Description
What Is Hot Tack Strength?
Hot tack is the strength of a heat seal measured immediately after sealing, before it has cooled to room temperature. On an automatic packaging machine, a freshly made seal is immediately subjected to stress — from product weight, gravity, or machine handling — before the bond has had time to fully set. If hot tack strength is insufficient, packages can burst open on the line.
Conventional testing with a separate heat sealer and tensile tester seldom correlates with the strength of a hot seal as it is first exposed to stress on a packaging machine. The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is purpose-built to test heat seal strength under accurately controlled conditions.
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB permits evaluation of sealability and hot tack under a broad range of testing conditions to optimize packaging machine settings and ensure consistent product quality. It is also a practical tool for incoming material inspection and for obtaining optimal production line speed.
What the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB Measures
Every test run captures three performance metrics that define whether your heat seal will perform in production:
| Parameter | What It Tells You |
|---|---|
| Threshold Sealing Temperature | The minimum temperature at which adequate hot tack strength is achieved. Sets the lower bound for safe machine operation. |
| Peak Seal Strength | The maximum force the seal can withstand immediately post-sealing. |
| Hot Tack Temperature Range | The range of temperatures across which the seal maintains sufficient hot tack strength. |
Who Uses the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is used across the packaging supply chain wherever seal integrity is a quality requirement:
| User | Primary Use Case |
|---|---|
| Raw Material Producers | Testing and characterizing plastic films, paper, and laminates for seal performance. |
| Extruders | Validating seal properties of extruded films before they reach the packaging line. |
| Packaging Machine Manufacturers | Optimizing machine settings and validating seal performance across different film types. |
| Food & Chemical Companies | Ensuring seal quality and consistency across production runs. |
| R&D Laboratories | Evaluating new materials and mapping seal performance across temperature and pressure ranges. |
| Quality Control Teams | Running SQC/SPC programs on raw materials, semi-finished goods, and finished packaging per ASTM F1921 and ISO 11339. |
J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB — Full Specifications
Sealing
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Sealing Bars | 2 NIPTEF®-coated bars with integrated sensors and heaters |
| Seal Bar Size | 5 × 50 mm standard (alternative seal bar configurations available as option) |
| Sealing Operation | Asymmetrical and symmetrical; two-sided or one-sided |
| Sample Width (max) | 40 mm (1.6″) |
| Sample Thickness (max) | 1 mm (0.04″) |
| Sealing Time | 0.1 – 20 s |
| Sealing Temperature | Ambient up to 260°C (500°F) |
| Sealing Pressure | 0.1 – 2.0 N/mm² (electronically controlled) |
| Pressure Control | Electronic PID; strain gauge sensor |
| Temperature Control | Electronic PID |
Peeling
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Cooling Time | 0.1 – 999 s |
| Peeling Speed | 4 – 600 mm/s (up to 1,000 mm/s available as option) |
| Peel Mechanism | Vertically moving lower clamp; electric servo motor |
| Sample Length (min) | Approximately 250 mm (9.8″) |
| Max Peeling Distance | 130 mm |
Force Measurement
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Measurement Range | 0 – 45 N (up to 225 N available as option) |
| Sensor Type | Piezoelectric force transducer |
| Sampling Speed | Up to 20 kHz (depends on peel speed) |
Applicable Materials
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Material Types | Heat-sealable flexible packaging materials including PE (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE), PP, multilayer and laminated structures with heat-sealable inner layers, and coated flexible paper |
| Sample Width (max) | 40 mm (1.6″) |
| Sample Thickness (max) | 1 mm (0.04″) |
| Minimum Sample Length | Approximately 250 mm (9.8″) |
Physical & Connections
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Weight | Approx. 14 kg (31 lb) |
| Dimensions (W × D × H) | 220 × 287 × 556 mm (8.7 × 11.3 × 21.9 in) |
| Power Supply | 90 – 264 VAC; max 150 VA (US compatible) |
| Air Supply | 6 – 8 bar (85 – 115 psi); ISO 8573-1 class 7.4.4 dry air |
| PC Interface | USB (optional built-in PC with keyboard and mouse available) |
Software & Standards
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| OS Compatibility | Windows |
| Data Export & Reporting | Force versus time curves; tabular results; export to Microsoft Excel® and common data formats; Word® template merge; custom Java script export; reporting aligned with ASTM F1921 and ISO 11339 methodologies |
| SQC / SPC | Compatible with commercially available SQC software |
| Applicable Test Standards | ASTM F1921 / F1921M; ISO 11339 / DIN EN ISO 11339 |
| Quality System Integration | Suitable for use within laboratory quality systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025; supports calibration, verification, traceability, and documented procedures |
Available Options & Accessories
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB can be configured with the following optional upgrades and accessories to expand testing capability, increase automation, and support sample preparation:
| Option / Accessory | Description |
|---|---|
| Infinity Sample Feeder | Enables fully unattended multi-sample testing, reducing operator influence and improving measurement repeatability. The operator can perform other tasks while the instrument runs the test sequence automatically. |
| Infinity Sample Cutter | Dedicated sample preparation tool for cutting consistent test specimens. Ensures repeatable sample dimensions for more reliable and comparable hot tack measurements. |
| Extended Peeling Speed | Peeling speed up to 1,000 mm/s, beyond the standard 600 mm/s maximum. |
| Higher Force Range | Optional extended force measurement range up to 225 N. Contact us for details. |
| Alternative Sealing Bars | Alternative seal bar configurations available in addition to the standard 5 × 50 mm bars. Contact us to discuss your specific sealing geometry requirements. |
| Rigid Sample Testing Mode | Optional mode for testing rigid samples in addition to standard flexible packaging materials. |
| Built-In PC | Optional integrated tablet computer with keyboard and mouse for a self-contained testing station without a separate PC. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is hot tack and why does it matter?
Hot tack is the strength of a heat seal immediately after sealing — before the seal has fully cooled and cured. A hot tack value that is too low can lead to leaking packages or sealing failures during the packaging process. The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB tests this under precisely controlled conditions, allowing you to optimize packaging processes and ensure consistent seal quality across production runs.
Why is hot tack testing important for packaging quality?
A reliable hot tack value determines whether a package closes and holds securely during filling. If the value is too low, the seal may weaken or open under tension during the filling process, resulting in product loss or contamination. Consistent hot tack testing with the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB allows you to optimize seal quality, increase production speed, and reduce packaging waste.
Which standards does the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB support?
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB supports measurements within the scope of ASTM F1921 / F1921M and ISO 11339 / DIN EN ISO 11339, subject to appropriate sample preparation and test configuration.
What is the difference between hot tack strength and final seal strength?
Hot tack is measured immediately after the seal is made while it is still hot. Final seal strength is measured after the seal has fully cooled to its maximum strength. Conventional testing with a separate heat sealer and tensile tester seldom correlates with the strength of a hot seal as it is first exposed to stress on a packaging machine — which is why the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is purpose-built for this measurement.
What industries and applications use the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB?
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is used by producers of raw materials, plastic films, and laminates; extruders; packaging machine manufacturers; food and chemical companies; and R&D and quality control laboratories running SQC/SPC programs.
What materials can be tested with the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB?
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is designed for heat-sealable flexible packaging materials including PE (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE), PP, multilayer and laminated structures with heat-sealable inner layers, and coated flexible paper. It accepts samples up to 40 mm wide and 1 mm thick with a minimum length of approximately 250 mm.
Does the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB require compressed air?
Yes. A dry air supply of 6–8 bar (85–115 psi) meeting ISO 8573-1 class 7.4.4 is required. The pneumatic system operates the automatic sample clamps and the software-controlled protection plates. A suitable dry air source should be available at the installation point.
Can multiple samples be tested automatically?
With the optional Infinity sample feeder, the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB can run multiple measurements automatically without the need for an operator between samples. This reduces operator influence on results and improves measurement repeatability. The number of automatic measurements depends on the length of the prepared sample strips.
How does data get out of the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB?
The J&B HotTack.Net software exports force versus time curves and tabular results directly to Microsoft Excel® and common data formats. Results can be merged into Word® report templates and custom export configurations are available via Java script. Reporting is aligned with ASTM F1921 and ISO 11339 methodologies. The software is also compatible with commercially available SQC platforms.
How long does the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB last and what maintenance does it need?
The J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB is built for long service life with minimal upkeep. Day-to-day maintenance is straightforward: keep the sealing bars clean and free of residue, avoid dust accumulation around the instrument, and use only original components and official software updates. The instrument is also maintenance-free by design, with pneumatic software-controlled protection plates that keep the sealing area accessible and easy to clean.
Can the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB be integrated into a laboratory quality system?
Yes. The instrument is suitable for use within laboratory quality systems such as ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025, supporting calibration, verification, traceability, and documented procedures in accordance with the user’s internal quality processes.
How often does the J&B Hot Tack Tester 5000MB need to be calibrated?
Annual calibration is recommended to maintain measurement accuracy and ensure results remain traceable to ASTM F1921 and ISO 11339. Contact us to discuss calibration scheduling and service arrangements for US-based instruments.
