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Case Studies / Tensile Testing of Board Used in Self-Assembly and Ready-Made Furniture

Tensile Testing of Board Used in Self-Assembly and Ready-Made Furniture

Solution

Software-controlled tensile testing system with precision load cells in high-capacity twin columns
Surface Soundness Jig (EN 311)
Tensile Strength Jig (EN 319)
Tensile Strength Jig (IKEA TM-0057) - PSV19044

Benefits

Automated test run on international and customer-specific standards
Valid, reliable, and consistent evaluation of material and bond strength
Real-time calculation of key mechanical properties
Standardized reporting in customizable formats

Requirement

In the current furniture making, especially self-assembled and modular designs, engineered wood panels like particleboard are vital. They are made by pressing wood chips and resin under heat and pressure to come up with boards that find extensive application in structural aspects such as cabinets, shelves, and load-bearing units.

Since they are used in daily furniture, their strength and the integrity of the bonding must be reliable. Manufacturers need to ensure that the internal construction of the board is able to withstand tensile forces; ensure that the surface is adhesive; and ensure that the fasteners, i.e., screws and dowels, are firmly attached.

This is specifically critical in large-volume production settings that serve to provide global furniture brands, where the quality of performance is high, and product reliability is not negotiable. This testing should then be done on various parameters, and these parameters are internal bond strength, surface cohesion, and fastener holding capability.

Solution

A comprehensive tensile testing approach is used to evaluate different strength characteristics of particle and fiber boards.

Surface Soundness (EN 311)

This test determines the bond strength between the board surface and its underlying layers. A metal loading pad is adhered to the surface, and the specimen is mounted in a self-aligning fixture. Tensile force is applied until surface failure occurs, with peak load values indicating the quality of bonding and surface integrity.

Internal Bond Strength (EN 319)

In an evaluation of tensile strength that is perpendicular to the surface of the board, the test blocks are bonded on both sides of the specimen. These are gripped using self-aligning fixtures and subjected to controlled tensile loading. The registered peak force indicates the strength of the internal bond between the fibers and particles such that the board withstands the structural loads in real life.

Fastener Retention (IKEA TM-0057 / ASTM D1037)

In the case of furniture use, the safety of boards in retaining fasteners is of great importance. Screws are inserted into both surface and edge orientations of the specimen. The board is fixed in a lower fixture while the screw head is gripped from above. A tensile force is applied until withdrawal or failure has taken place. The data obtained then makes sure that the board reaches the established performance requirements in terms of assembly and long-term usage.

Presto Stantest Testing Approach

Presto Stantest is a higher-end tensile testing equipment, used in assessing engineered wood materials, which is highly precise. The twin-column test platform provides stable load application, and it has built-in software that allows automated test programs, capture of data accurately and in real time, and graphical analysis.

The system allows a wide variety of fixtures to meet the particular standards, which guarantees a similar consistency of alignment and repeatable outcomes. Automated calculations in tensile properties are easier to determine, and free reporting features can be customized to fit quality control operations.

More tests can also be embedded in the same platform, depending on the needs of manufacturers who have long testing processes like bending strength tests and surface adhesion tests.