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Integrity Testing
"Using Dye Penetration for Whole Package Testing"
Can dye penetration testing (F1929) be used for the entire package and not just seals?
Last Updated On April 18, 2011
The ASTM F1929 Dye Penetrant Test Method is intended for packages with at least one porous material. Conducting integrity testing is not recommended for the evaluation of an entire package. This is due to severe wicking in the porous material, making it difficult to detect pinholes. A test method for nonporous materials is presently under development by ASTM, in which a dye solution with a greater surface tension than F1929 is required to detect channels and/or pinholes. Of the current methods, bubble leak and emission are examples of simple test methods, which may be a better choice for whole package integrity testing. These methods are commonly used in medical device package testing and evaluation.