Knowledge Base
ISO 536
Introducing ISO 536 – Industrial Physics
ISO 536 is an ISO international standard that helps you to determine the grammage mass per unit area of paper and board.
Paper and board comes in a range of sizes, textures, colors, thicknesses and weights. So that manufacturers and consumers can compare and categorize these differences you need a paper testing unit of measure. This is called grammage and it shows you the area density of a paper product – its mass per unit of area.
Grammage testing also teaches you about the stiffness of a paper sheet or board. When the grammage of your sample is high it means that your paper or board will be stiffer and heavier.
Typically grammage is determined in terms of grams per square meter (g/m²) and it’s commonly abbreviated to gsm.
Grammage testing to ISO 536 standards
The ISO 536 test method describes how to perform paper grammage testing accurately and consistently.
Within this ISO standard you’ll find information on the type of apparatus you’ll need – including the cutter. It also advises on the right way to condition your paper and board and how to prepare suitable samples. Finally, it details how to weigh the samples, calculate the grammage and express the results.
To carry out an ISO 536 grammage test you’ll need a cutting device that’s capable of repeatedly and cleanly cutting test pieces to within ±1,0 % of the same nominal area. If possible you should cut 20 test pieces from at least five specimens of paper or board for your grammage test.
ISO 536 testing equipment
So, how can Industrial Physics improve your ISO 536 grammage testing?
With the Technidyne PROFILE/Plus® Grammage you can determine the grammage of paper and board according to the gravimetric method. As well as supporting your ISO 536 grammage testing it also enables you to meet or exceed TAPPI T410, SCAN P6, DIN 53104 and ISO 18522.
Need ISO testing solutions? Get in touch
We can help you with any aspect of your ISO 536 testing. Please get in touch with your requirements, we will be happy to support you.
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