Interlaboratory Study to Determine Precision for Defect Detection and Rating of Plastic Film Using Optical Sensors According to ASTM D7310

Abstract Recently, the five-year review for ASTM D7310, Standard Guide for Detection and Rating of Plastic Films Using Optical Sensors, was carried out. One of the key goals for this review was refining the document such that it may eventually be transitioned to a full-fledged test method. However, before such a goal could be realized, it was necessary to determine the practical limitations of the technique relative to the expected precision, repeatability, and reproducibility. To that end, interlaboratory studies were carried out in two stages. Stage one served as a pilot study and the participating laboratories were given limited guidance. This allowed identification of key control variables that would need to be defined in subsequent broader studies and ultimately in the future method. In stage two, the key variables identified in stage one were controlled and the precision of the technique was elucidated for three material types: polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and low-density polyethylene. The results from these studies are discussed herein.