Development and evaluation of a puncture strength test method for sterilization paper

Abstract: The main objective of this research project, carried out at Karlstad University was to investigate which paper property has the best correlation with the package integrity failure (puncture hole). To achieve this goal, a simple equipment was designed at Karlstad University. This research project was divided into two phases, more precisely first a test design with investigation of suitable parameters to carry out the tests with the newly designed equipment and secondly with the help of those parameters the investigation of paper properties which will have direct connection with puncture strength. Results showed that Tensile Energy Absorption (TEA) has the best correlation with puncture strength as compared to other paper properties used in this research project i.e. burst strength, strain at break, tear strength, and tensile strength. In real it seems to be reasonable as tensile energy absorption (TEA) is the amount of energy absorbed during straining until it breaks. Higher the tensile energy absorption, higher will be the resistance against puncture. Furthermore sack paper proved to be the type of paper grade that has the strongest resistance against package integrity failure, as it has the highest tensile energy absorption (TEA) as compared to other paper grades used in this research project. It was also observed that paper in a package should be stretched in order to minimize the risk of puncture hole.