1、Designation: D5639/D5639M 11 (Reapproved 2015)Standard Practice forSelection of Corrugated Fiberboard Materials and BoxConstruction Based on Performance Requirements1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5639/D5639M; the number immediately following the designation indicates theyear o
2、f original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of lastreapproval. A superscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice provides information on corrugated fiber-bo
3、ard for the prospective user who wants guidance in selectingattributes of materials and box construction based on perfor-mance requirements. These attributes should be part of speci-fications which establish levels of the qualities a shippingcontainer shall have in order to be acceptable to the purc
4、haseror user. The attributes and qualities should be testable, usingstandard methods that are recognized by both the buyer andseller. This practice will assist users in developing specifica-tions for corrugated containers through an analysis of perfor-mance requirements and subsequent relationships
5、to fiberboardmaterials and box construction attributes. This practice isintended to provide specific corrugated container performancestandards as opposed to packaged product performance evalu-ation through distribution and handling environments, such asPractice D4169.1.2 The attributes and their lev
6、els should be based on theintended use of the box, including the handling and environ-ment it will encounter. Many packaging regulations includedetailed descriptions of the materials that may be used andstyle, closure, or other construction details of allowed shippingcontainers. These regulations ar
7、e presented as minimum re-quirements; they may be exceeded for functional reasons, butthere is no regulatory reason to do so. Rail and motor freightclassifications applicable for surface common carrier transpor-tation have established minimum requirements for certainattributes of corrugated packagin
8、g. These may or may not beappropriate for application in the complete distribution system,as they encompass only containerboard or combined corru-gated boardnot finished boxesand are not intended toprovide for the distribution system beyond the transportationsegment.1.2.1 The attribute levels contai
9、ned herein are based on USpractice and specifications. Some attributes such as flutedimensions and basis weights may be defined differently inother countries.1.3 There are two distinctly different methods commonlyused for specifying boxes. The most common approach is tospecify materials, such as def
10、ining flute, edge crush value,Mullen burst value, and flat crush minimums, containerboardweights and thicknesses. An alternative approach is to definesome measure of performance. Mullen burst values can be oneof these measures if the user has determined that someminimum burst value is all that is re
11、quired in their distributionsystem. The overall compression strength of the box is another,and this measure allows each supplier to achieve the requiredstrength through their own unique combination of materialsand processes. A third measure would be to pass some sort ofrough handling performance pro
12、tocol, with Practice D4169being one example. Unlike material specifications, wheredefinitions of fluting, test methods of ECT, and difficulty ofassessing individual components of the box structure exist,compression values of the finished box are easily tested andverified using a common test method (
13、Test Method D642). Thesame can be said of box performance measured against aperformance protocol. Using only material specifications todefine a box does not guarantee the box will be well made. Forexample, the best possible material could be used for making abox, but if the score lines are too deep
14、or too shallow, or if themanufacturers joint is not secured correctly, the box will failin distribution.Conversely, box compression and rough handling perfor-mance protocols measures both material and manufacturingquality simultaneously. It is sometimes advantageous to use acombination of both these
15、 methods to help assure the outerliner will not easily scuff or break. Though suppliers will needto continue to use material specifications when making boxes,the user would benefit more from employing performancespecifications to help guarantee similar box attributes from avariety of suppliers. It s
16、hould be realized that no two suppliers,especially if theyre located in different countries, will use thesame materials and processes for making a box. Employing1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D10 on Packagingand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.27 on Paper
17、 and PaperboardProducts.Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2015. Published October 2015. Originallyapproved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as D5639/D5639M 11.DOI: 10.1520/D5639_D5639M-11R15.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2
18、959. United States1box compression values or performance protocols will helpassure the lowest price for specific performance, regardless ofthe material used.1.4 Corrugated containers for packaging of hazardous ma-terials for transportation shall comply with federal regulationsadministered by the U.S
19、. Department of Transportation (Codeof Federal Regulations, CFR 49).1.5 Lists and Descriptions of Performance and MaterialCharacteristics and Related Test ProceduresFor further in-formation on the development of performance-basedspecifications, please refer to the sections on Specifications andTest
20、Procedures of the Fibre Box Handbook.1.6 The values stated in both SI and inch-pound units are tobe regarded separately as standard. Within the text, theinch-pound units are shown in brackets. The values stated ineach system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each systemshall be used independentl
21、y of the other.1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
22、2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot ofPaper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related Product(Withdrawn 2010)3D642 Test Method for Determining Compressive Resistanceof Shipping Containers, Components, and Unit LoadsD685 Practice for Conditionin
23、g Paper and Paper Productsfor TestingD996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD4169 Practice for Performance Testing of Shipping Con-tainers and SystemsD4727/D4727M Specification for Corrugated and Solid Fi-berboard Sheet Stock (Container Grade) and Cut ShapesD5118/D5118M Practice
24、 for Fabrication of Fiberboard Ship-ping BoxesD5168 Practice for Fabrication and Closure of Triple-WallCorrugated Fiberboard ContainersD5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers byFree FallE122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate, WithSpecified Precision, the Average for a Cha
25、racteristic of aLot or Process2.2 TAPPI Methods:T411 Thickness of Paper, Paperboard, and CombinedBoard4T 803 Puncture Test of Corrugated Fiberboard4T 808 Flat Crush Test of Corrugated Fiberboard-FlexibleBeam Method4T 810 Burst Test of Corrugated Fiberboard4T811Edgewise Crush Test of Corrugated Fiber
26、board4T 825 Flat Crush Test of Corrugated Fiberboard-FixedPlaten Method42.3 Government Documents:CFR 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Title 4952.4 Other Publications:Fibre Box Handbook6Edge Crush Test, Application and Reference Guide forCombined Corrugated Board, Fibre Box Association6National Motor
27、Freight Classification Item 2227Uniform Freight Classification Rule 4183. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsFor general definitions of packaging anddistribution environments, see Terminology D996.4. Significance and Use4.1 This practice assists users in selecting appropriate per-formance characteristics of
28、corrugated fiberboard or boxconstruction, or both, commensurate with the users need forpacking and distribution of goods. This practice describesseveral attributes of fiberboard and boxes which relate tovarious hazards encountered in distribution and describes testparameters which may be specified b
29、y the user to ensuresufficient strength in the box for containment, storage,handling, and protection of contents.4.2 The user should specify only those attributes and relatedtests which are required for satisfactory performance in theusers operations and distribution cycle(s). When using pack-aging
30、regulations as a basis for developing specifications, thereason for the existence of the regulation and its function andimportance should be understood. As previously stated, regu-lations may be exceeded and should be when the minimumspecifications are inadequate for the full effects of the distri-b
31、ution cycle. If the user decides to employ box compressionstrength or a rough handling performance protocol as theoverriding specification, it should be noted that all minimumstandards required by various organizations shall also be met orsurpassed. These minimum standards can be stated in the boxdr
32、awing so as to ensure adherence to regulations If a BoxManufacturers Certificate (BMC) is printed on the box, then2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to th
33、e standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced onwww.astm.org.4Available from Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI),15 Technology Parkway South, Norcross, GA 30092, http:/www.tappi.org.5Available from U
34、.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents,732 N. Capitol St., NW, Mail Stop: SDE, Washington, DC 20401, http:/www.access.gpo.gov.6Available from the Fibre BoxAssociation, 25 Northwest Point Blvd., Suite 510,Elk Grove Village, IL 60007.7Available from the National Motor Freight Traff
35、icAssociation (NMFTA), 1001N Fairfax St, Suite 600, Alexandria, VA 22314-1748.8Available from National Railroad Freight Committee, Tariff Publishing Officer,151 Ellis Street, NE, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30335.D5639/D5639M 11 (2015)2the ECT or Mullen Burst/Basis Weight values shall meet orexceed the m
36、inimum requirements for size and weight of thepackaged product.4.3 See Appendix X7 for several examples of specificationdeterminations.5. Sampling5.1 Selection of a sampling plan depends on the purpose ofthe testing. The sampling plan from Appendix X2.2.2 ofPractice D585 is recommended for acceptanc
37、e criteria. Anexample of acceptance and rejection criteria based on variouslot sizes may be found in Appendix X1. For purposes of otherthan acceptance criteria, use Practice E122.6. Conditioning6.1 All test specimens shall be preconditioned, conditioned,and tested in accordance with Practice D685.7.
38、 Fiberboard Attributes7.1 Corrugated fiberboard is commercially available in threewall constructions, and four common flute structures. The usershould specify desired wall construction and flute structurebased on performance requirements, though one should realizethat definitions of flute size and s
39、hape vary from one manu-facturer to another and from one country to another. In contrast,if compression strength is the specification, then paper weight,flute size, and wall construction are all based on price forperformance, perhaps allowing one manufacturer to use thinweak paper to form double wal
40、l while another uses betterquality paper and processes to use single wall.7.1.1 ConstructionSinglewall board is used for lightercontents where some structural rigidity, compression strength,resistance to puncture, and cushioning is needed. Doublewallboard is used for heavier contents requiring a gre
41、ater degree ofstructural rigidity, compression strength, and resistance topuncture. Triplewall is used for the heaviest contents wheremaximum structural rigidity, compression strength, and resis-tance to puncture are required.7.1.2 Flute StructureA-flute offers the highest top-to-bottom compression
42、strength, but low resistance to flat crush.B-flute has high flat crush resistance but lower top-to-bottomcompression than A or C. C-flute is the most common withaverage resistance to flat crush and top-to-bottom compression.E-flute generally replaces solid boxboard, has excellent flatcrush resistanc
43、e, is used mostly for graphics and consumerproducts, but seldom used for corrugated transport shippingcontainers. It should be noted that the Fibre Box Association(FBA) no longer attempts to define flutes precisely due to thelarge range of profiles and heights being made around theworld. The current
44、 version of the Fibre Box Handbook, (2005),states the following (paraphrased): A-flute has about 33 flutes/ft, B-flute has about 47 flutes/ft, C-flute has about 39 flutes/ft,and E-flute has about 90 flutes/ft.” Please note the followingtable from Specification D4727/D4727M07 provides only anapproxim
45、ate range of values:Flutes/ft Flutes/m FluteHeight in.FluteHeightmmA-Flute 30 to 39 98 to 128 0.1575 to0.22104.00 to5.61B-Flute 45 to 53 147 to 174 0.0787 to0.11022.00 to2.80C-Flute 35 to 45 115 to 148 0.1300 to0.15753.30 to4.00E-Flute 70 to 98 229 to 321 0.0445 to0.05501.13 to1.407.2 Burst Strength
46、This attribute relates to the tensilestrength and stretch elongation of the fiberboard. It alsoprovides rupture strength as protection against rough handling.7.2.1 Burst strength is measured by the burst (Mullen) testutilizing TAPPI Method T 810 and is specified in the carrierregulations for the var
47、ious grades of singlewall and doublewallcombined board.7.2.2 There is no direct relationship, such as a formula, torelate box handling performance to needed burst strength.However, as a function of box size and weight of the filledpackage, minimum burst strength requirements for corrugatedpackaging
48、used in surface common carrier transportation in theUnited States are published in the rail and truck classificationsand are shown in Table X2.1. These requirements may or maynot be appropriate for the users applications.7.3 Resistance to PunctureThis attribute relates to theability of the fiberboar
49、d to resist both internal and externalforces. It also relates to the rough handling integrity of thefinished container.7.3.1 Resistance to puncture is measured by the puncturetest utilizing TAPPI Method T 803 and is specified in thecarrier regulations only for the various grades of triplewallcombined board.7.3.2 There is no direct relationship, such as a formula, topredict rough handling performance of a box based on thepuncture resistance of the fiberboard from which it is made.Shippers and carriers, however, have used various puncturegrades successfully for ye
