ASTM D6548-00(2005)

Resistance to mechanical penetration is an important characteristic of consumer sanitary tissue products including toilet tissue, facial tissue, table napkins, and paper towels; therefore, it is also an important characteristic of the unconverted tissue paper from which these products are made.

The penetration principle used in this test method is found in Test Methods D 4833, F 1306, and D 3787. The equipment in these methods generally is an adaptor for ball burst testing mounted on a tensile testing machine and is not included in this test method as data supporting its use in mechanical penetration of sanitary tissue is not available. This test method describes a self-contained testing apparatus, which is in use in the tissue industry.

The equipment used in this test method differs from that in Test Method D 774 and the two methods give different results. The advantages of this test method for use with tissue include improved correlation with resistance to mechanical penetration of the end use product, as well as, improved ease of use and precision of data when used with tissue products, which characteristically have higher extensibility and lower strength properties than other grades of paper to which Test Method D 774 is better suited.

1.1 This test method describes the measurement of the resistance to mechanical penetration of sanitary tissue papers. Application to other paper types is possible but is not covered here.

1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.