Box Plant Basics – Board Tests
Corrugated boxes tend to fail in two primary ways: either by collapse under a compressive top-load created by stacking, or by rupture due to rough handling or heavy or awkward loading. Different tests can be used to predict the performance of corrugated board and corrugated boxes under these two conditions. Several other tests can be used to monitor corrugating and converting operations in box plants. This course describes several tests that can be used at box plants to predict product performance or to monitor operations. These include the box compression test (BCT), edge compression test (ECT), short-span compression test (SCT), bending stiffness, tensile stiffness, box drop test, burst strength test, puncture test, flat crush test (FCT), warp test, and pin adhesion test. It also lists the organizations which have developed standardized test methods for corrugated board and explains the importance of sample conditioning. [Discussion Points] Review sampling, conditioning, and testing procedures currently used at facility Review current crush tests with customers and determine if another test might be more appropriate or desirable
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Course Details
Learning Objectives
•Identify the organizations which have developed standardized test methods for corrugated board
•Explain the importance of sample conditioning
•Describe the tests used to predict the stacking performance of corrugated board boxes, including the box compression test (BCT), edge compression test (ECT), short-span compression test (SCT), bending stiffness, and tensile stiffness
•Describe the tests used to predict the performance of corrugated boxes during rough handling or with heavy or awkward loads, including the box drop test, burst strength test, and puncture test
•Describe tests used to monitor corrugating and converting operations at box plants, including the flat crush test (FCT), warp test, and pin adhesion test
Specs
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “sample conditioning” mean?
What advantages does the short-span compression test (SCT) have over other compression tests?
What is the flat crush test (FCT) used to predict?
Why is it important to minimize warp in corrugated board?
Besides box perimeter, what values must be known to use the McKee equatios to estimate the box compression test (BCT) value for a corrugated box?
Sample Video Transcript
Up until now, we have discussed tests that can be used to predict the resistance of corrugated boxes to failure due to stacking. The other main way that corrugated boxes fail is by rupture due to rough handling and/or heavy or awkward loads. The box drop test was developed to predict the performance of boxes under these unfavorable conditions. During a box drop test, a box is filled with a standard load and sealed and then dropped onto its corners, edges, and/or flat surfaces from a standard height.
