ASTM_F_2981_-_15.pdf

Designation:F298115Standard Test Method forVerifying Nonporous Flexible Barrier Material Resistance tothe Passage of Air1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2981;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 is to be used to verify a specificmaterial design property.Some flexible barrier materials aredesigned to have a resistance to the passage of air through themembrane structure.These materials are characterized asnonporous.This test method provides a means to verify thisproperty by challenging a material with a given volume of airunder pressure over a specific time period.1.2 This test method is not intended to measure the diffusionproperties of a material nor to identify or quantify the presenceof pinhole damage to the design that may result in leaks.1.3 UnitsThe values stated in SI units are to be regardedas standard.No other units of measurement are included in thisstandard.1.4 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:2E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible BarrierPackaging2.2 ISO Standards:3ISO 11607-1 Packaging for Terminally Sterilized MedicalDevicesPart 1:Requirements for Materials,Sterile Bar-rier Systems and Packaging SystemsISO 5636-5 Paper and BoardDetermination of Air Per-meance and Air Resistance(Medium Range)Part 5:Gurley Method2.3 TAPPI Standard:4TAPPI Test Method T 460 om-06 Air Resistance of Paper(Gurley Method)3.Significance and Use3.1 This material challenge is presented in ISO-11607-1Annex C as a normative test method to demonstrate that amaterial is nonporous and satisfies the microbial barrier re-quirements.4.Apparatus4.1 Gurley Cylinder-type Densometer,or equivalent appa-ratus compliant with ISO 5636-5.4.1.1 Air Volume and Pressure,as standardized in TAPPIT-460 and ISO 5636-5.4.2 Clock or Timer.4.3 Dimensional Scale,in 0.1 millimeter increments.5.Conditioning5.1 Conditioning of samples will depend on the materialunder evaluation.If conditioning before testing is appropriate,normal and desirable,then condition the test specimens fol-lowing ASTM E171.6.Preparation and Procedure6.1 Measure and cut sample of material to be tested approxi-mately 50 mm 50 mm square.Other cut sizes of samples canbe used if easier to manipulate and position in holder withoutdamage,wrinkling or introducing leaks.6.2 Prior to inserting the material,ensure that the column israised in the ready position.Loosen the wheel on the bottom ofdensometer and place the web between the clamps.By insert-ing the material samples with the smoother side facing upwardtoward the cylinder,the risk of leaking around the clamp isminimized.6.3 Rotate the wheel to the right to tighten until the materialis secure.(See Fig.1.)1This test method is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee F02 on FlexibleBarrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 onPhysical Properties.Current edition approved April 1,2015.Published May 2015.DOI:10.1520/F2981-15.2For 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.3Available from American National Standards Institute(ANSI),25 W.43rd St.,4th Floor,New York,NY 10036,http:/www.ansi.org.4Available from Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry(TAPPI),15 Technology Parkway South,Norcross,GA 30092,http:/www.tappi.org.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.4 Release the stop and guide the cylinder downward untilit rests on the oil level inside the cylinder.Wait a minimum of5 seconds to allow cylinder to settle into position.Recordstarting time.6.5 Measure the position of the cylinder from position A toB in mm.(See Fig.2.)6.6 Record this distance as the starting distance.6.7 Leave apparatus in position for one hour and record endof test time.6.8 Measure the position of the cylinder from position A toB in mm.Record end test distance.6.9 Calculate and record the difference between start andend distance measurements.6.10 If the difference is less than or equal to 1 mm,thematerials are verified as nonporous.6.11 When a material designed to be nonporous has resultsgreater than 1 mm,check for anomalies.6.11.1 Check position of test sample and holder for airleaking around sample.6.11.2 Check that material is not damaged.Excessive wrin-kling of material may