ASTM_D_3198_-_97_2007.pdf

Designation:D319897(Reapproved 2007)Standard Test Method forApplication and Removal Torque of Threaded or Lug-StyleClosures1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3198;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This test method covers the application with a giventorque of a threaded or lug-style closure to a container,andmeasures the torque required to unscrew the closure from acontainer.1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as thestandard.The inch-pound units given in parentheses are forinformation only.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D3474 Practice for Calibration and Use of Torque MetersUsed in Packaging ApplicationsE105 Practice for Probability Sampling of MaterialsE122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,WithSpecified Precision,the Average for a Characteristic of aLot or Process3.Terminology3.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.1.1 application torquethe moment of a force or systemof forces tending to cause rotation of a closure over the neckfinish of an appropriate container,causing the closure to beapplied and secured to the container.3.1.2 removal torquethe moment of a force or system offorces tending to cause rotation of an appropriate closure in adirection opposite to that of application,causing the closure tobe unsecured from its position on the neck finish of anappropriate container.4.Summary of Test Method4.1 Representative specimens of a threaded or lug-stylecontainer are held in a torque-measuring device and either thepredetermined amount of torque is applied to its closure,or theamount of torque necessary to loosen the closure is determined,or both.5.Significance and Use5.1 These torque measurements are of value in:5.1.1 Rating the performance of automatic capping ma-chines,5.1.2 Measuring any tendency for threaded or lug-styleclosures to loosen during storage or shipment of the package,and5.1.3 Measuring the force required to break hard plastic andoverturn or“strip”soft plastic and metal closures.5.2 The method may be used to establish performancespecifications.6.Apparatus6.1 Torque Meter(see Note 1)with a scale that will readwith the maximum point reading accuracy within the torquerange expected to be measured(use a 0 to 25 torque inchpounds-force(T.I.P.)torque meter for readings under 25 T.I.P.,not a 0 to 100 T.I.P.torque meter).NOTE1Adigital or automated torque instrument,if used,will have anappropriate design and scale capacity for the container/closure system tobe evaluated.Torque results will be available in either electronic displayor printout formats.7.Sampling,Test Specimens,and Test Units7.1 The number of samples will depend on the desiredpurpose for which this test is being run.However,for a givenset of samples,sufficient measurements shall be taken inaccordance with established statistical sampling procedures inorder to obtain consistent results.NOTE2Refer to Practices E105 and E122 for more specific informa-tion.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 onPackaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.32 on Consumer,Pharmaceutical and Medical Packaging.Current edition approved Oct.1,2007.Published October 2007.Originallyapproved in 1973.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D3198 97(2002).DOI:10.1520/D3198-97R07.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 7.2 Select unused closures,complete with liners,if appro-priate,and unused containers,with the correct correspondingsize finish,that are within specifications.8.Calibration8.1 Calibrate the torque meter in accordance with PracticeD3474.NOTE3Follow calibration procedure of manufacturer if a digital orautomated torque instrument is to be used.9.Conditioning9.1 Control the relative humidity and temperature condi-tions such that the data may be reasonably comparable whenrepetitive testing of closure-container combinations for appli-cation and removal torque or torque strength is intended.Ifspecial conditions will be required,refer to ISO 2233 for a listof possible special conditions.NOTE4Closure application and removal torque levels may beinfluenced by such variables as time,temperature,relative