### Accelerated Aging Time (AAT)

Accelerated Aging – oftentimes referred to as Accelerated Shelf-Life Testing – is commonly used in the medical device industry to accelerate the effects of time on a Sterile Barrier System to establish Shelf Life parameters. The Accelerated Aging process is based on the relationship of temperature and reaction rate where an increase in temperature increases the reaction rate.

Reference ASTM F1980-16

$$\text { Accelerated Aging Time }​ (A A T)=\frac{\text { Desired Real Time }(R T)}{Q_{10} ​ \scriptsize\left[\left(T_{A A}-T_{R T}\right) / 10\right]}$$

Accelerated Aging Time (AAT) Calculator

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°C

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Aging Factor

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Accelerated Aging Time (AAT) Calculator
Desired Real Time (RT):
Accelerated Aging Temperature (TAA):
Ambient Temperature (TRT):
Aging Factor (Q10):
Calculated Accelerated Aging Time (AAT):
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NOTES
1. The calculated AAT is typically rounded up to the nearest whole day.
2. Westpak does not recommend aging packaging materials at temperatures exceeding +60ºC. Common TAAs are +50ºC, +55ºC, and +60ºC.
3. Ambient temperature is typically between +20ºC to +25ºC. A temperature of +25ºC is a more conservative approach.
4. The aging factor is typically between 1.8 – 2.5 with a value of 2.0 being the most common value.
Accelerated Aging Time (AAT) Calculator

Invalid Input

Months

Invalid Input

°C

Invalid Input

°C

Invalid Input

Aging Factor

Calculate
Thanks for using our services!
Enter some brief information to see results
• We will send you newsletters that you can opt-out for at anytime. We do not share your information.
See Results
Accelerated Aging Time (AAT) Calculator
Desired Real Time (RT):
Accelerated Aging Temperature (TAA):
Ambient Temperature (TRT):
Aging Factor (Q10):
Calculated Accelerated Aging Time (AAT):
Reset

When you produce a product, it’s essential to understand how the aging process impacts its condition or quality. This knowledge is critical across industries, from consumer goods to pharmaceuticals. The medical device industry, in particular, places a large emphasis on testing the shelf life of products. That’s because as time goes on, a product’s Sterile Barrier System can become altered as it faces stresses from time and the ambient environment. If a Sterile Barrier System becomes compromised, this can jeopardize the efficacy and safety of the medical device in question. Therefore, the FDA requires medical device manufacturers to determine a product's shelf life before sending the product to market in the United States.

However, sometimes it may take many months or even years before you can witness the toll aging takes on a product in real-time This is where accelerated aging, also known as accelerated shelf-life testing, comes into play. Accelerated aging is a type of testing that simulates the effects that time has on a product or package by subjecting it to elevated temperatures. This testing allows medical device manufacturers to determine a newly developed product’s shelf life and witness the long-term effects of aging without having to wait for years to see the real-time results.

With Westpak’s accelerated aging calculator, you can determine how short the accelerated aging process will be based on the number of real-time months you must simulate. Simply insert a few variables to the accelerated aging calculator and you’ll be able to quickly and easily see the corresponding accelerated aging time. After a few what-ifs, you’ll be able to easily determine the accelerated aging time and temperature that suits your needs.

Using the Accelerated Aging Time (AAT) calculator is simple. To use the calculator, you will need to enter the following four variables: Desired Real-Time in days, the Accelerated Aging Temperature (TAA) and Ambient Temperature (TRT) in degrees Celsius, and the Aging Factor (Q10). Below, we’ve outlined a step-by-step process for using our Accelerated Aging calculator:

1. Enter the desired real-time in months.
2. Input the TAA and TRT values, both in Celsius, for your product.
3. Input the Aging Factor Q10 value for your product. (The default Q10 value is set at 2).
4. Click “Calculate” at the bottom of the calculator to determine AAT, rounded up to the nearest day.
5. If you’ve not already done so, complete the short form to see the result.

As mentioned above, there are four variables that go into the equation for accelerated aging: Desired Real-Time, Accelerated Aging Temperature, Ambient Temperature, and Aging Factor. Below, we’ll go into a little more detail about each of these variables:

• Desired Real Time: This is the shelf-life or real-time you aim to simulate through the accelerated aging process.
• Accelerated Aging Temperature (TAA): Westpak does not recommend aging packaging materials at temperatures exceeding +60ºC. Common TAAs are +50ºC, +55ºC, and +60ºC.
• Ambient Temperature (TRT): Ambient temperature is typically between +20ºC to +25ºC. A temperature of +25ºC is a more conservative approach.
• Ambient Temperature (TRT) Aging Factor (Q10): The aging factor is typically between 1.8 - 2.5 with a value of 2.0 being the most common value.