluation of the Tensile Properties in films and sheets expresses the resistance of the material to deformation from stretching while subject to tension. This test evaluates the following properties: maximum tension, rupture tension, yield tension, elongation at rupture and elongation at yield. |
| Tensile Properties in Sheets: |
ASTM D-638 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics. |
| 1% Secant Module in Films: |
ASTM D-882 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Thin Plastic Sheeting. |
The 1% Secant Module is the relation between elastic deformation and the nominal load applied. This elasticity module happens at a 1% deformation. It is also an indicator of material rigidity. |
| 1% Secant Module in sheets: |
ASTM D-638 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Plastics. |
| Resistance to Initial Tear: |
ASTM D-1004 Standard Test Method for Initial Tear Resistance of Plastic Film and Sheeting. |
The tear resistance is calculated using the maximum load reading during the test and provides comparative information between materials of similar composition. |
| Crush resistance of blow molded containers: |
ASTM D-2659 Standard Test Method for Column Crush Properties of Blown Thermoplastics Containers. |
The crush resistance of containers is a quality parameter for containers that may be stacked or overloaded. |
| Drop impact resistance of blow molded containers: |
ASTM D-2463 Standard Test Method for Drop Impact Resistance of Blown-Molded Thermoplastic Containers. |
The drop impact resistance of containers evaluates the construction of the containers as well as the materials used and the processing conditions. |
| Stress-Cracking Resistance: |
ASTM D-1693 Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Ethylene Plastics. |
Environmental Stress-Cracking resistance in Ethylene plastics when subject to specific conditions (tension, temperature and stress actions) Also performed on blow molded containers. |
| ASTM D-2561 Standard Test Method for Environmental Stress-Cracking of Blow-Molded Polyethylene Containers. |
| Blocking Load: |
ASTM D-3354 Standard Test Method for Blocking Load of Plastic Film by the Parallel Plate Method. |
The determination of the Blocking Load between layers of a plastic film. Also determines the induced Blocking Load and Re-blocking of the films. |
| Superficial Treatment Level: |
ASTM D-2578 Standard Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films. |
Measures the level of superficial treatment applied to films in order to change the superficial tension for better adhesion of paints and coatings. |
| Galvanometry: |
The determination of the galvanometric properties such as the critical shearing rate, viscosity, melt fracture and extrusion swelling. |
| Shrinkage rate: |
The determination of the shrinkage rate helps to develop thermo-shrinking films that require adequate rate of shrinkage between the machine direction and the transversal direction of the films. |
Wet chemical analysis and characterization laboratories
| Flow Rates: |
ASTM D-1238 Standard Test Method for Melt Flow Rates of Thermoplastics by extrusion Plastometer. |
The determination of the Flow Rate helps to characterize several materials (PE, PP, PS, EVA etc.) and is also an indication of their application. |
| Density: |
ASTM D-1505 Standard Test Method for Density of Plastics by Density-Gradient Technique. |
The determination of the Density helps to characterize several materials (PE, EVA etc.) and their blends. |
| ASTM D-2839 Standard Test Method for Use a Melt Index Strand for Determining Density of Polyethylene. |
| Vicat Softening Temperature: |
ASTM D-1525 Standard Test Method for Vicat Softening Temperature of Plastics. |
The Vicat Softening Temperature is an important parameter to evaluate thermal resistance of thermoplastic materials. |
| HTD Deflection Temperature: |
ASTM D-648 Standard Test Method for Deflection Temperature of Plastics Flexural Load in the edgewise Position. |
Determines the HDT Deflection Temperature. |
| Differential Scanning Calorimetry - DSC: |
ASTM D-3417 Standard Test Method for Enthalpies of Fusion and Crystalization of Polymers by DSC. |
Characterization of several polymers by determining the fusion and enthalpy points. |
| ASTM D-3418 Standard Test Method for Transitions Temperatures of Polymers by DSC. |
Determination of the composition of polymeric blends. |
| ASTM D-3895 Standard Test Method for Oxidative-Induction Time of Polyolefins by DSC. |
Determination of Oxidation Induction Temperature or Time (OIT). |
| Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy - FTIR: |
Characterization of organic compounds (polymers and their additives) by identifying organic functional groups and by comparisons of diverse samples against a spectral library. |
| Vinyl Acetate content: |
Quantification of the percentage of Vinyl Acetate in EVA resins and their blends. |
| Carbonyl Index: |
Indication of oxidation and material degradation in comparison to virgin materials. |
| Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy: |
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of metallic loads such as titanium, calcium, zinc etc. present in the plastic materials. |
| Optical Microscopy: |
Identification of multi-layer structures. Shows images of how the layers are arranged and their thicknesses. |
| Analysis of contaminating gels on the films by fusion in a platinum chamber attached to the microscope. |
| Stereomicroscopy: |
Analysis of backsheet films, pellet contaminations, cellular disposition on expanded sheets, fractures on containers and injected pieces etc. |
| Additive Analysis by Liquid Chromatography: |
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of additives such as gliding agents, antioxidant agents and stabilizers against UV light. |
| Load (Antiblock) %: |
Quantitative analysis of inorganic loads used as Antiblocking Agents on the plastic materials. |
| Extractables %: |
Determination of the percentage of low molecular weight extractable from certain chemical solvents. Performed on PEBD, PEBDL and PEAD. |
| Reticulation rate: |
Determination of the percentage of reticulate material. Usually performed on expanded sheets. |
