Systems and methods for testing packaging

A method of testing a plurality of sealed packages for defects, said defects including at least one of the group consisting of seal defects, package defects, and combinations thereof, each of said sealed packages having a first surface selected from at least one of the group consisting of a permeable surface, a porous surface, and combinations thereof, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one test package from said plurality of sealed packages for testing;
• applying at least one coating to said first surface of said at least one test package for converting said first surface to a second surface, said second surface selected from the group consisting of an impermeable surface, a non-porous surface, and combinations thereof;
• for the sole purpose of testing of said at least one test package;
• pressurizing said at least one test package;
• measuring a loss of pressure in said at least one test package;
• and
• correlating said loss of pressure with a presence of said defects in said test package and said plurality of sealed packages.

A method of testing a plurality of sealed packages for defects, said defects including at least one of the group consisting of seal defects, package defects, and combinations thereof, each of said sealed packages having a first surface selected from at least one of the group consisting of a permeable surface, a porous surface, and combinations thereof, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one test package from said plurality of sealed packages for testing;
• applying at least one coating to said first surface of said at least one test package for converting said first surface to a second surface, said second surface selected from the group consisting of an impermeable surface, a non-porous surface, and combinations thereof;
• for the sole purpose of testing of said at least one test package;
• applying at least one dye to said at least one test package;
• measuring a penetration of said dye into or through at least one of the group consisting of said at least one test package, a seal of said at least one test package, and combinations thereof;
• and
• correlating said penetration of said dye with a presence of said defects in said test package and said plurality of sealed packages.

A method of testing a plurality of sealed packages for defects, said defects including at least one of the group consisting of seal defects, package defects, and combinations thereof, each of said sealed packages having a first surface selected from at least one of the group consisting of a permeable surface, a porous surface, and combinations thereof, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one test package from said plurality of sealed packages for testing;
• applying at least one coating to said first surface of said at least one test package for converting said first surface to a second surface, said second surface selected from the group consisting of an impermeable surface, a non-porous surface, and combinations thereof;
• for the sole purpose of testing of said at least one test package;
• evacuating said at least one test package;
• measuring a gain in pressure in said at least one test package;
• and
• correlating said gain in pressure with a presence of said defects in said test package and said plurality of sealed packages.

A method of testing a plurality of sealed packages for defects, said defects including at least one of the group consisting of seal defects, package defects, and combinations thereof, each of said sealed packages having a first surface selected from at least one of the group consisting of a permeable surface, a porous surface, and combinations thereof, comprising the steps of:

• selecting at least one test package from said plurality of sealed packages for testing;
• applying at least one coating to said first surface of said at least one test package for converting said first surface to a second surface, said second surface selected from the group consisting of an impermeable surface, a non-porous surface, and combinations thereof;
• for the sole purpose of testing of said at least one test package;
• placing said at least one test package in an enclosed environment;
• filling said at least one test package with at least one tracer gas;
• measuring said tracer gas escaping from said at least one test package into said enclosed environment;
• and
• correlating said escaped tracer gas with a presence of said defects in said test package and said plurality of sealed packages.