Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

The investigation of functions of heat seal

strength and heat sealing testing method
Chana Yiangkamolsing (1), Kazuo Hishinuma (2)
(1)

(2)

Department of Industrial Engineering. The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce

126/1 Vibhavadee-Randsit Rd. Huaykwang, Dindaeng, Bangkok, 10250 Thailand
chana99@hotmail.com

Hishinuma Consulting Engineering Office, 1232 Ogura Saiwai-Ku, Kawasaki city, Japan
rxp10620@nifty.com

Abstract: Heat sealing is an important technique of bonding thermoplastic materials. However, only heat seal
strength has been used to evaluate the bonding of thermoplastic material for a long time. The customers of the
packaging products hope for both easiness of opening and completed seal. Heat sealing technology is the most
economical for easy opening the package. Manufacturers could not serve customers requirements although
they apply the conventional standards such as ASTM F88, F2029, JIS Z 0238. Indeed, the heating
temperature at the interface of bonding affect mainly to heat seal strength. The objectives of this research are
proposed testing method and analysis of the Openability and Closability of heat seal strength. The
methodology used in this research is divided into 2 testing methods; the testing method of heat seal strength
with accurate heating temperature, and the testing method of elements generating heat sealing. The first
testing method is used for identify the accurate heat seal strength by regarding peculiar thermobonding
performance. The second testing method is used to identify the close functions and comprehend the peculiar
characteristics of materials. With this proposed methodology, it is possible to determine the closing function
of heat sealing based on reliable characteristics of material. The analysis of the peeling energy of adhesive
bonding of heat sealing will be discussed for Closability in this research. Functional Heat Seal Strength
(FHSS) is introduced to determine the generation of pinhole and polyballs by observation the failure of heat
seal testing. Experiments in this research are conducted by using propose innovative testing method with
MTMS (The Measurement of temperature at melting surface). PE/70 material widely used in local market is
used in the experiment. Also, this research challenge evaluation method for Closability of heat sealing of
thermoplastic materials. The result shows that Peel seal can guarantee closing ability of material for
packaging.
Keywords: Heat sealing; Temperature at the interface; Peel seal, Tear seal; heat seal strength; MTMS;
Openability; Closability

1. Introduction
1.1. Background of heat sealing technique
Heat seal strength is used to measure the bonding
strength of thermoplastic material. It is a result of
bonding phenomena. Conventionally, there are two
standards related to measurement of heat seal strength.
ASTM F88-07 [1] and JIS Z 0238 [2] are widely used in
manufacturers all over the world. ASTM F88-07 defined
about heat sealing function as following; Seal strength is
a quantitative measure for use in process validation,
process control, and capability. Seal strength is not only
relevant to opening force and package integrity, but to
measuring the package processes ability to produce
consistent seals. Seal strength at some minimum level is
a necessary package requirement, and at times it is
desirable to limit the strength of the seal to facilitate

opening For controlling heat seal strength, temperature

is confirmed as the most important factor for controlling
heat seal strength. A graph of heat seal strength
characteristics corresponding with various temperatures
is widely used by industry and research shown in figure
1. High reliable heat sealing characteristic is important to
analyze the coexistence of Openability and Closablity of
flexible packaging.
Many customers want to open easily flexible package
by pinching, and peeling method. Some people feel
irritate and think pinching method is not good then do
slapping. Many packages are applied strong bonding so
they need to open the package by pinching and tearing
method. However, the package is very difficult to reseal
for the next consumption. It makes the small pieces of
garbage also. Expectation of customers for
thermoplastics packaging are such as 1)Strong bonding,

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010

107

Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

2)Control of the generation of the pinhole, 3)Easy peel,

4)Easy open, and 5)Easy cut. (1) and (2) provide
guarantee of the closing function. (3), (4), and (5) can
provide convenience but they are excluded from this
research because they need other material and other
processes. This research focuses on (1) and (2).
However, a reasonably completed corrective strategy has
not yet presented. First of all, it reports on logical
development of Closability indispensable in this study.

1.2. Problem of heat seal technique in Thailand

In Thailand, Many manufacturing apply strong bonding.
Therefore the package is breaking at the edge of heat seal
when customer using pinching and peeling method.
Strong bonding leads to cohesion and it is overheat.
Therefore the generation of pinhole and polyball occur at
the edge of heat seal. Manufacturers solve these
problems by increasing the material thickness.
Consequently, increasing the thickness of material,
packaging material is not economical. Also, the circle of
problems is occurred repeatedly. The method to control
of the generation of the pinhole can be applied by
adhesion. The benefit of adhesion is that the packages
can absorb the impact load, prevention of the poly ball
and pinhole, also utilization of the peeling energy. [3]
Heat sealing technology is the most economical for easy
opening the packaging. The benefit of heat sealing
technique is that people can peel the package easily and
can reseal it again when the product is not finished and
customers want to keep it for the next consumption. Also
the surface of heat seal area is smooth and clean which is
neater. Peeling the flexible packaging does not make
small pieces of garbage. Moreover, material thickness
can be decrease and then material cost decrease by using
heat sealing technology.

Tensile strength (N/15mm)

Figure 1: Heat seal strength characteristic

Tear sealing zone

(cohesive bonding )

Peel sealing Zone

(Adhesive bonding)

Temperature

1.3. Problem of coexistence of open function and

close function of heat sealing operation
Figure 1 shows the heat steal strength and boundary
temperature determines. The coexistence of open and
close function of thermoplastic packaging is very
The authors would like to gratefully thank the following organization,
university, and companies: HISHINUMA Fund for heat sealing
research support us as main sponsor. The University of the Thai
Chamber of Commerce supports us for many contributions. The Thai
Packaging Association (TPA) supported us with valuable information
and access to member companies in Thailand.

108

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010

important for packaging. Many packages in the markets

are strong bonding. It has been applied for the package
for a long time. Peel seal zone can guarantee both
opening./closing functions of material. Although easy
opening is very important for customers, heat sealing
stakeholders do not know basic information of material
and how to control functions of material. Therefore, they
could not guarantee the quality of heat sealing. The
coexistence of heat sealing functions between open and
close function of the package need to consider carefully
but there is no standard mentioned about the method for
such testing functions. The conventional standard is no
indication about evaluation of packaging function
between easy opening and intimate closing in the
standards. Also, scientific testing for the completed
product has not conducted. The stakeholders solve it by
trial and error method.

1.4. Problems of current standard

ASTM F2029-00, is a recommendation for preparing
heating method.[4] This standard presented wide step of
increasing heat sealing temperature. It is difficult to
identify peel sealing zone and tear sealing zone with wide
step of heating temperature. ASTM F2029 recommends
heating temperature step 10qC approximately. For an
accurate graph of heat seal strength, temperatures should
increase 1-2qC in each step in peel seal range for the
accurate analysis. Hence, this research challenges
evaluation technique for testing of Openability and
Closeability of heat sealing.

1.6. Procedure of testing method for

identification of expected function of heat sealing
A novel testing method for open function and close
function comprise of two sections as figure 2. Firstly,
measurement method for special characteristics of
thermo-bonding and tensile strength of material is used to
determine basic information of material. It refers to
figure 3. Item (1) and (5) is important and supported by
the conventional standard. Secondly, bonding condition
and testing method for the expected function is used to
determine Openability and Closeability of the packaging
material. It refers to figure 4. Item (1), (2), and (4) are
important items. The requirements of high accuracy
heating temperature and supporting techniques are to
obtain accurate characteristics of material and to describe
the specific characteristics of material. The procedure of
testing method is described roughly as following; 1)
Accuracy of the heating temperature, 2) Generation of
temperature gradient of material in single side or double
side heating method [5], 3) Generation of temperature
distribution of heating material [6], 4) Heat seal area of
materials of pressing, 5) Load before the cooling down
preventing hot tack, 6) Shape of the tensile test sample.
The heat conduction of item (2), (3) is not an object of
the control, because it is the phenomenon which depends
on the material characteristic. Item (1) and item (4)-(6)

Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

are controlled objects, as it is related to the operation of

the researcher. Accurate heating with the setting
temperature is required for the measurement of the
precise heat sealing strength. [7] Putting specimens
across the heat jaw is avoided because heat transfer to
ambient both sides of specimen cause to temperature at
interface slightly decrease. This research applying putting
the specimen on the heat seal jaw. The detection point of
temperature sensor for measuring melting surface
temperature is 2mm from the edge of material. [8] The
setting of each heating temperature was decided 1-2qC in
peel seal range. Specimens are immediately cooled after
heated with pressure about 0.05 MPa to avoid hot tack.
Specimens cut dumbbell shape to exclude the influence
of the elongation. [9] Heating temperature was controlled
by following method; [10] 1) Temperature of heat Jaws
of heating unit is adjusted nearby the preset temperature.,

2) A set value of the temperature controllers are adjusted

respectively by using the surface temperature monitor so
that the surface temperature of two jaws may become
differ only within 0.1qC., 3) Response of melting surface
temperature is measured by instrument of melting surface
temperature., 4) When melting surface temperature of the
attainment is different from a setting value, it is
readjusted by the method (2)., 5) An obtained arrival time
and isochronal heating is applied to the sample making of
the tensile test. [heating time and 15s (PE) was used in
the actual experiment.] With the proposed method,
temperature at heating surface fluctuates slightly and
uniformly, 6) Specimens after heated at prescribed time
promptly did the contact cooling to the room temperature
at 0.05MPa., 7) Pressure when heating it gave 0.35MPa.
This pressure generates the "Polyball" in the range of the
cohesion bonding.

Testing method for important function [Open and Close] of heat sealing

Measurement method for special

characteristic of thermo-bonding and
tensile strength of material [refer to Fig3]

Bonding condition and testing method for

the expected function (Open & Close)
[refer to Fig 4]

Figure 2: Testing methods for open and close function of heat sealing
Measurement method for special characteristics of thermo-bonding and tensile strength of material
Measurement method for special characteristics of thermo-bonding and seal strength measurement of each material
1)Standardization
of heating way

2)Method for
preparing
samples

3)Measurement
method for
melting surface
temperature

4)Manifestation
characteristic of
heat sealing

6)Setting
5)Testing
pressure method
method for heat
seal strength
Supported
by
Supported by
ASTM F88-xx
ASTM F2029
JIS Z 0238
Figure 3: Measurement method for special characteristics of thermo-bonding and seal strength measurement of each material
Identification method of peculiar characteristic and functions of the material
Testing method for function elements of heat sealing
1)Detection
method of
overheating

2)Testing
method for peel
sealing

3)Testing
method for
easy peel

4)Testing
method for
peeling energy

5)Detecting
method for
volatile
component

6)load test of
actual
package

Figure 4: Identification method of special characteristic and functions of the material

(FHSS) As can be seen from the pattern of the heat
3. Results and Discussions
sealing, the difference of pattern of heat sealing depends
This section will be discussed about; 1) Definition of
on bonding condition. The bonding line of the cohesion
Peeling Energy and Computational method of Peeling
bonding is broken when tensile load reaches to yield
Energy, 2) Definition of Functional heat seal strength
point. The integrated value to yield point is generally

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010

109

Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

called breaking energy. On the other hand, it peeled in

adhesion that decided at the heating temperature. The
patterns of seal strength of peel seal and tear seal are
shown in Figure 5. Peeling energy has defined the
integrated value of the peeling condition. [11] Peeling
energy is calculated from seal strength corresponding to
peeling length or elongation length. Basic idea of peeling
energy calculation is integral the small area of seal
strength pattern. The small area of heat seal strength
depends upon analog to digital converter. Calculation of
peel energy from seal strength pattern of both tear seal
and peel seal is similar but the differences are the end
point of calculation. For tear seal, it selects the position
that the pinhole was generated in the heat sealant and the
whole of the material cut. For peel seal, it needs to

110

L 0

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010

Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

accurate heat sealing characteristic. By changing heat

sealing strength by this discovery until now, the
definition of Functional Heat Sealing Strength [FHSS]
was proposed. The usefulness of the peeling seal would
be able to be quantitatively evaluated, because the
peeling energy can be measured in quantitative. It was
proven by the results of experiments. If heat sealing
width is more than 5 mm, peeling energy is more than
breaking energy. It means that the damage resistance of
the Peeling seal is more than the breaking seal. It can
guarantee Closability quantitatively. In addition, it is
indicated that the thickness of the heat sealant layer can
be decreased, as the peeling seal is the adhesion only of
the surface of the sealant. [13] The basis is Strength, as
the Cloasability is evaluated by the seal strength testing
ASTM F88 instead of user feeling. It is necessary to
continuously improve the adhesive strength in order to
satisfy this demand. The peeling seal zone must be
utilized in order to achieve this purpose. As the method
in which Openability and Closeability was compatible, it
was proven that the utilization of peeling seal zone of the
packaging material is indispensable. The advanced
technique for the temperature control is required in
comparison with demand function and heat sealing
characteristic of packaging material.

10

5
Peeling 5 mm
0

Heat seal strength (N/15mm)

15

Elongation length or Peeling length (mm)

2
Tearing energy
132

112

10
FHHS

Peeling 7.5 mm

130

114
110C

115

20

128

116

Peeling 10 mm

126

117

12

25

118

14

30

116

16

Heat seal strength by ASTM F88

114

10

18

Tear seal zone

35

-3

118C

Peel seal zone

112

119C

12

0.0
0.3
0.6
0.9
1.2
1.5
1.8
2.1
2.4
2.7
3.0
3.3
3.6
3.9
4.2
4.5
4.8
5.1
5.4
5.7
6.0
6.3
6.6
6.9
7.2
7.5
7.8
8.1
8.4
8.8
9.0
9.3
9.7
10.0
10.2

Heat seal strength (N/15mm )

14

40

130C
125C
120C

110

Generation point of [FHHS]

Specimen: PE bag (PE/70)

108

16

Peel/tear energy x 10 J/15mm

18

124

The expected function in the heat sealing is established to

Closeability first. It was proven that the acquisition of
accurate heat sealing characteristic of Peel and Tear
sealing by precise heat sealing testing method was
possible. The measurements of peeling energy and
breaking energy were possible from the accurate heat
sealing characteristic. The detection of generation point
of the edge cutting (pinhole) changed possible the

122

4. Conclusion

120

119qC breaking energy. Peeling energy for 7.5 mm peel,

temperature at 115-118qC, and for 10 mm peel,
temperature at 114-118qC are showed high value from
the breaking energy of tear seal at 119qC. The generation
temperature of pinhole begins at 118qC. Higher
temperature more than 118qC lead the seal strength to
Strong bonding (more than 118qC). By using FHSS to
detect the generation of pinhole and polyball, we can
detect this critical temperature. Applying Peeling seal
zone (110-117qC) can control the generation of the
pinhole. Also, Utilization of the peeling energy for open
function can be used in Peel seal zone. In contrary,
tearing energy to detect the yield point can be used in tear
seal.

Melting surface temperature ( C)

Figure 6: Load-displacement diagram of PE film Figure 7: Response of heat seal strength and energy of PE material

4mm

1.5mm
Yield point

Yield point
117qC

118qC
Figure 8: Peeling, elongation and tear surface of PE specimen

122qC

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010

111

Proceedings of the 17th IAPRI World Conference on Packaging

12-15 October, 2010, Tianjin TEDA Hotel & Convention Center, Tianjin, China

References
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]

[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]

ASTM F88-07 (2007) (Standard Test Method for Seal Strength

of Flexible Barrier Materials), ASTM International, West
Conshohocken PA, United States
JIS Z0238 (2002) (Testing Methods for Heat Sealed Flexible
Packaging), Standardization promotion Department, Japanese
Standard Association
K. Hishinuma, (2010), The mutual map of heat sealing testing
method for high reliability V.6, Hishinuma Consulting,
Kawasaki, Japan
ASTM F2029 (2000) (Standard Practices for Making Heat seals
for Determination of Hestsealability of Flexible Webs as
Measured by Seal Strength), ASTM International, West
Conshohocken PA, United States
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.51
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.29
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.97
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.96-98
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.230
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.96
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.116
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.103
K. Hishinuma,(2009), Heat Sealing Technology and Engineering:
Principles and Packaging Application, DEStech Publications
Inc.pp.126

112

UTCC Engineering Research Papers 2010