Jar Product Testing Part 1: The Weight Test

jar-product-testing-part-1-weight-test<p>I got started on product testing by doing a load-bearing test. Before I describe my results, I want to describe how the jars look and feel. The catalogue pictures are great, but I have a hard time imagining how flexible or brittle something is just from a picture.</p> <h3><a title=single-wall jars href=https://www.containerandpackaging.com/catalog/single-wall-plastic-jars/56/>Single-Wall Jar</a></h3> <p>The single-wall jars are actually a lot more sturdy feeling than I thought that they would be. I imagined that they would be flimsy like a disposable plastic cup, or maybe as thick as a yogurt cup. When I examined them, I found them to be fairly solid. I picked up three different varieties of single-walled containers: white, natural, and PET (clear). The white and natural jars are slightly pliable. The PET ones are a little bit brittle, and don't bend much when subjected to a simple Skviezmie test (see <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoBYLwwjr9E>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoBYLwwjr9E</a> for more information on this highly scientific test).</p> <h3><a title=double-wall jars href=https://www.containerandpackaging.com/catalog/double-wall-plastic-jars/57/>Double-Wall Jar</a></h3> <p>The double-wall jars are all polypropylene. You can tell that they are hollow between the two walls of plastic when you squeeze them or knock them with your finger. These containers are heavier than the single-wall ones, but significantly lighter than the thick-wall jars.</p> <h3><a title=thick-wall jars href=https://www.containerandpackaging.com/catalog/thick-wall-plastic-jars/58/#1,0&0&0&0&0&0&0&58&0&8&list&0&0,1>Thick-Wall Jar</a></h3> <p>The thick-wall jars are just that: thick. Their walls are made of a lot of plastic, and these containers are heavy. They don't flex at all when squeezed, but are solid and sturdy. The ones I selected are polystyrene (PS). If you want a more flexible jar, pick the polypropylene (PP) thick-wall natural jars.</p> <p>There are a lot more in the catalogue, but I didn't have the time or patience to test all 118 single-wall, 36 double-wall, and 17 thick-wall jars. I selected a variety (thick-, single-, and double-wall) from ¼ oz. up to 8 oz. to run tests on. I picked an easy weight to test the strength of the jars: 40 pounds, or the weight of my 5-year-old. He was thrilled to help, so we put each of the jars on the floor and he stood on them. Yep, I had him step on each and every jar. Amazingly, all of them stood up to this test. I was surprised that the ¼ oz. single-wall jar didn't break. I decided to skip stepping on them myself because I don't think that they will all survive my weight on them (a little bit more than 40 pounds!). After we got done with the first round of tests, I had to convince my helper not to scoot around the kitchen on top of two of the jars like they were ice skates.</p>