Guidelines No.18.00
Revision I
Published on: 01/02/2024
Plastic bottle closure qualification test manual
Scope of application
This document provides a collection of test methods for the qualification of plastic flat-top closures applied on PET bottles that are used in the beverage industry.
This document has in view to ensure that every party involved in measuring and determining results consistently the same way.
It should be understood that specifications have always to be agreed upon between the packaging supplier or packaging technology supplier on the one hand and the bottler or brand owner on the other hand. It needs to be considered that closures are a part of the entire packaging system.
This document has in view to ensure that every party involved in measuring and determining results consistently the same way.
It should be understood that specifications have always to be agreed upon between the packaging supplier or packaging technology supplier on the one hand and the bottler or brand owner on the other hand. It needs to be considered that closures are a part of the entire packaging system.
Table of contents
1 Scope
2 Comments
2.1 Terminology, acronyms, glossary
2.2 Units
2.3 Development tests
2.4 Carbonation levels for CSD
2.5 Pressure levels for NCB-P
2.6 Bottle volume
2.7 Number of samples used for statistical relevance
2.8 Equipment
2 Comments
2.1 Terminology, acronyms, glossary
2.2 Units
2.3 Development tests
2.4 Carbonation levels for CSD
2.5 Pressure levels for NCB-P
2.6 Bottle volume
2.7 Number of samples used for statistical relevance
2.8 Equipment
2.9 Cap application
2.10 Pre-conditioning
2.11 Pre-conditioning for hot fill test methods
2.12 Safety
2.13 Reporting
3 Tests methods
3.1 Dimensional tests
3.1.1 Application Angle and Pull-up
3.1.2 Closure Dimensions
3.1.3 Closure Weight
3.1.4 Tamper-Evident Gap Measurement
3.2 Physical performance tests
3.2.1 Ball Impact
3.2.2 Bridge Break Before Seal Release (BBBSR)
3.2.3 Carbonation Retention (piercing method)
3.2.4 Carbonation Retention Top Loaded
3.2.5 Drop Impact
3.2.6 Elevated Temperature Cycle
3.2.7 Oxygen Transmission Rate
3.2.8 Pressure Retention
3.2.9 Pressure Retention Top Loaded
3.2.10 Removal Torque
3.2.11 Secure Seal Test
3.2.12 Stress Crack Resistance Test – Development Test
3.2.13 Stress Crack Resistance Test – Quality Test
3.2.14 Strip Torque (Application)
3.2.15 Strip Torque (Security)
3.2.16 Top Load Vent
3.2.17 Vacuum Retention
3.2.18 Venting Performance
3.3 Reference tests
3.3.1 Application Angle Definition
3.3.2 Back-Off
3.3.3 Carbonation Retention (Optical Measurement)
3.3.4 Gas Transmission Rate
3.3.5 Ink Adhesion Test
3.3.6 Liner Deformation / Security
3.3.7 Migration Test
3.3.8 Opening Performance After Reclosing
3.3.9 Opening Performance Test
3.3.10 Qualitative Lubricant Migration Test
3.3.11 Quantitative Lubricant Migration Test
3.3.12 Seal Integrity Test (Conductivity)
3.3.13 Tamper-Evident Band Separation Force Test
3.3.14 Taste Compatibility and Appearance
3.3.15 Temperature Cycle Challenge Test
3.3.16 Vent and Release Angle
4 Recommended Test Matrix
5 Related Documents
6 Document history
2.10 Pre-conditioning
2.11 Pre-conditioning for hot fill test methods
2.12 Safety
2.13 Reporting
3 Tests methods
3.1 Dimensional tests
3.1.1 Application Angle and Pull-up
3.1.2 Closure Dimensions
3.1.3 Closure Weight
3.1.4 Tamper-Evident Gap Measurement
3.2 Physical performance tests
3.2.1 Ball Impact
3.2.2 Bridge Break Before Seal Release (BBBSR)
3.2.3 Carbonation Retention (piercing method)
3.2.4 Carbonation Retention Top Loaded
3.2.5 Drop Impact
3.2.6 Elevated Temperature Cycle
3.2.7 Oxygen Transmission Rate
3.2.8 Pressure Retention
3.2.9 Pressure Retention Top Loaded
3.2.10 Removal Torque
3.2.11 Secure Seal Test
3.2.12 Stress Crack Resistance Test – Development Test
3.2.13 Stress Crack Resistance Test – Quality Test
3.2.14 Strip Torque (Application)
3.2.15 Strip Torque (Security)
3.2.16 Top Load Vent
3.2.17 Vacuum Retention
3.2.18 Venting Performance
3.3 Reference tests
3.3.1 Application Angle Definition
3.3.2 Back-Off
3.3.3 Carbonation Retention (Optical Measurement)
3.3.4 Gas Transmission Rate
3.3.5 Ink Adhesion Test
3.3.6 Liner Deformation / Security
3.3.7 Migration Test
3.3.8 Opening Performance After Reclosing
3.3.9 Opening Performance Test
3.3.10 Qualitative Lubricant Migration Test
3.3.11 Quantitative Lubricant Migration Test
3.3.12 Seal Integrity Test (Conductivity)
3.3.13 Tamper-Evident Band Separation Force Test
3.3.14 Taste Compatibility and Appearance
3.3.15 Temperature Cycle Challenge Test
3.3.16 Vent and Release Angle
4 Recommended Test Matrix
5 Related Documents
6 Document history
History
First edition: 06/2019
Revision I: 01/02/2024 - Add a new test procedure in § 3.2.2 - Band break Before Seal Release (BBBSR) replacing test procedure Bridge Breaking Angle (BBA) and Seal Release Angle (SRA)
First edition: 06/2019
Revision I: 01/02/2024 - Add a new test procedure in § 3.2.2 - Band break Before Seal Release (BBBSR) replacing test procedure Bridge Breaking Angle (BBA) and Seal Release Angle (SRA)
Contributors
ACQUA MINERALE SAN BENEDETTO,ACTEGA, ALPLA WERKE Alwin Lehner, AMCOR FLEXIBLES CAPSULES, AMCOR RIGID PACKAGING, APTAR GROUP, AROL S.p.A., ASTRA PLASTIQUE, BERICAP, BERLIN PACKAGING, BETAPACK, BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS, CAP SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS, COCA-COLA SERVICES, CORVAGLIA MOULD, DANONE EAUX FRANCE, DAVID ROSE PACKAGING SOLUTIONS, DAVID SYRETT PACKAGING CONSULTANCY Ltd, ECKES GRANINI, ETS ANDRE ZALKIN & CIE, GENOSSENSCHAFT DEUTSCHER BRUNNEN, HEINEKEN GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN, HEUFT, HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEM, INTRAVIS GmbH, KRONES, LOGOPLASTE, LYONDELLBASELL INDUSTRIES - BASELL POLYOLEFINE, NESTLE WATERS MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGIES, NESTLÉ PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY CENTRE, NETSTAL Maschinen, OBRIST CLOSURES SWITZERLAND, OTTO HOFSTETTER, PEPSICO RUSSIA, PLASTISUD, REFRESCO FRANCE, RETAL LITHUANIA, SACMI IMOLA, SELIG FRANCE, SGT France, SIDEL BLOWING & SERVICES, SILGAN WHITE CAP MANUFACTURING, SIPA, SPA MONOPOLE, SUMITOMO (SHI) DEMAG PLASTICS MACHINERY, SUNTORY BEVERAGES & FOOD EUROPE, TORRENT INNOVA, TREFFPACK, UNITED CAP FRANCE, UNITED CAP WILZ, UNIVERSAL CLOSURE LIMITED, WISECAP GROUP, Z-MOULDS
Document under responsibility of working group:
PET plenary
WG chair: Alessandro FALZONI - SACMI IMOLA
This joint group is in charge of all GME data sheets ("Finish data sheets"), dedicated to the geometry of PET neck finishes and their related documents. These data sheets are related to finishes dedicated to the beverage industry (such as soft drinks, mineral water & wine), packaged in an aseptic environment and/or with nitrogen injection, and to the food industry (e.g. edible oils, vinegars, and sauces) and allowing to receive mainly plastic caps.
