Are you confused about the strength and quality of your packaging boxes? Find the right testing products from Emphor DLAS to make the right boxes for your product.
Cardboard products are one of the major products in the packaging industry. Corrugated boxes are popular all over the globe. Regulated slotted containers are the most commonly used carton for storage and shipping. They are popular in the global market as they are cheap, durable and eco-friendly. These boxes vary in strength, thickness, chemical resistance and other factors, which makes them different from one another according to the purpose they serve. One has to always choose the right box for their packaging needs. The cardboard strength and construction directly impact the amount of weight a box can carry. A weak box can break and a huge box is not cost-effective and environment friendly. Manufacturers of these boxes have found multiple testing procedures.
Bursting Test
The Bursting test checks the toughness of the box by subjecting it to pressure. The test determines the exact weight a box could carry under extreme conditions. A rubber diaphragm is used to apply pressure to the walls of the box. The diaphragm is expanded using hydraulics and is pressured to burst. The bursting strength is then measured in Kilograms per square centimeter. The bursting factor is given as a thousand times the bursting strength, divided by the grammage of the board.
Edge Crush Test
Edge crush test uses cross-directional crushing of corrugated board box is also one of the most famous methods to test material quality, stacking strength and pallet shipping endurance. Corrugated boxes are made with sheets that have three or more layers. Generally, a thin sheet with grooves and ridges is sandwiched between two flat sheets. These grooves give necessary strength to a box, which makes them withhold great force without breaking.
In the test, force is applied to one side of the box, perpendicular to the ridges until the box is crumpled. The results of the Edge Crush test are measured in pounds per lineal inch of load-bearing edge but represented as ECT. Boxes which are ECT rated uses less material compared to burst test rated boxes to provide an equivalent level of strength. This means it’s cheaper and less wasteful to purchase ECT rated boxes in bulk. The overall strength of the corrugated box can be different based on the materials they are used.
Water Resistance of the Gluing
The test is used to check the longevity of glued lines of corrugated board. The test determines the impact of climate, moisture and water absorption in the boxes. Fiberboard can absorb and retain water, testing the water-resistance of gluing or sealing is also important. For certain purposes, FEFCO9 standards are used to test water-resistance of the corrugated boxes. The test is performed by exposing the glue lines in water, which helps in measuring bond strength and water absorption.
Cobb Sizing Tester
The test determines the ability of corrugated boxes to resist water and measure the increase in the weight of the box when exposed to water. The test determines the porosity of the boxes. The material used to make the box have a tendency to absorb water and retain it. Once the box is subjected to water, it is squeezed out with pressure. Depending upon the quality, water is retained inside the box to calculate the Cobb value. The Cobb value is the difference between the weight of the box and the weight of the retained water. The lower the cobb value better will be the water resistance. The cobb test is mainly used to certify a corrugated box that is used to carry hazardous material.
Paper grammage and thickness
The test is used for testing areal density and thickness that determines box quality and rigidity. Grammage and thickness are the two fundamental properties of corrugated fiberboards that determine the quality of the box. The boxes are designed with these factors, which correspond to the requirement. When the box is made with more padding, the thickness becomes higher. The flutes of the corrugated board are larger and pack more air in them. Thin boards with dense flutes have higher grammage. These kinds of packing is needed when the packaging is more compact and rigid.
Thickness is measured in millimeter and grammage is determined in grams per square meter. Thinner boards are easier to fold, lighter, and more suitable when it comes to printing or detailing. Thicker ones are sturdy and suitable for heavy shipping.
Puncture Resistance
The test is used for checking the durability of the box against sharp and solid objects. The test is carried out before transportation to check strength and sturdiness. Puncture resistance tests how well the box can handle the impact made with sharp solid objects.
Scuff Resistance Test
Printing is needed to add necessary information on the box. Scuff Resistance test is used for checking the durability of printed boxes against any kind of abrasion. The test is carried out to check whether the prints on the box can sustain rubbing and wearing. Different printing methods are used to check how abrasion can affect the print. Scuff Resistance test is especially important for pharmaceutical or medical industries where label legibility is of prime importance.
Box Compression test
The test is used to determine the amount of load the box can hold on the top before it deformed and the understand the amount of deformation. The test measures the stacking strength of a pallet load. The test also gives an idea of how many boxes can be stacked together before damaging the bottom-most box. The test is crucial to check the strength of boxes and is used in industries which transport multiple boxes at a time. The boxes are tested through different orientations. Some boxes are made using wood support or corrugated board cushioning, in such cases these factors are taken into account.
Chemical Analysis in Corrugated boxes
The test checks the chemical resistance of boxes to check product formulation and regulatory compliance. The chemical test is carried out when the box is made of fiberboard. The analysis of fiberboard involves microscopic examination of the board to check the quality of paper used. The test also checks the pH value of the board to determine moisture content.
Corrugated box testing procedure helps in finding the right kind of box for business requirements. Most boxes contain a certificate stamp of tests carried upon them.
AmetekMocon
AmetekMocon has a wide range of package testing solutions. They are global leaders in package testing products which assure quality assurance and quality control packaging for various industries.
Emphor DLAS is a verified supplier of AmetekMocon products based in Middle East. You can contact Emphor DLAS to find the right products to check the quality of the corrugated box for packaging.
