Flexible Pouch Summary
Abrasion
Classification |
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Identification | An abrasion is a scratch through any of the layers of the package. |
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Cut (Fracture)
Classification |
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Identification | This defect is a mechanical slash or slicing that goes into the package with a loss of hermatic integrity. |
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Delamination
Classification |
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Identification | Delamination is a separation of the laminate materials. This can occur anywhere on the pouch. |
Causes |
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Flexcracks
Classification |
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Identification | Flex cracks are small breaks in one or more layers of the laminate materials. |
Causes | The package flexed during vacuum-sealing, processing and/or handling. |
Hotfold
Classification |
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Identification | A hot fold is a permanent bend in a seal, formed after sealing and before the area has cooled. This may appear as a large wrinkle or a fold that has been sealed over. |
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Leaker
Classification |
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Identification | A leaker is a retort pouch that is unsealed or in some way has lost container integrity. Contents generally seep from the pouch. The leak may occur anywhere on the pouch. |
Causes |
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Leaker (Channel)
Classification |
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Identification | This is an are non-bonding across the width of the seal that will generally leak. |
Causes |
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Leaker (Notch)
Classification |
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Identification | A leak occurring at the manufactured notch (which is intended for easy opening of the retort pouch) has compromised the container integrity. |
Causes |
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Puncture (Pinhole)
Classification |
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Identification | Mecheanical piercing of the pouch. |
Causes | Sharp objects such as staples, knives or other similar tools have punctured the pouch during processing and/or post-processing and handling. During manufacture of film. |
Seal Defects (Blister)
Classification |
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Identification | A blister appears as a void within the bonded seal. A blister resembles a bubble or has a raised appearance in the sealed area of the retort pouch. |
Causes | Food, grease or other contaminants were present in the seal area during seal formation. |
Seal Defects (Compressed)
Classification |
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Identification | A compressed seal is any separation of the laminated plies in the seal area. The material bond strength is questionable in the area of the defect. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Contaminated)
Classification |
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Identification | Foreign material is trapped in the seal area. A retort pouch with contamination will have a noticeable raised area in the seal where the sealing bar has sealed over the contamination. |
Causes | The seal area was contaminated during the filling stage. |
eal Defects (Convolution/Embossing)
Classification |
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Identification | A slight visual impression in the seal indented on one side and raised on the other side. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Creep)
Classification |
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Identification | Seal creep appears as a partial opening of the inside border of the seal. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Crooked)
Classification |
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Identification | A crooked seal is a seal that is not parallel to the cut edge of the pouch. |
Causes | The pouch was misaligned in the sealing jaws. |
Seal Defects (Misaligned/Deformed)
Classification |
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Identification | Misaligned seal is a seal that is not formed in a continuous, straight line. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Nonbonding/Weak)
Classification |
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Identification | The sealing films fail to weld (combine) during the sealing process. This defect appears as a very faint sealing bar impression on the retort pouch seal. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Stringy)
Classification |
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Identification | Stringy seal appears as the presence of excessive plastic threads showing at the edges of the seal area. |
Causes | The heat and pressure at sealing were excessive. |
Seal Defects (Uneven Juncture)
Classification |
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Identification | The bonded polymer at the inner seal juncture appears wavy or rough (may also be called wavy seal). This will appear as small wrinkles, but not the fold over type. |
Causes |
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Seal Defects (Wrinkle)
Classification |
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Identification | A wrinkle is a material fold in the seal area. |
Causes | The sealing surfaces were not flat and parallel or were not tensioned properly. |
Swell (Swollen Package)
Classification |
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Identification | The pouch bulges due to gas formation from bacterial contamination, or excess internal residual air. |
Causes |
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Waffling
Classification |
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Identification | Waffling appears as heavy embossing of the retort tray rack pattern on the surface of the pouch body, from contact with the racks during thermal processing. |
Causes | The pouch expanded against the racks during thermal processing and a heavy impression was left on the surface of the pouch material. |