What is a Bursting Strength Tester?

A bursting strength tester is a vital tool in the packaging industry, providing essential data to ensure materials are robust enough to protect products during various stages of the supply chain. Understanding and measuring burst strength helps in selecting appropriate packaging materials, ultimately safeguarding the integrity of the products.

A Bursting Strength Tester measures the bursting strength of materials by applying hydraulic pressure through a rubber diaphragm on a circular area of the sample, typically a corrugated board. A digital indicator measures the force required to burst the board, with a range from 0 to 40 kg/cm².

How is Bursting Strength Measured?

Burst strength is measured in kilograms per square centimetre (kg/cm²). To determine the burst factor of a corrugated or flexible package, the burst strength is used in conjunction with the grammage (density) of the packaging material.

Importance of the Bursting Test

Testing the bursting strength is crucial to ensure that packaging materials can withstand external pressures and forces during transportation, handling, and storage. By choosing materials with sufficient bursting strength, manufacturers can minimise the risk of product damage, contamination, or spoilage.

Formula for Bursting Test

The bursting strength Tester obtained from the Mullen test is converted into kPa from gf/m². The grammage, also known as GSM (grams per square meter), is used in the calculation.