ASTM D4332-14 pdf free download.Standard Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, or Packaging Components for Testing.
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms and definitions used in this practice may be found in Terminology D996, Terminology E41, or Specification E171.
4. Significance and Use
4.1 Many materials from which containers and packages are made, especially cellulosic materials, undergo changes in physical properties as the temperature and the relative humidity (RH) to which they are exposed are varied. Therefore, the package should be placed and kept in a specified atmosphere for a length of time such that subsequent measurements of physical properties will be meaningful and reproducible.
4.2 The conditions described in this practice are either historically accepted standard conditions or special laboratory conditions chosen to represent particular phases of the distribution environment. These special conditions do not necessarily duplicate actual field conditions, but tend to simulate them and have effects on packages and materials which may be related to their field performance.
5. Atmospheric Conditions
5.1 Preuondirioniizg Atniosphere—20 to 40°C (68 to 104°F) and 10 to 35 % relative humidity.
5.2 Standard conditioning Atmosphere— 23 ± 1 °C (73.4 ± 2°F) and 50 ± 2 % relative humidity.
NOTE I—Average values must fall within these limits. Short-term fluctuations and measurement limitations may cause individual measurements to vary up to ±2°C (±3.6°F) and ±5 relative humidity without significant impairment of test precision.
5.3 Environmental conditioning A tinosphere—The environmental conditions shown in Table I may he selected when appropriate (also see Practice F2825).
NOTE 2—in the absence of a specific requirement for a particular atmospheric condition, use the conditioning atmosphere given in 5.2.
NOTE 3—Conditioning at the desert condition (see Table I) at a constant temperature of 60°C (140°F) may have effects on some materials that do not relate to effects of cyclical field conditions.
5.4 The measurement of temperature and relative humidity of the conditioning atmosphere shall be made as close to the specimen being exposed as is possible. (See Test Method E337 for a detailed description of methods.) The temperature and relative humidity indicated at the control point, may not be representative of conditions elsewhere in the conditioned space due to local effects or deficiency in air circulation. Tolerances at the controller usually must be smaller than those at the specimen.
6. Apparatus
6.1 Room (or Cabinet) of such size that sample containers or packages may he individually exposed to circulating air at the temperature and relative humidity chosen.
6.1.1 control Apparatus capable of maintaining the room at the required atmospheric conditions within the tolerance limits.
6.2 Hvgivmeter—The instrument used to indicate the relative humidity should be accurate to ±2 % relative humidity. A psychrometer may he used either for direct measurement of relative humidity or for checking the hygrometer (see Test Method E337).
6.3 Thermometer—A fly temperature-measuring device may he used provided it can accurately indicate the temperature to within 0. 1°C or 0.2°F. The dry-bulb thermometer of the psychrometer may be used either for direct measurement or for checking the temperature-indicating device.
7. Procedure
7.1 Obtain containers, packages, or packaging coniponents in quantity in accordance with the standard governing the test to he performed. Fiberboard containers (and containers fabricated from other materials that are affected by changes in humidities greater than 40 %) may require preconditioning (see Method D685).ASTM D4332 pdf download.