MIL-PRF-44073G
4.5.3 Thermal processing. Testing for thermal processing of the pouches shall be as
follows: Pouches shall be filled with five, eight, or 48 to 104 ounces of water, as applicable to
the pouch size, sealed and exposed to the same thermal processing conditions as required for
filled and sealed pouches by the food product document. Following thermal processing, pouches
shall be examined visually. Any pouch material defect as a result of thermal processing shall be
considered a test failure and shall be cause for rejection of the lot.
4.5.4 Directional tear test. Using thumb and forefinger of each hand the pouch shall be
gripped on each side of the tear notch opening at one end of the pouch. Twisting the two sides of
the tear notch away from the notch center the pouch shall be torn open along the axis of the
adjacent lengthwise side seal, (if pouch opening cannot be initiated on the initial attempt, the test
shall be performed using the notch at the opposite end of the pouch). If the path of the resultant
pouch tear line reduces the width of the remaining opened pouch to less than 3-1/2 inches when
measured from the outside edge of the opposite side seal to the lowest point along the tear line, it
shall be considered a test failure and shall be cause for rejection of the lot.
4.5.5 Residual gas volume test. The samples for test shall be opened under 75°F ± 5°F
water and the gases shall be collected by water displacement in a graduated cylinder or other
calibrated tube. The volume of the gases shall be reported to the nearest 0.1 cubic centimeter (cc)
for SSP. Any residual gas volume exceeding 20 cc in SSP shall be considered a test failure,
except any residual gas volume exceeding 10 cc in SSP pouches filled with fruit shall be
considered a test failure. The volume of the gases shall be reported to the nearest 1 cc for ISP.
Any residual gas volume exceeding 250 cc in ISP pouches shall be considered a test failure and
shall be cause for rejection of the lot.
4.5.6 Internal pressure test. Internal pressure resistance shall be determined by
pressurizing the pouches while they are restrained between two rigid plates. The plates shall be
1/2 inch ± 1/16 inch apart or 1 inch ± 1/16 inch apart for SSP, or 2 inches ± 1/16 inch apart for
ISP. If a three-seal tester (one that pressurizes the pouch through an open end) is used, the
closure seal shall be cut off for testing the side and bottom seals of the pouch; for testing of the
closure seal, the bottom seal shall be cut off. The pouches shall be emptied prior to testing. If a
four-seal tester (designed to pressurize filled pouches by use of a hypodermic needle through the
pouch wall) is used, all four seals can be tested simultaneously. For SSP, the pressure shall be 20
psig for the 1/2 inch plate distance and 12 psig for the 1 inch plate distance. For ISP, the pressure
shall be 10 psig for the 2 inch plate distance. Pressure shall be applied gradually until pressure
set point is reached. The pressure set point shall be held constant for 30 seconds and then
released. The pouches shall then be examined for separation or yield of the seals. Any rupture of
the pouch or evidence of seal separation greater than 1/16 inch in the pouch manufacturer's seal
shall be considered a test failure. Any seal separation that reduces the effective closure seal
width to less than 1/16 inch (see table II) shall be considered a test failure and shall be cause for
rejection of the lot.
4.5.7 Camouflage (Type I). External visible color of the outside surfaces of the SSP
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