4. Integrity Test
Procedure using electrical conductivity
The packaging tightness test is performed to detect potential leaks on bottles closed with caps or aluminium foils using the measurement of the electrical resistance.
Equipment, instruments and reagents used
- City water that has a measurable conductivity
- Tester to measure the resistance. The apparatus needs to reach 2000 MΩ
Prerequisites
- Define the quantity of bottles required for performing the test, at least 100
- Define cap application torque using a specific dynamometer
- Each bottle must be cut without damaging the closure
Procedure
Each bottle must be cut and soaked in standard city water
Introduce inside every bottle approximately 100 ml of the same standard city water
With a tester, set the resistance measurement modality on 2000 MΩ and insert one of the electrodes inside the bottle in contact with the city water and the other one inside the bath outside of the bottle.
Since the two environments, the one inside and the one outside the bottle are separated, the tester shows an infinite resistance called “not readable/out of range”.
The first measurement must be carried out 10 minutes after start. The bottles stay in the bath for 72 hours During that period some measurements are performed before the bottles are removed.
If the tester shows a value that is readable there is a connection between the inside and outside of the bottle. This is considered as an untight package. |
| No leak is accepted in this |