What do Test Results Really Mean, 1994 Process & Product Quality Conference Proceedings

R. H. Van Eperen <>

Paper is tested to define the product being manufactured, to provide guidance in controlling the manufacturing process, to determine compliance with customer specifications, and to measure progress in product development and research.

The properties being measured can be classified in a number of different ways. A particularly useful classification for purposes of this paper is to separate fundamental properties from those which are arbitrarily defined. Arbitrarily defined properties are usually complex combinations of several fundamental properties. These properties are dependent on carefully defined systems of measurement, are sometimes designed to simulate converting operations or use of paper, and may not correlate with machine operations. Fundamental properties, on the other hand, are those which give basis information about the product. These properties are independent of the method of measurement, are mathematically relatable to other fundamental properties, and correlate quite well with papermaking and converting operations. It is suggested that a thorough understanding of fundamental properties should make it possible to predict the performance of paper in any converting process or end use.

Papermakers, converters, and paper users need to place increased emphasis on fundamental properties and develop a greater appreciation for the meaning of arbitrarily defined properties. Without this understanding, paper products may carry unnecessary specifications that add to testing and manufacturing costs.