Standard Laboratory Test Methods for Paperboard Physical Property Verification
Paperboard physical property verification requires strict ISO 187 conditioning and standardized test methods to ensure compliance and prevent customs holds.
SCT Compression
Compressive Strength
Material property measurements that quantify the short-span compressive strength of paperboard or fluting medium determine the stacking performance of finished corrugated boxes. The test parameter known as sct compression measures the maximum load a specimen can support over a very short span of less than one millimeter. This short span prevents the paperboard from buckling, thereby isolating the true compressive strength of the individual fibers and the board structure.
Quality control laboratories rely on this metric to predict the load-bearing capacity of shipping containers.
Testing Procedure
The execution of this measurement requires a highly precise testing instrument with pneumatic clamps that grip the paperboard specimen. During the sct compression test, the clamps move toward each other at a constant speed until the material fails. The maximum force is recorded in kilonewtons per meter of width.
Structural Performance
Stacking strength in warehouses depends directly on the compressive resistance of the individual liners in the corrugated board. If the sct compression value is too low, the boxes are likely to collapse under the weight of the stacked pallets, leading to product damage. Papermakers adjust the refining and wet-end chemistry of the paper machine to optimize this property without increasing the basis weight.
Consistent compression values are essential for modern automated supply chains.