BURSTING STRENGTH

Introduction
The bursting strength of paper or paperboard is a composite strength
property that is affected by various other properties of the sheet, principally
tensile strength and stretch. Generally, bursting strength depends upon the
kind, proportion, and amount of fibers present in the sheet, their method of
preparation, their degree of beating and refining, upon sheet formation, and
the use of additives.
Bursting strength is measured by means of a Mullen tester. The test
specimen, held between annular clamps, is subjected to an increasing
pressure by a rubber diaphragm, which is expanded by hydraulic pressure at
a controlled rate, until the test specimen ruptures. The pressure reading at
the instant of rupture is recorded as the bursting strength. The units of
expression are pounds per square inch or "points".

The measurement is

variously termed the "Mullen", "pop test", or simply the "burst". The burst
test for paperboard differs from that of lighter papers in that a heavier
Mullen tester is used with a larger diaphragm opening.
Significance
Bursting strength is used widely as a measure of strength in many
kinds of papers, primarily as an indication of the suitability of certain fibers
and the extent of beating and refining. Its main reason for existence is that
it is one of the oldest of the strength tests, it is easy to run, it appears to
correlate with some use requirements, and everyone has the equipment.
While interpretation is empirical, the bursting strength serves as a quick
check on the utility of some papers which do not have an absolute tensile
requirement.

The bursting strength test also is used for combined

containerboards, both corrugated and solid fiberboard as a requirement of

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the Uniform Freight Classification, Rule 41, for shipping containers.

The

bursting strength of the containers is generally controlled by the strength of

the linerboard so this test is critical as a paper mill control test. Burst test
results on a double-face or double-wall corrugated board are highly
variable and correlate poorly, if at all, with most of the performance values
of the finished containers.
Burst Factor and Burst Index
In addition to bursting strength, one frequently reports the burst factor
and/or the burst index. The burst factor is calculated according to

The burst index is calculated according to

Note that 1 kPa = 1 kN/m2, where kPa stands for kilopascal and kN for
kilonewton. Grammage is the basis weight in units of gf/m2.
The Mullen Burst Testers
Two quite different Mullen testers are available commercially and are
both used in the Paper Testing Laboratory:

The Model C Mullen tester; this is a comparatively light instrument for

the testing of paper.

The Model A Mullen tester; this is a much heavier instrument for the
testing of paperboard.
The light Model C instrument for testing paper has two gages, one

ranging from 0 to 30 psi, the other from 0 to 120 psi. Never exceed the
range of a gage, because serious damage to the gage may result.
Obviously, this instrument is intended for testing papers of bursting strength
less than 120 psi. The circular specimen area tested has diameter 30.50
0.05 mm.
The heavy Model A tester for paperboard also has two gages, with
ranges 0 - 200 psi and 0 - 800 psi, respectively. The specimen area tested
has diameter 31.50 0.03 mm, different from the light instrument.

The

Model A tester also has a much heavier molded rubber diaphragm, whereas
the Model C tester has a fairly thin and pliable rubber diaphragm.
Because of these differences between the two instruments, they do
not have a common scale. This means that a paper sample would have a
totally different value of bursting strength when tested on the Model A
tester. It is therefore a serious mistake to measure the bursting strength of
paper on the Model A tester, as the test value obtained is meaningless.
In both instruments, the specimen is firmly clamped between two
concentric platens, each having a circular opening in the center. The
specimen exposed

between the openings is the test area. Pressure is

applied at a uniform rate to the underside of the specimen by the rubber

diaphragm which is expanded by hydraulic pressure. A maximum reading
gauge is included in the hydraulic system. The bursting test value is the
maximum gauge pressure required to produce rupture of the specimen. The
observed gauge value includes the hydraulic pressure required to distend
the rubber diaphragm in addition to that required to rupture the specimen.
Tests
Make ten acceptable tests for each sample, five tests on each side.
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Make no tests on areas containing water marks, creases, imperfections, or

visible damage.
Operating Instructions
Model A Mullen Tester for Paperboard

Place the handle with the red knob, which operates the clamp, in the
central or vertical position.

Turn on the motor switch, which is located at the bottom of the front
side.

Place the sample to be tested over the diaphragm plate.

Lower the clamping plate by turning the the handle with the red knob
clockwise to "CLOSE".

The first test on a new sample should always be done with the gauge
of greater range (0 to 800 psi). Make sure the valve to this range is
OPEN, and the valve to the other gauge (0 to 200 psi) is CLOSED.

Make sure the red maximum hand on the gauge you want to use is at
zero;

otherwise, return it gently to zero by manually turning the

knurled metal knob in the center of the gauge counterclockwise.

To burst the sample, proceed as follows. Find the operating lever with
the black knob, located at the far right of the instrument. Move the
operating lever to the LEFT and hold it there, all the while keeping
your eyes on the gauge. If either the sample bursts or the pressure
indicator needle comes too close to the maximum pressure of the
gauge,

it is extremely important that you quickly move the

operating lever to the RIGHT as far as it will go and release it

immediately; failure to move the operating lever to the right
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immediately the sample bursts may result in a ruptured

diaphragm. The instrument will automatically return to the starting
position.

Record the bursting pressure indicated by the red maximum hand of

the gauge used in the test.

Return the maximum hand of the gauge gently to zero by manually

turning

the

knurled

metal knob in the center

of

the gauge

counterclockwise.

Open

the

clamp

by

turning

the

handle

with

the

red

knob

counterclockwise to the "OPEN" position.

Remove the old sample.

test.

The instrument is now ready for the next

The motor is kept running continuously;

do not turn it off

between tests.
Model C Mullen Tester for Paper

Make sure that the valve to the pressurized air supply line is OPEN.
This valve is located to the left and above the nearest Lorentzen &
Wettre tensile tester.

Turn on the motor switch.

Push the brass ring located at the top of the clamp assembly upward
to raise the clamping plate.

Place the sample to be tested over the diaphragm plate.

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Lower the clamping plate by pushing the brass ring downward.

The first test on a new sample should always be done with the gauge
of greater range (0 to 120 psi). Make sure that the valve to this gauge
is OPEN, and the valve to the other gauge (0 to 30 psi) is CLOSED.

Make sure the red maximum hand on the gauge you want to use is at
zero;

otherwise, return it gently to zero by manually turning the

knurled metal knob in the center of the gauge counterclockwise.

To burst the sample, proceed as follows. Find the operating lever with
the black knob, located at the far right of the instrument. Move the
operating lever to the LEFT and hold it there, all the while keeping
your eyes on the gauge. If either the sample bursts or the pressure
indicator needle comes too close to the maximum pressure of the
gauge, it is extremely important that you quickly move the
operating lever to the RIGHT as far as it will go and release it
immediately; failure to move the operating lever to the right
immediately the sample bursts may result in a ruptured
diaphragm. The instrument will automatically return to the starting
position.

Record the bursting pressure indicated by the red maximum hand of

the gauge used in the test.

Push the brass ring upward and remove the old sample.
instrument is ready for the next test.

The motor is kept running

continuously; do not turn it off between tests.

The

Report
Report the mean bursting strength in points (lb/in 2) as the arithmetical
mean of all ten tests on a sample, the burst factor, and the burst index. Also
report 95% confidence intervals.
References
ASTM D 774
TAPPI T 403, "Bursting Strength of Paper"
TAPPI T 807, "Bursting Strength of Paperboard and Linerboard"
TAPPI T 810, "Bursting Strength of Corrugated and Solid Fiberboard"

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Mechanical Properties