Heat sealing applications are constantly evolving to meet the challenge of higher specification materials and faster production methods. Food manufacturers, plastic film converters, plastic film producers and, resin manufacturers are constantly striving to reduce cycles on packaging lines and recognize that improving the heat sealing process is one way to achieve this and ensure a higher degree of seal integrity.
The number of sealing applications is extensive, polypropylene and cello films, coextruded films, thermoforming cups and trays, laminates and blisters, along with non-wovens, are just some of the materials that require the need for more accurate methods of measuring heat sealing capabilities and performance.
The determination of heat-sealing requires a test method that provides repeatable results, free from operator interference. Other types of heat seal determination such as weight drop or spring testing are difficult to regulate and are more suitable for coarse evaluations. None of these methods provide as much data. The results are either peeled or unpeeled, they are not sufficient for the high demands of true quality, research and development.