ZARA KHAN

BS 4 YEAR (7TH SEMESTER)

TH

ASSIGNMENT OF FOOD PACKAGING LAB

SEC C
DEPARTMANT OF FOOD SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
SUBMITTED TO: MISS SABAHAT
 Lab assignment:
Object:
To determine the bursting strength of corrugated boxes by using BS tester.

Requirement:
 Equipment: bursting strength tester
 Suitable packaging materials: corrugated cardboard boxes or shipping cartons,
particularly for those to be shipped individually rather than on a pallet
 Digital bursting strength apparatus provides with a digital readout of pressure with peak
hold facility
 renewable rubber diaphragms
 Automatic clamping device with a clear acrylic bell
 An LED lamp is equipped for easy observation.

Background:
The Industry Standard Since its invention in 1887, Burst Tester has been the industry benchmark
for measuring the burst strength of paper, paperboard, nonwovens, textiles, plastics and medical
materials. Mullen is cited in many TAPPI, ASTM, INDA and International Standards – and
when it comes to quality control, our tester is an integral part of any well-equipped lab. There
have so many invention of tester invent time to time. First developed in 1887, the Mullen Test or Burst
Test was the default standard for cardboard strength until the mid-20th century. In this test, a
piece of cardboard is placed in a hydraulic clamp device called a Mullen tester. The operator
uses the device to apply increasing amounts of pressure to the cardboard, noting at which point it
bursts or ruptures. This test is generally considered to be more accurate for boxes that are subject to
individual rough handling, including being stacked and re-stacked and taken on and off of hand trucks
individually. However, because most goods are now shipped on pallets Bursting Strength Tester
belongs to electromechanical product which is with novel design, convenience for use, excellent
performance and elegant appearance.

Theory:
A property of paper or paperboard used in packaging that measures its resistance to rupturing,
defined as the hydrostatic pressure needed to burst a paperboard sample when it is applied
uniformly across its side. Quality is never about the high strength of the material, it is about
having the appropriate strength. In certain applications, you require material to have high
strength whereas in some applications you need to have the low strength for right tearing.
Different customers have different requirements regarding the strength of the corrugated
boxes. Different customers have different requirements regarding the strength of the
corrugated boxes. And, a manufacturer has to fulfill those demands to retain the client. Thus,
measuring the bursting strength is an important factor of corrugated fiber boards.

Operational Principle:
Bursting strength tester adopts signal transmission pressure, sample rupture automatically
retain maximum fracture strength. The test piece is placed on the rubber mold, and is clamped
by the clamping piece, and then the pressure is uniformly applied, so that the test piece and the
adhesive film are free to bulge together, until the test piece is broken, the maximum value of
the hydraulic pressure is applied, that is, the bursting strength value of the test piece is tested.

Measurement of bursting strength

When we are talking about the quality of the packaging, we are also talking about the quality of
the raw materials used. So, to understand the quality of the box, we must understand the
quality of the fibre board first. It is certainly impossible to measure the bursting strength
manually; you need to have a smart bursting strength tester to do the job. Having a machine
would ensure that measurements taken by you are standardized. Three values we need to
consider;

 Bursting Strength
 Bursting factor
 Bursting Index

The testing machine is used in packaging industries to measure the effects of peripheral forces
and which is exerted on the containers when an excessive amount of a product is packed inside.
The testing apparatus is used by the manufacturers to produce lightweight and decompression
boxes to provide high-quality packaging material to the customers. To ensure the quality of the
packaging products, the manufacturers of packaging products buy high-quality of the testing
machine from the reputed manufacturers of testing machines that are designed using
sophisticated technology and high-quality material.

Bursting Strength of materials tells about the property of the material to bear the stress when
an external pressure is applied to it.

Procedure:
 Following are steps involved in measuring the strength.
 Switch “ON” the instrument by “ON/OFF” switch
 Prepare a circular sample of dimensions larger than the annular clamp. The dimensions of
the sample are very important so that it does not slip during the testing.
  Take the sample to be tested and place it over the diaphragm plate
 Clamp the sample appropriate on the annular clamp
 Select the gauge to be used depending on the sample to be tested.
 Using the „push to burst‟ switch to apply the hydraulic pressure on the sample.
 The pressure is applied via a rubber diaphragm which inflates when hydraulic pressure is
increased.
 The point at which sample burst, the machine notes down the pressure applied.
 Using this bursting strength, bursting factor and bursting index can be determined

Observation:

S.no Maxi wt. box/ contents (lbs.) Burst test (lbs.per.squar.inch)

Single wall box

1
2
3
Double wall box
1
2
3

Triple wall box

1
2
3

Formula:
Burst factor = Bursting strength (gf/cm2) / Grammage (gf/m2)
Burst Index = Burst strength (kPa) / Grammage (gf/m2)
Where,
kPa = kilopascal,
Kgf = kilogram force
Gf = Gram Force
Grammage = Base weight in units of gf/m2
Conclusion:
The bursting strength test is one of the oldest and most widely used criteria of the strength of
paper. Bursting Test is a measure of the force required to rupture or puncture the face of
corrugated board and is measured by a Mullen Tester. This force is indirectly related to a
Carton‟s ability to withstand external or internal forces and thus to contain and protect a product
during shipment. Bursting strength is a function of various processes performed in the
papermaking process. The increased use of fillers decreases bursting strength, while the
increased use of longer fibers and surface sizing increases a paper's bursting strength. A bursting
test is also known as a Mullen test or pop test, and a minimum bursting strength is required for
cartons used for shipping. Bursting Strength Tester is specifically designed for burst testing of
various materials like Corrugated Boxes, Textiles, plastics, etc. In case of burst testing of various
materials, the threshold of the material is checked, up to how much pressure the material can
withstand. Bursting strength has little application to printing papers. Bursting strength is reported
in pounds (for example, 275#).

Calibration:
• Calibrate the gauge meter by the external agency
• Operate the instrument as per the operating procedure and check the bursting strength
of standard
• Calibration frequency twice in a year

Precautions:
• Care has to be taken that the gauge is not used beyond their capacity as it may
damage the gauge.
• It is a hydraulic unit. Its accuracy depends upon a totally filled hydraulic system.
Fluid from the system may be lost by leaked or diaphragm breakage. It is replaced by
air from the atmosphere. Such accumulated air in the system forms an air cushion,
which absorbs pressure and affected the accuracy of the test results erratically.

Reference:
 https://instrumentfocus.com/new/product/bursting-strength-tester/
 https://www.prestogroup.com/blog/bursting-strength-of-corrugated-boxes/
 https://bizongo.com/blog/corrugated-box-testing/