Drick DRK106 Taber-Type Paperboard Stiffness Tester (Compliant with GB/T 22364, ISO 2493, and ISO 5628)

Overview

The Drick DRK106 Taber-Type Paperboard Stiffness Tester is an electromechanical instrument engineered for the precise determination of bending stiffness—quantified as bending moment in millinewton-meters (mN·m)—of thin paperboard materials conforming to internationally recognized standards including GB/T 22364, ISO 2493, ISO 5628, and GB/T 2679.3. It operates on the classical Taber principle: a standardized specimen is clamped at one end and subjected to controlled angular deflection (7.5° or 15°) via a calibrated pendulum system; the resulting restoring torque is measured directly through high-resolution digital force transduction. This method reflects the intrinsic flexural rigidity of low-basis-weight substrates (<1 mm thickness), making the DRK106 particularly suited for corrugated board liners, folding carton stock, solid bleached sulfate (SBS), and coated recycled board used in pharmaceutical, food, and consumer packaging applications.

Key Features

• Microcontroller-based digital control architecture with embedded single-chip processing unit for real-time signal acquisition, filtering, and calibration compensation.
• High-precision digital servo motor drive ensuring consistent angular displacement and minimal mechanical hysteresis across repeated cycles.
• Optimized mechanical transmission design minimizing backlash and inertial error—critical for reproducible low-torque measurements in the 1–500 mN·m range.
• Dual-angle deflection capability (7.5° ± 0.3° and 15° ± 0.3°) enables compliance with both ISO 2493 (7.5°) and legacy ASTM D2176 (15°) protocols without hardware modification.
• Integrated application software supports automated test sequencing, raw data logging (force vs. time), calculation of bending moment (M = F × L_load), and export of tabular reports compliant with internal QA documentation requirements.
• Compact footprint (220 × 320 × 390 mm) and lightweight construction (~20 kg) facilitate integration into QC laboratories with space constraints or mobile testing setups.

Sample Compatibility & Compliance

The DRK106 accepts standardized specimens measuring 70 mm × 38 mm—cut parallel to the machine direction (MD) or cross direction (CD) per ISO 186 sampling guidelines. It is validated for paperboard substrates up to 1.0 mm thickness and basis weights ranging from 120 g/m² to 600 g/m². Instrument performance meets metrological criteria specified in ISO/IEC 17025 for stiffness measurement uncertainty estimation. Test reports generated by the system include traceable parameters: applied angle, measured force, calculated bending moment (mN·m), and environmental conditions (temperature and relative humidity). The device satisfies functional requirements outlined in GLP-compliant packaging material qualification protocols where bending stiffness serves as a critical release parameter for carton integrity and shelf-life simulation.

Software & Data Management

The DRK106’s proprietary Windows-compatible software provides secure local data handling without cloud dependency. Functions include user-defined test templates, password-protected method storage, audit-trail-enabled session logs (operator ID, timestamp, calibration status), and CSV/PDF report generation. All measurement data are stored with embedded metadata: specimen ID, test angle, environmental readings, and system calibration certificate expiry date. While not FDA 21 CFR Part 11 certified out-of-the-box, the software architecture supports configurable electronic signatures and change-control workflows when deployed within validated laboratory information management systems (LIMS) meeting GMP Annex 11 or ISO 13485 requirements.

Applications

• Quality control of folding cartons for pharmaceutical blister packaging, where stiffness correlates with vertical compression resistance during palletized transport.
• Evaluation of linerboard and medium combinations in corrugated shipping containers—stiffness data inform edge crush test (ECT) modeling and FE simulation boundary conditions.
• Process optimization in paper machine dry-end operations, linking calendering pressure and starch application to board stiffness profiles.
• Comparative analysis of bio-based barrier coatings (e.g., PLA, PVOH) versus conventional PE extrusion coatings under identical bending regimes.
• Raw material acceptance testing per supplier technical agreements referencing ISO 2493 or GB/T 22364 as contractual test methods.

FAQ

What standards does the DRK106 comply with?
It is designed and verified for GB/T 22364, ISO 2493, ISO 5628, and GB/T 2679.3. Optional firmware updates may extend support to ASTM D2176 upon request.
Is operator training required to achieve repeatable results?
Yes—consistent specimen alignment, clamping torque, and environmental stabilization (20 ± 10 °C, <85% RH) are essential. A 2-hour competency verification protocol is recommended prior to routine use.
Can the DRK106 measure both MD and CD stiffness on the same sample sheet?
Yes, provided specimens are cut orthogonally and labeled accordingly; the instrument does not auto-detect orientation, so directional assignment is performed manually in software.
What maintenance intervals are recommended?
Biannual verification of pendulum arm geometry and load cell linearity using NIST-traceable torque standards is advised. Daily visual inspection of clamping jaws and specimen guides is required.
Is external calibration certification available?
Drick provides factory calibration certificates with uncertainty budgets. Third-party ISO/IEC 17025 accredited calibration services can be arranged through authorized regional partners.