Product/package interaction: Effect of physical, chemical, and climatic environments

Product/package interactions were evaluated for three product/package syste ms: a bleach alternative laundry additive, an anti-bacterial surface cleane r, and a glass surface cleaner. The package system was comprised of high-de nsity polyethylene bottles with induction-sealed closures. The physical env ironment was studied by comparing product/package systems that were exposed to simulated distribution testing with those that were not. The storage en vironments were ambient conditions at 73 degrees F (23 degrees C), and high er temperatures at 100, 120, and 140 degrees F (38, 49, and 60 degrees C). Damage caused by distribution testing occurred in the bottle or in the clos ure component of the package. Bottle defects resulting from distribution te sting were dents, abrasions, and creases. Closure defects included sheared- off closures, cracks in the closure body, or nozzle cover damage. Product/package systems exposed to the four storage environments were inspe cted for failure, defined as product leaking from the package, during the s ix-month study. Failures were due to environmental stress cracking. Dents i n the shoulder and bottom region of the bottle were the only simulated dist ribution defects that impacted the storage stability of the product/package systems, which often resulted in reduced shelf life. The primary location of all other failures was near the center of the bottle bottom edge, which was the thinnest region of the bottle. Bleach alternative laundry additive was the most aggressive product, while the two surface cleaners exhibited s imilar storage stability. Performance criteria of the failed bottles were evaluated to study the impa ct of package system properties on product/package integrity. Yield strengt h, modulus of elasticity, and dynamic mechanical properties of failed sampl e-acquired bottle side panels did not change significantly from those of th e control samples. Color changes were monitored by measuring interior and e xterior surface yellowness indices of bottle side panels. Although observed spectrophotometrically, these changes were not detected visually.