How to test the packaging ?

Different methods exist and we are going to present the methods to you here., that we offer to our customers, and achievable in our devices.

Destructive checks

These are the classic controls that can be carried out on the production line itself or in a quality control laboratory..

The first test is called “the bubble test” or the bubble visualization method..

Leak test in a vacuum chamber with visualization of bubbles

Case of packaging containing solids or powders and which still contain air or a modified atmosphere (M.A.P.)

This is the most common and easiest test to perform. In fact, it suffices to fill the box with water or a liquid containing a dye. Once the box is full, the samples to be tested are immersed in the box and the cover is closed to keep them submerged.

Once the samples are in place, we "vacuum" that is to say that we lower the pressure in the residual air of the box. This pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the package means that the air inside the package will tend to want to come out to balance the pressure between the inside and the outside..

So if there is a defect on the packaging, air bubbles will escape from this defect and the leak will be visible with an emission of bubbles.

You can see how it works on the video below

Case of flexible or rigid packaging containing liquids

In that case, the sample package is placed in the box so that the area that is likely to have a leak is in contact with the liquid contained in the package. So for the well filled bottles we put them in a horizontal position and for the slightly less full bottles., we put them upside down.

Once the packaging is in position, we create a vacuum around the packaging and thus the residual air inside the packaging being trapped, it will force the liquid in the packaging to try to find a way out. This issue is generally a leak or a leak. Thus we will visually see the flow of the liquid present in the packaging.

Case of vacuum packaging that does not contain residual air

The previous two methods work well because there is air left inside the packaging and this air plays an important role in the test method.

If we are in the presence of vacuum packaging, our teams have developed a method for injecting air inside the packaging to simulate a pressure difference with the exterior of the packaging and thus visualize bubbles or the flow of liquid.

You can see this method in the video below

Non-destructive checks

Here we will soon discuss non-destructive technologies for testing packaging..

Force sensor tests.

Optical detection tests of the composition of the surrounding gas – Tests with tracer gases.