Standardised Laboratory
Standardised laboratory tests determine the residue on ignition of paper, board, and pulp samples to calculate the total inorganic filler content at high heat. Under the international standard, iso 1762 defines the method for burning fiber samples in a muffle furnace set to five hundred and twenty-five degrees Celsius. This procedure governs the calculation of ash content, which is used to analyze the ratio of organic pulp fibers to inorganic minerals like clay, calcium carbonate, and titanium dioxide.
It applies to all commercial pulp grades and finished paperboards, providing a consistent baseline for quality comparisons.
Analytical Step
Technicians first dry a test specimen to a constant weight to establish its initial moisture-free mass. The sample is then placed inside a silica crucible and heated in the furnace until all organic matter has burned away, leaving only inorganic residue. After cooling in a desiccator, the crucible is weighed again to determine the remaining mass of the ash.
This calculation is expressed as a percentage of the oven-dry weight of the starting sample. Precise temperature control is necessary because higher temperatures can decompose certain fillers like calcium carbonate, leading to inaccurate results that would distort the mill’s formulation records.
Material Function
Paperboard mills use this percentage to adjust their slurry mixtures during the refining process. Correct filler ratios are essential for achieving the required opacity, brightness, and surface smoothness of print stock. This testing ensures that every run of folding carton board meets the stiffness requirements demanded by high-speed converting lines.