BRITISH STANDARD BS 5131-4.

5:
1990

Methods of

Test for footwear and

footwear materials —
Part 4: Other components —

Section 4.5 Tensile strength of

fibreboard

Confirmed
January 2011
NOTE It is recommended that this Section should be read in conjunction with BS 5131-0,
published separately.
BS 5131-4.5:1990

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Textiles and
Clothing Standards Policy Committee (TCM/-) to Technical Committee
TCM/39, upon which the following bodies were represented:

British Footwear Manufacturers’ Federation

British Leather Confederation
British Rubber Manufacturers’ Association
British Steel plc
Consumer Standards Advisory Committee of BSI
Cork Industry Federation
Footwear Components Federation
Footwear Distributors’ Federation
Institute of Trading Standards Administration
Iron and Steel Trades’ Confederation
Lancashire Footwear Manufacturers’ Association
Mail Order Traders Association of Great Britain
Ministry of Defence
National Union of Footwear, Leather and Allied Trades
Office of Fair Trading
SATRA Footwear Technology Centre

The following bodies were represented in the drafting of the standard, through
subcommittees and panels:

British Adhesives and Sealants Association

British Paper and Board Industry Federation
British Plastics Federation
Multiple Shoe Retailers’ Association
RAPRA Technology Ltd.

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Textiles and
Clothing Standards Policy
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and
comes into effect on
31 December 1990

© BSI 12-1999 Amendments issued since publication

First published 1976
Second edition 1990
Amd. No. Date Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference TCM/39
Draft for comment 89/36228 DC

ISBN 0 580 18757 8

 BS 5131-4.5:1990

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Principle 1
3 Apparatus 1
4 Conditioning 1
5 Preparation of test specimens 1
6 Procedure 1
7 Calculation and expression of results 2
8 Test report 2
Figure 1 — Test specimen 2
Publication referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1999 i
BS 5131-4.5:1990

Foreword

This Section of BS 5131 has been prepared under the direction of the Textiles and
Clothing Standards Policy Committee. It supersedes BS 5131-4.5:1976, which is
withdrawn.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 and 2, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1999

1 Scope
This Section of BS 5131 describes a method for the
determination of the tensile strength of fibreboard
both in the air-conditioned state and in the wet
state. Information provided by the results of the test
is considered to provide a good guide to the general
quality of the fibreboard.
NOTE The title of the publication referred to in this standard is
listed on the inside back cover.
2 Principle
Test specimens, cut from the fibreboard, are tested
in a tensile testing machine after air conditioning or
soaking with water. The force required to break the
test specimen is determined in each case.
3 Apparatus1)
3.1 Conditioning cabinet or room, maintaining an
atmosphere of 20 ± 2 °C and 65 ± 2 % r.h.
3.2 Tensile testing machine, with a range of 0 kN
to 5 kN (0 kgf to 500 kgf) plus one or more lower
ranges (see 6.3) and a rate of extension
of 100 ± 20 mm/min.
3.3 Measuring device, capable of measuring the
width of the test specimens to an accuracy
of 0.1 mm.
3.4 Dial micrometer gauge, standing on a firm base
and dead-weight loaded such that the presser foot
applies a pressure of 49 ± 5 kPa
(5.0 ± 0.5 gf/mm2). The gauge has a presser foot
which is flat, circular, and 10.0 mm in diameter.
The gauge complies with the accuracy requirements
of BS 907 and has scale divisions of 0.01 mm.
4 Conditioning
Place the sample of fibreboard in the conditioning
cabinet or room (3.1). After 48 h, cut the test
specimens (see clause 5). Carry out the test in this
atmosphere.
5 Preparation of test specimens
5.1 From the conditioned sample of fibreboard cut
six test specimens parallel to the machine direction
of the board, and six test specimens parallel to the
cross direction. Mark the twelve test specimens to
show their orientation. Reserve three test
specimens from each direction for testing in the
air-conditioned state and three for testing after
soaking in water.
1) For information on the availability of suitable apparatus to perform this test apply to Enquiry Section, BSI, Linford Wood,
Milton Keynes, MK14 6LE, quoting the number of this standard and the clause number referring to the item(s) concerned.
Enclose a stamped addressed envelope for reply.
© BSI 12-1999
BS 5131-4.5:1990
5.2 Cut each test specimen in the shape of a
dumb-bell having the preferred dimensions shown
in Figure 1. If the dimensions of the test specimen
are such that the tolerances shown in Figure 1 are
exceeded, the result of the test may be affected.
Therefore, if for any reason test specimens of
different dimensions are tested by this procedure,
include in the test report the dimensions of the test
specimens, and ensure that these dimensions meet
the following conditions.
a) The width of the central narrow section is
between 10 mm and 30 mm.
b) The ratio of the length of the central section to
its width is between 3.5 and 6.5.
c) The width of the ends is at least 1.2 times the
width of the central section.
d) The ends are long enough to be properly
gripped by the testing machine.
e) The shoulders between the ends and the
central section are rounded.
5.3 After cutting, examine the test specimens and
reject any that show signs of damage.
6 Procedure
6.1 Thickness
Measure the thickness of each test specimen, using
the dial micrometer gauge (3.4), at the centre of the
narrow portion and at two points midway between
the centre and the shoulders.
6.2 Width
Measure the width to the nearest 0.1 mm, on one
surface of each test specimen at the centre of the
narrow portion and at two points midway between
the centre and the shoulders, using a suitable
device (3.3), thereby obtaining three width
measurements. If the sides of the narrow portion of
the test specimen are not at right angles to the
surface, take three such width readings for each
surface, thereby obtaining six width measurements.
6.3 Dry test
For each of the six test specimens to be tested dry,
proceed as follows.
1
BS 5131-4.5:1990
NOTE The radii of curvature of the concave and convex curves which form the edge of the shoulders of the test specimen are
equal, as judged by eye.
Figure 1 — Test specimen
Set the tensile testing machine to a range such that
the breakage of the test specimen is anticipated to
lie at a point between 30 % and 100 % of the range.
Clamp the test specimen centrally in the jaws of the
tensile testing machine (3.2). Start the tensile
testing machine, and run it until the test specimen
breaks. Record the breaking force, and stop the
tensile testing machine. If the break does not occur
within the narrow portion of the test specimen,
prepare another test specimen as described in 5.1
and repeat the test. If the break does not occur
between 10 % and 100 % of the range, prepare
another test specimen as described in 5.1, set the
tensile testing machine to a lower range and repeat
the test. Repeat the test until six valid test results
are obtained.
6.4 Wet test
Soak the six test specimens for wet testing in
distilled or deionized water at 20 ± 2 °C for 6 h,
keeping them fully immersed but clear of the bottom
of the vessel and of each other. Remove the test
specimens from the water one at a time, blot their
surfaces, and immediately carry out on each the
procedure described in 6.3.
7 Calculation and expression of results
7.1 Calculate the mean of the measurements
obtained in 6.1 to give the thickness of each test
specimen.
7.2 Calculate the mean of the measurements
obtained in 6.2 to give the width of each test
specimen.
2 © BSI 12-1999
7.3 Calculate the area of the cross section of each
test specimen by multiplying the mean thickness by
the mean width.
7.4 Calculate the tensile strength by dividing the
force at breaking point (see 6.3) by the area of cross
section (see 7.3) for each of the following categories:
a) air conditioned test specimens cut in the
machine direction;
b) air conditioned test specimens cut in the cross
direction;
c) soaked test specimens cut in the machine
direction;
d) soaked test specimens cut in the cross
direction.
Express each result correct to three significant
figures.
8 Test report
The test report shall include the following items:
a) results expressed in accordance with 7.4;
b) nature and full identification of the sample;
c) reference to this method of test,
i.e. BS 5131-4.5;
d) details of any deviation from the preferred test
specimen (see 5.2);
e) date of testing.
 BS 5131-4.5:1990

Publication referred to

BS 907, Specification for dial gauges for linear measurement.

© BSI 12-1999
BS 5131-4.5:
1990
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