1) Apparatus: L&W Tensile Strength Tester based on Tappi Method T 494.
2) Daily calibration: Calibrate and set the parameters for the machine by reading and following the instructions next to the machine. Use a ruler to make sure the span is 10 cm (100mm) between the clamps.
3) Press CTRL 9 to exit a current program.
4) Depress PF5, enter 1 to Function Nr. Then depress YES to the multiple queries that come up to carry out the calibration. Record REF. VALUE and CHECK VALUE to the logbook. Depress STOP to exit the calibration procedure.
5) The parameter of tensile strength test of standard 60 g/m2 handsheets is based on Tappi Method T 494.
6) Depress PF2 to call SPEC NO. 99 to carry out test by entering values as described below. Or, depress PF1 to set up your own parameters for a specific test method.
7) Depress PF2; SPEC No. 99 YES: Communication? NO; No. OF TEST PIECES: 10 YES; POSSIBLE TO QUIT BEFORE FULL COUNT: YES; PRINT REPORT: YES; MEAN VALUE: YES; PRINTS OF INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: YES; PRINTING OF NON APPROVED: YES; INDEXED PRINTOUT: YES; trigF%: 1 YES; deltaF: 1 YES; RESOLUTION MICRO METER: 10 YES; RUPTURE LEVEL %: 50 YES; TIME s: 20 YES; VELOCITY mm/min: 25 YES; LOAD CELL 200N?: YES; GAIN 1: YES; BREAKING LENGTH: YES; STIFFNESS EVALUATION: YES; dF/dL UPPER END %:100 YES; dF/dL LOWER END %: 0 YES; STIFFNESS POINTS: 10 YES; TEST SPAN mm: 100 YES; STRIPWIDTH mm: 15 YES; GRAMMAGE g/m2: 60 (or exact value of handsheet being tested) YES; THICKNESS µm: 100 (or exact value of handsheet being tested) YES; SAMPLE No. 001 YES; EXTRA IDENTIFIERS: NO; EXTRA HEADERS: NO; DRY SAMPLES: YES; MACHINE DIRECTION: NO; CROSS DIRECTION: NO; TEST PIECE No. 1? Place the strip in the clamps (see below) then press YES to start the test.
8) See Figure 9. Slip in the strip by pushing both ends into the L-shaped hydraulic clamps, and make sure that the strip is aligned properly along the inscribed line or the back of the clamps. Depress YES to start the first piece when asked TEST PIECE NO 1? Repeat for the other 9 strips. Again, make sure you know which strip came from which handsheet and basis weight. Note: If breaking line occurs closer than 1 cm to one of the clamps, the reading may be affected. If data seems off, discard that reading.
Figure 9: Sequence of tensile strength testing. On the left, slip in the tensile strip; in the middle, the strip is being tested; on the right, slip out the broken strip.
