ASTM_F_2250_-_13.pdf

Designation:F225013Standard Practice forEvaluation of Chemical Resistance of Printed Inks andCoatings on Flexible Packaging Materials1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F2250;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 practice describes the procedure for evaluating theability of an ink,overprint varnish or coating to withstandchemical exposure.Typical chemicals,which may come incontact with the package,include water,alcohol,acid,etc.Thespecific chemical and method of choice as well as determina-tion of measurement outcome are left to users to agree upon injoint discussion.Suggestions for ways to measure and collectinformation are offered in the various methods listed in thispractice.1.2 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound unitsare to be regarded separately as standard.The values stated ineach system may not be exact equivalents;therefore,eachsystem shall be used independently of the other.Combiningvalues from the two systems may result in non-conformancewith the standard.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:2E171 Practice for Conditioning and Testing Flexible BarrierPackaging3.Significance and Use3.1 Packaging materials may be exposed to chemicals suchas water,alcohol,acid,etc.during their life cycle.If it isanticipated that the packaging material will be exposed to achemical,it is important that the ink or coating,or both,notdegrade,soften,or dissolve as a result of that contact.3.2 The testing included in this practice is applicable tosurface printed and coated materials designed to be resistant toa specific chemical.3.3 The chemicals to be tested should be compatible with(that is,not damage or degrade)the substrate being printed orcoated,or both.3.4 There are four separate methods detailed in this practice.The methods represent increasing degrees of severity fromMethod A to Method D.Selection of method should be basedon the type of exposure anticipated.For example,the pouringmethod(MethodA)is typically used where incidental exposureis anticipated,such as a spill or splash of chemical on thematerial surface.Method B or C is typically used whenchemical resistance is desired depending on the level ofexposure(B)and abrasion(C)anticipated.Method D wouldrepresent continual contact between the chemical and materialand would need to be chemical-proof,(for example,if thepackage were to be submerged in the chemical and exposed toabrasion over a period of time.)3.5 This practice does not address acceptability criteria.These need to be jointly determined by the user and producerof the product,based on the type of exposure that is antici-pated.4.Apparatus4.1 Method A Apparatus:4.1.1 Inclined plane capable of holding material at approxi-mately a 45-degree angle,allowing chemical to be tested toflow easily downward.4.1.2 Small pouring container or syringe of chemical to betested.4.2 Method B Apparatus:4.2.1 Watch glass,sized to cover sample to be tested andeasily handled.4.2.2 Small pouring container or syringe of chemical to betested.4.2.3 Timing device.4.2.4 Absorbent material.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F02 on FlexibleBarrier Packaging and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F02.20 onPhysical Properties.Current edition approved May 1,2013.Published June 2013.Originallyapproved in 2003.Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F2250 03(2008).DOI:10.1520/F2250-13.2For 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 4.3 Method C Apparatus:4.3.1 Cotton swab.4.3.2 Container of chemical to be tested.4.4 Method D Apparatus:4.4.1 Watch glass,sized to cover sample to be tested andeasily handled.4.4.2 Small pouring container or syringe of chemical to betested.4.4.3 Timing device.4.4.4 Wipe or cotton swab.5.Sampling5.1 The number of samples tested should be adequate to bepredictive of performance.Caution should be taken wheneliminating samples with defects as this can bias results.6.Conditioning6.1 Conditioning of the samples will depend on the materialunder evaluation.If conditioning before testing is appropriate,normal,and desirable,refer to Specification E171 for guidance.6.2 Before testing catalyzed or cured inks or coatings,