Compression Standard
Standardized technical test methods establish procedures for evaluating the top-to-bottom compression strength of filled or empty shipping boxes. Compliance with tappi t804 determines the maximum compressive load that corrugated shipping containers withstand before structural failure occurs. The procedure places a test box between two parallel platens, applying a continuously increasing compressive force at a specified rate until sidewalls buckle or collapse.
Scope boundaries apply strictly to fiberboard containers, excluding plastic crates and metal drums.
Failure Load
Top-to-bottom crushing strength depends on paperboard basis weight, flute geometry, and score line quality. Laboratory testing under tappi t804 yields force-displacement data that quantifies maximum load capacity and structural deflection at yield points. Crease alignment and flute integrity along vertical box corners carry the majority of vertical stacking loads in warehouse facilities.
Elevated atmospheric moisture softens paper fibers, reducing compressive resistance measured during testing. Package designers apply empirical safety factors to raw test results to offset long-term load duration and warehouse stacking patterns.
Structural Evaluation
Compression data informs package design decisions regarding paperboard grade selection and structural box dimensions. Executing tests according to tappi t804 validates whether corrugated boxes maintain stack integrity during long-distance transit. Empirical crush values support cost-effective packaging optimization without risking cargo damage.
