ASTM D3521-86(2017)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D3521 − 86 (Reapproved 2017)
Standard Test Method for
Surface Wax Coating On Corrugated Board
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3521; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D3344 Test Method for Total Wax Content of Corrugated
Paperboard
1.1 This test method covers determination of the weight of
wax that is present as a coating on the surface of corrugated
3. Terminology
board. This method is applicable to board to which wax has
3.1 Definitions:
been applied by curtain coating, roll coating, or other methods;
3.1.1 weight of wax coating—the weight of wax present as
the substrate board may or may not contain impregnating
a surface film on corrugated paperboard, expressed as weight
(saturating) wax within its structure.
per unit area, usually grams per square metre or pounds of
NOTE 1—If it is known that the specimen has coating wax only, with no
coating per thousand feet of board covered.
internal saturating wax, the total coating wax applied may be determined
3.1.1.1 Discussion—This definition excludes any portion of
by Test Method D3344.
wax that is located below the surface, that may have been
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
permitted to soak into the fibrous paperboard structure.
standard.
1.2.1 Exception—The values given in parentheses are pro-
4. Summary of Test Method
vided for information only.
4.1 The amount of wax present as a coating on the surface
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
is determined by delaminating the coated facing to obtain a
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
ripple-free sheet, then scraping off the wax using a razor blade
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
and calculating the wax removed.
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
5. Significance and Use
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.4 This international standard was developed in accor-
5.1 Wax coatings are applied to corrugated board to provide
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
a better barrier against moisture or other agents or to provide
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
improved appearance or abrasion resistance. These perfor-
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
mance features are influenced by the amount of wax present on
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
the surface.
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
5.2 During most coating operations, the major portion of the
wax applied will congeal on the surface, while a minor
2. Referenced Documents
proportion will migrate into and become embedded in the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
fibers of the facing. This method measures only the portion on
D585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot of
the surface.
Paper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related Product
(Withdrawn 2010)
6. Apparatus
6.1 Sample-Trimming Equipment—A suitable trimming
board or template arrangement equipped with a razor edge
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
knife for even cutting of specimens to required size, with
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricantsand is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D02.10 on Properties of Petroleum Waxes and Alternative Wax-like
parallel sides. (A guillotine-type paper cutter is not recom-
Materials.
mended.)
Current edition approved June 1, 2017. Published July 2017. Originally approved
in 1976. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D3521 – 86 (2012). DOI:
6.2 Measuring Rule, steel edged, for measuring the size of
10.1520/D3521-86R17.
specimen to within 0.5 mm.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
6.3 Razor Blades, common single-edge, having a rigid rim
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
for holding in the fingers. The blade is used for surface wax
the ASTM website.
scraping and an adequate supply of fresh blades with sharp
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. edges is required.
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D3521 − 86 (2017)
NOTE 5—The minor amount of fibers removed with the wax scrapings
6.4 Analytical Balance, reading to nearest 1 mg.
may be ignored; this error tends to cancel the error of incomplete scraping.
Tests indicate that with normal surface scraping the fibers scraped off
7. Sampling and Test Specimen
should constitute only about 5 % of the weight of the scrapings.
7.1 From each test unit, obtained in accordance with Prac-
8.2.2 After completing the uniform scraping in one
tice D585, that is, each finished carton blank or paperboard
direction, then turn the specimen by 90° and repeat the
sheet, cut specimens free from obvious defects. Each specimen
progressive scraping. Continue turning and scraping through
should measure 100 mm by 100 mm, cut to the nearest 0.5 mm.
the next 90° and the last 90° to complete the full rotation.
Record the area of the surface to be tested, and whether it is an
Finally, inspect the specimen carefully to detect any areas with
inside or outside facing. Duplicate specimens are required from
remaining surface wax and re-scrape such areas.
each sample unit.
8.2.3 Carry out the same procedure with the duplicate facing
NOTE 2—The operator may be required to increase the replication a
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