Digital Bursting Strength Tester for Paper and Board

What is the Digital Bursting Strength Tester for Paper and Board?

A digital bursting strength tester records the rupture pressure electronically and displays it with statistics, often with automatic clamping and selectable pressure ranges for paper and board. It suits laboratories testing a range of grades in one day.

Overview

The hydraulic system is the same as in a conventional tester, but the pressure signal is digitised so that the maximum value, the pressure rise curve and the statistics of a series are available immediately, and results can be exported to a quality system. Automatic clamping applies a reproducible clamping pressure, which removes one of the largest sources of operator variation, and selectable transducers or ranges keep the resolution adequate for both light paper and heavy board. Calibration is normally carried out with a dead-weight tester or reference gauge at several pressures, and the diaphragm change is tracked by the software so that the remaining test count is known. Some models also record the burst curve, which assists in distinguishing material failures from clamping faults.

How does it work?

A circular specimen is clamped between two platens under a defined clamping pressure and a rubber diaphragm expands against it as hydraulic or pneumatic pressure increases at a controlled rate. The maximum pressure reached at rupture is recorded as the bursting strength, and the value is affected by clamping pressure, diaphragm condition, the rate of pressure rise and specimen conditioning. Standards define the clamping force, the free test area, the pressure rise rate and the diaphragm material and thickness, so the instrument must be configured exactly as the method specifies. Because the diaphragm stretches with every test, it must be replaced at defined intervals and its condition checked, since a stiff or hardened diaphragm gives high and erratic readings. Corrugated board requires a larger test area and a support plate to prevent local crushing.

What are the key features?

• Digital pressure recording with statistics
• Automatic clamping at a reproducible pressure
• Selectable ranges for paper and board
• Software diaphragm change counter
• Result export to quality systems
• Burst curve display option

What are the technical specifications?

A typical digital bursting strength tester for paper and board configuration offers measuring range of 0–6000 kPa with selectable transducers, resolution of 1 kPa or better, test area diameter of 30.5 mm or 112.8 mm options, clamping of Pneumatic or hydraulic, automatic, pressure rise rate of Per standard, 95 mL/min typical and statistics of Mean, range and standard deviation. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Digital Bursting Strength Tester for Paper and Board is used in mixed paper and board testing in one laboratory, high-volume routine quality control, production control with automatic data capture and comparison of board grades from several suppliers. Across the wider Burst Analysis class, laboratories also deploy it for bursting strength of packaging papers and boards, corrugated board quality control and paper bag and sack grade verification.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 2758, ISO 2759, ISO 12625-11, ASTM D774, TAPPI T403, TAPPI T810 and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Condition specimens to the standard atmosphere, since bursting strength changes markedly with moisture content. Clamp each specimen centrally and without creases, since edge positions and wrinkles cause premature rupture and low readings. Replace the diaphragm at the interval stated in the method or whenever it shows hardening, cracking or permanent deformation, and record the replacement in the instrument log. Verify the clamping pressure and the pressure rise rate periodically, and check the pressure gauge or transducer against a reference. After each test, inspect the rupture pattern: an off-centre or irregular burst usually indicates a clamping or centring problem rather than a material fault.

How do I select the right Digital Bursting Strength Tester for Paper and Board?

Select a digital instrument when several grades are tested daily, when clamping consistency matters, or when results must feed a quality database. Confirm that the required test areas and pressure ranges are available for your product mix, and check the calibration and diaphragm tracking features.

How does it compare with other Burst Analysis variants?

Choose the instrument from the standard and the product. Paper and tissue use the smaller hydraulic test area, board uses the larger area with a higher pressure range, and corrugated board needs a pneumatic or hydraulic instrument with a support plate and a sufficiently wide clamping ring. Confirm the pressure range covers the expected bursting strength with adequate headroom, since a range that is too low prevents reaching rupture and one that is too wide reduces resolution. Specify automatic clamping if many specimens are tested, and always choose an instrument whose diaphragm and pressure rise rate match the standard edition you follow, because values from different configurations are not interchangeable.