TEARING RESISTANCE OF PAPER Introduction Tearing resistance is primarily a property of the inner structure of the sheet, but surface

treatment sometimes affects the values to a marked degree. Moisture content of the paper has a large effect on its tearing resistance so test specimens must be carefully conditioned. Higher moisture content and higher relative humidity of the test environment actually increase the tearing resistance. The tearing resistance is the force necessary to propagate a tear through a paper sheet; this force is measured in units of gram -force. The principal method used for evaluating the tearing resistance is the Elmendorf tear test (named after the inventor of the standard instrument . The instrument operates on the principle of determining the !ork done in tearing the paper for a predetermined distance by measuring the loss of potential energy from a pendulum. The desired tearing resistance (force is obtained by dividing the tearing !ork by the distance over !hich the tearing force acts (!ork " force distance . The tearing resistance of paper and paperboard grades varies over a very !ide range, from fairly small values in tissue grades to very great values in paperboard. To deal !ith the problem of having to cover this !ide range !ith one instrument, t!o different testing procedures have been developed and codified in T#$$% Test Method T &'& and %nternational (tandard %() '*+&. T#$$% Test Method T &'& is based largely on the standard instrument of capacity ',-- gf. )f the t!o tear testers (.orent/en 0 1ettre available and standing side by side in our paper testing laboratory, it is the one on the right-hand side that should be used !ith T &'&. The main disadvantage of method T &'& is that the number of plies to be torn at a time varies from one grade to another and becomes unreasonably large !ith tissue paper. 5 23

4y contrast, %nternational (tandard %() '*+& prescribes that al!ays four plies be torn at a time. (%() stands for 5%nternational )rgani/ation for (tandardi/ation6. this procedure. Significance The tear test has great significance in the re7uirements of paper and paperboard that are to be sub8ected to tearing forces in conversion or in actual use. This !ould include utility papers such as bags, !rapping stock, building papers, map paper, paper used in children9s books, and others. -ften, onverters rely more heavily on tearing resistance than any other single property. Tearing resistance is an empirical property often used as a control test in manufacturing. %t is sometimes interpreted to reflect the general nature of the fiber present in the paper as !ell as the beating or refining treatment to !hich it has been sub8ected. This is because the test is some!hat dependent upon fiber length and the bonding strength bet!een IMPORTANT: NEVER FORCE THE INSTRUMENT. IF IT OES NOT REACT TO A COMMAN AS E!PECTE " #OU ARE USING AN INAPPROPRIATE PROCE URE. #OU CAN A$%A#S RETURN TO THE &EGINNING &# PRESSING THE RESET &UTTON" %HICH IS THE RE PUSH &UTTON ON THE REAR PANE$. This re7uirement necessitates the use of several tear testers of different capacity. #ccordingly, both tear testers !ill be used in

the fibers. :enerally

speaking, a dense sheet gives a lo!er tear than a

bulky one of the same material and !eight; and long fibers offer greater resistance to tear than short ones. )ccasionally, the tearing resistance is misused by people !ho !rongly assume it to be a measure of runnability of the paper sheet either on the paper machine or in a !eb-fed printing operation. Tearing resistance has

5 2,

nothing !hatever to do !ith runnability.

To obtain a measure of

runnability, an entirely different test must be made, and this has been termed the ;in-plane tearing test; (see <an den #kker, 1ink, and <an Eperen, T#$$% 3- (* , &,,-&+- ('*,+ . Te't S(eci)en' # test specimen is cut to rectangular shape, ,= mm by at least 3= mm. The ,= mm dimension is critical since it determines the length of the tear. >se the special paper cutter designed to give a precise ,= mm length !ith parallel edges. The other dimension (3= mm or greater is not critical. ?ut specimens for tearing tests in M@ (the ,= mm dimension is parallel to M@ and in ?@ (the ,= mm dimension is parallel to ?@ . TAPPI Te't Met*od T +,+: O(erating In'truction' The t!o tearing testers (manufacturerA .orent/en and 1ettre, (!eden standing side by side in the paper testing laboratory each possess an on-board computer and display the test results digitally. Bor method T &'&, use the one on the right-hand side. ,. Turn on the po!er of the tear tester on the by flipping the large black toggle s!itch on the rear panel from its do!n!ard off-position to the up!ard on-position. -. )n the rear panel, locate the small metal toggle s!itch directly

underneath the red reset button. This s!itch is capable of three positions labeled ', 2, and =. 1ith the 4-pendulum in place, the s!itch must be in position 2; other!ise, all test results !ill be !rong. .. )pen the large valve in the air line located on the !all behind the

tearing tester to admit air pressure to the instrument. )n the meter located at the left side of the instrument column, ad8ust the air pressure reading (clamping pressure to -.33 M$a on the black scale. This is done by means 5 2+

of the black knob on the left side of the instrumentA pull out the red locking ring, rotate the black knob clock!ise to obtain the re7uired pressure reading, then push the locking ring home. +. The display !indo! !ill sho! ;?alibr. /ero reading,; indicating that the instrument is ready for CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E, a simple procedure that must be carried out before a test series on a ne! sample. #s a part of /ero calibration, the number of plies to be torn simultaneously in the tear test must be stored. 1ith a ne! sample, ho!ever, !e don9t kno! at first !hat that number n of plies should be. Therefore, !e carry out a preliminary test !ith the ob8ective to determine the optimum number n of plies to be torn at one time. /. Bor this preliminary test, an arbitrary number of plies is chosen. 1ith )n the

tissue paper of relatively lo! basis !eight, choose '- or even 2- plies; !ith board of much greater basis !eight, choose one or t!o plies. selector s!itch located at the upper left corner of the display !indo!, set the number of plies to be torn simultaneously in the preliminary test. This number is then automatically stored in computer memory. %n principle, any number from ' to ,& can be used. )f these numbers, only ', 2, =, &, ,, F, '-, '2, and ', can be set directly !ith the selector s!itch. %f the number of plies you have chosen for the preliminary test is directly accessible !ith the selector s!itch, carry out CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E according to (ubroutine '; then continue !ith step +. 0. The numbers 3, +, *, '', '=, '&, '3, and '+ to ,& are not accessible !ith the selector s!itch. %f the number of plies chosen for the preliminary test is one of these numbers, carry out CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E according to (ubroutine 2; then continue !ith step +.

5 2F

1.

EeGt, carry out the preliminary test according to (ubroutine =. The

number of plies torn simultaneously in this test must agree !ith the number stored in memory during /ero calibration. Make a note of the value displayed under ;(trA; in units of gf , because this is the desired tearing strength per single ply. %n general, this is only an approGimate value but it permits us to estimate the optimum number of plies, n, according to 2. #fter these preliminary operations, the actual tear test !ill no! be

carried out on specimens comprising n plies, !here n is the number determined in step + according to e7uation (' . Make only one test per specimen, each specimen consisting of the same number n of plies. Tear five specimens in M@ and five in ?@. (Tappi (tandard T &'& re7uires that 'specimens be torn in each direction. specimens are torn in this course. To conserve sample, only five Make tests alternately !ith the !ire

sides of all plies of a specimen facing the pendulum, then a!ay from the pendulum. ?arry out these tests as described in steps * to '&. 3. To begin the actual tear test, press the DE(ET button. This is the red

push button on the rear panel. The instrument returns to the beginning, !ith the !indo! displaying ;?alibr. /ero reading.; ,4. @o CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E and enter the number n, determined in step +, by follo!ing the steps described in (ubroutine ' or (ubroutine 2. been made, and the !indo! displays ;n ,,. 4 Test noA ',-; >pon completion of these steps, !e have n plies in the clamps, the initial cut has

$ress the $EE@ key to set the pendulum in motion. ?atch the

pendulum on its return s!ing. $ress the $EE@ key to reset the pendulum stop. The !indo! displays ;(trA GG.G gf @A H G.G 5 2* )IJ;

,-.

The operator either #??E$T( or @)E( E)T #??E$T this value.

He

#??E$T( by simply clamping a ne! specimen and making the initial cut. The last (i.e., the fifth specimen is accepted by pressing KE(. # test is E)T #??E$TE@ by pressing E). %t !ill then not be used by the computer in the final calculation of the mean and standard deviation. ,.. Make five acceptcable tests. Then, to conclude, press KE(, then E). The display !ill be, for eGampleA ;MeanA =F.- gf ;MA &-.3 gf (A =.3 gf; mA =3.3 g,; !here ( is the standard deviation. $ress KE( to obtain the display !here M is the greatest and m is the smallest value measured. ,+. $ress KE( to terminate this series, the !indo! displaying ;n 4 Test noA ';-;

(>4D)>T%EE ' CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E. THE E>M4ED )B $.%E( ?#E 4E (ET 4K (E.E?T)D (1%T?H L The display !indo! should sho! ;?alibr. /ero reading.; L (et the number of plies to be torn at one time !ith the selector s!itch. 1ith nothing in the clamps, release the pendulum by pressing, then 5 =-

releasing the $EE@ key. The pendulum stop pulls back, and the pendulum starts to s!ing to the right. ?atch the pendulum in your left hand !hen it comes s!inging back. Hold it to the left of the pendulum stop. L $ress, then release the $EE@ key once more to raise the pendulum stop. (lo!ly and gently bring the pendulum up against the stop. L #t this point, the display !indo! !ill sho! the follo!ing type of ;'&3' L $ress the ?#. key. 2&F mm '=' deg; informationA Depeat this procedure at least three times. The !indo! displays something like ;'&33 This completes the /ero calibratedJ; and the clamps open automatically. calibration. Eone of the numbers displayed during this procedure are !orth noting. They are automatically stored in computer memory and used internally in subse7uent data manipulation. L To prepare the instrument for a tear test, place the appropriate number of plies in the clamps. #ssume, for eGample, that !e had selected F. L $ress the ?.#M$ key. The clamps close shut, gripping the specimen. L @epress the knife lever as far do!n as it !ill go. The display !ill no! sho!A ;F 4 Test noA '; -; This indicates that F plies are to he torn simultaneously; that the 4 pendulum is being used; that the instrument is ready for test '; and that no previous tests have been accepted. L Deturn to 5Test Method and )perating %nstructions6 and continue !ith step + if you are doing the preliminary test or !ith step '' if you are doing the actual test. (>4D)>T%EE 2 CED) ?#.%4D#T%)E. THE E>M4ED )B $.%E( ?#EE)T 4E (ET 4K (E.E?T)D 5 ='

(1%T?H L The !indo! displays ;?alibr. /ero reading.; (uppose you !ish to use 2plies. Birst, set the selector s!itch to E. L 1ith nothing in the clamps, release the pendulum by pressing, then releasing the $EE@ key. The pendulum s!ings to the right. )n the return s!ing to the left, grasp the pendulum !ith your 'eft hand. Hold it to the left of the pendulum stop. $ress and release the $EE@ key again to raise the pendulum stop. (lo!ly and gently bring the pendulum up against the stop. L #t this point, the !indo! displays information of this typeA ;'&3' 2&Fmm '=' deg; Depeat this procedure at least three times. L $ress the ?#. key. The !indo! displays ;Eumber of $liesA '.; Burther dialog !ith the instrument proceeds as follo!sA PRESS %IN O% number. Eumber of pliesA 2 Eumber of pliesA & Eumber of pliesA F Eumber of pliesA + Eumber of pliesA , Eumber of pliesA 3 Eumber of pliesA 'KE( KE( E) E) E) KE( KE( E) diminishes the number by '. ISP$A# 5E# KE( COMMENT KE( has the effect of doubling the Eumber of pliesA '

PRESS %IN O% ISP$A# 5E# COMMENT 5 =2

Eumber of pliesA 2?#. 2- plies fiGed ?.#M$ 2- 4 Test noA';;

1e obtain the desired number, 2-. $ressing ?#. stores 2- in memory, and the clamps open automatically. )peratorA put 2- plies in clamp. ?lamps close. The stored number 2- is displayed 4 refers to the pendulum used; the instrument is ready for test '; /ero tests have so far been accepted. IE%BE@epress knife lever do!n to the stop .

L Cero calibration has been achieved, the number 2- stored in computer memory, and the instrument is ready for the first tear test. L Deturn to 5Test Method and )perating %nstructions6; continue !ith step + if you are doing the preliminary test and !ith step '' if you are doing the actual test.

(>4D)>T%EE = $DE.%M%E#DK TE#D TE(T L Decall that the purpose of this preliminary test is to obtain an estimate of the optimal number n of plies to use in testing our sample for tear. (uppose a specimen is in the clamps, the initial cut has been made, and the !indo! displays, for eGampleA ;24 Test noA ';-; telling us the specimen consists of 2- plies, the 4 pendulum is being used, and the instrument is ready for the first tearing test. 5 ==

L $ress $EE@ to release the pendulum. ?atch the pendulum on its return s!ing and press $EE@ to reset the pendulum stop. The !indo! displays, for eGampleA ;(trA 23.= gf @A H)IJ; This means that in this case the tearing strength per ply is 23.= g f ; the difference @ bet!een this value and the mean value at this 8uncture is /ero; and as far as the instrument is able to detect, the test is a valid one. L )ne preliminary tearing test suffices to obtain the desired estimate of n, and !e therefore !ish to terminate the preliminary test. Terminate by follo!ing these three stepsA $ress the KE( key. The !indo! displaysA 2;'; $ress the E) key. The !indo! displaysA (AMM.M gf; $ress the KE( key. The !indo! displaysA gf;. L Make a note of this tearing strength per ply, in our eGample 23.= g f , and use it in e7uation (' to calculate n. L $ress the KE( key one more time to conclude this preliminary 4 measurement and to initiate a ne! series. The !indo! displays ;2Test noA ';-.; L Deturn to 5Test Method and )perating %nstructions6, complete step +, and continue !ith the testing procedure. ;MA 23.= gf mA 23.= ;MeanA 23.= gf ;24 Test no.

5 =&

Internationa6 Standard ISO ,31+

Tear Factor The instrument determines the average tearing force per ply in units of gf from the five measurements made in a given direction. @ivide this average value by the grammage (basis !eight in units of g fNm2 to obtain the tear factor. T#$$% standards re7uire that the tear factor be eGpressed in units of dm2. (uppose, for eGample, that the tearing strength " a g f and that the grammage " b gfNm2. The tear factor is then Tear Bactor " (tearing strength N(basis !eight

a gf " " Tear Inde7

m2 '-- dm2 b gf ' m2

'-- aNb dm2

The tear indeG, like tear factor, is defined as tearing strength divided by basis !eight. The tear indeG, ho!ever, must be eGpressed in units of mEN(gfNm2 . #s before, suppose that tearing strength " a gf and basis !eight " b gfNm2. The tear indeG is then given by Tear %ndeG " (tearing strength N(basis !eight

a gf " "

m2 *.F' mE b gf ' gf

*.F' aNb mEN(gfNm2

Re(ort Bor machine direction (M@ and cross direction (?@ , report the mean values of tearing strength in units of g f , of tear factor in units of dm 2, and of

tear indeG in units of mEN(g f N m2 . #lso determine and report a *3O confidence interval for each mean. Reference' #(TM @ ,F* T#$$% T &'' %() '*+&