Home >> Application >> By Standard >> ISO >> ISO 10000~19999 >> ISO 12625-5 Wet Tensile Strength Test for Tissue Paper

ISO 12625-5 Wet Tensile Strength Test for Tissue Paper

Share:

ISO 12625-5 Tissue Paper Wet Tensile Strength Tester | UnitedTest

UnitedTest manufactures ISO 12625-5 compliant CRE tensile test machines for tissue paper and tissue products. Test wet tensile strength and wet tensile retention with vertical Finch Cup and horizontal soaking configurations for tissue laboratories.


ISO 12625-5 Tissue paper and tissue products Part 5 sets out standard laboratory procedures to measure wet tensile strength and wet tensile strength retention of tissue paper and finished tissue products on constant-rate-of-elongation (CRE) tensile testers. The standard describes two common instrument layouts: vertical setup with Finch Cup fitted in the lower grip and horizontal setup with a soaking assembly between the clamps. UnitedTest supplies dedicated tissue wet tensile test systems for tissue manufacturers, packaging labs and third-party testing institutes.


Test Principle

A conditioned tissue test specimen of defined geometry is soaked in water under controlled conditions for a fixed dwell time (15 s). The wetted specimen is stretched to rupture at a constant elongation speed. The tensile force‑versus‑elongation curve is recorded. From peak breaking force, wet tensile strength (N/m) is calculated. By parallel dry‑tensile testing on matched specimens, wet‑tensile‑strength retention (%) can be derived as the ratio of wet‑to‑dry tensile performance. Two physical configurations are permitted: vertical test (Finch‑Cup wetting assembly) and horizontal test (inter‑clamp soaking bath).

Definitions:

  • Wet tensile strength: maximum tensile force per unit width a water‑soaked specimen withstands before fracture, unit N/m.

  • Wet‑tensile‑strength retention: percentage ratio of wet tensile strength against dry‑conditioned tensile strength from identical sample stock.


Test equipment required for ISO 12625-5 Wet Tensile Strength Test for Tissue Paper

Tensile Testing Machine

Recommend UnitedTest tensile testing machine with a constant Elongation Rate. 

Two alternative full instrument setups are allowed, both complying with ISO 1924 and ISO 7500‑1 calibration requirements

Vertical tensile‑strength‑testing apparatus

Constant‑elongation tensile tester: test speed (50 ± 2) mm/min; force‑measurement accuracy: ±1 % of reading OR ±0.025 N (whichever is larger); calibrated following ISO 7500‑1.

Tester clamps: upper clamp ≥50 mm width, smooth rounded burr‑free faces, adjustable clamping pressure; lower clamp secures the Finch‑Cup assembly. 

Clamp lines must be parallel and perpendicular to pull direction. Standard total span = (100 ± 1) mm; test span = (50 ± 1) mm.

Finch‑Cup soaking device: horizontal cylindrical rod (diameter 5.0 ± 0.1 mm, length ~60 mm), vertically‑movable water bath container, rigid metal mounting tongue for lower‑clamp fixation. 

In locked raised position, rod immersion depth = (20 ± 1) mm in distilled/deionized water.

Precision cutting device: produces straight‑edged specimens of (50.0 ± 0.5) mm width, minimum length 150 mm, parallel undamaged edges

Horizontal tensile‑strength‑testing apparatus

Tensile tester identical speed and force‑accuracy specification as vertical system.

Pair of adjustable clamps; clamp‑line parallelism tolerance ≤ 1° relative to pull axis. 

Standard test span = (100 ± 1) mm; short‑product exception permits reduced secure clamping span (must be reported in test report).

Inter‑clamp soaking bath device, may include automatic water‑level regulation; removable table for dry‑tensile measurement mode.

Auxiliary

standard conditioning environment chamber complying with ISO 187; stopwatch; distilled / de‑ionized water at test temperature (23 ± 1) °C; 

optional laboratory oven for accelerated‑ageing curing treatments.


Test Specimen Information: 

Dimensions:

  • Vertical: (50.0 ± 0.5) mm × ≥150 mm; for very short products, cut the longest possible and reduce the rod-top to upper-clamp-bottom distance from (43.5 ± 1.0) mm to (23.5 ± 1.0) mm.

  • Horizontal: (50.0 ± 0.5) mm × preferably ≈150 mm, avoiding perforations; if shorter pieces are unavoidable, use the maximum span that still allows secure clamping and report the span.

Number of test pieces: at least 10 specimens per sample; from each, one in machine direction (MD) and one in cross direction (CD) → ≥ 20 test pieces per sample.


Key Test Parameters & Stipulations

Rate of elongation(50 ± 2) mm/min
Test span — verticaltotal (100 ± 1) mm, test span (50 ± 1) mm; rod-top to clamp-bottom (43.5 ± 1.0) mm (short specimens: 23.5 ± 1.0 mm)
Test span — horizontal(100 ± 1) mm (or 50 ± 1 mm for small products)
Specimen size(50.0 ± 0.5) mm wide × ≥150 mm long
Soaking time15 s (both methods)
Soaking waterdistilled or deionized, (23 ± 1) °C
Finch immersion depthlooped end ≥20 mm below the initial water level (rod immersion 20 ± 1 mm)
Finch rodØ (5.0 ± 0.1) mm, ≈60 mm
Force accuracy±1 % of reading or ±0.025 N, whichever greater
Curing options(80 ± 2) °C / 30 min (+ ≥1 h reconditioning) or (105 ± 2) °C / 15 min
Valid results10 per direction (MD and CD)
Reporting precisionwet tensile strength 3 significant figures; retention 2 significant figures


Test Procedure of ISO 12625-5 Wet Tensile Strength Test for Tissue Paper

Vertical method

  1. Mount the Finch Cup by its tongue in the lower clamp, rod horizontal; pre-set rod-top to upper-clamp-bottom distance at (43.5 ± 1.0) mm (→ total span of the looped dry piece = 100 ± 1 mm; half of it is the test span). Short specimens: 23.5 ± 1.0 mm.

  2. Measurement: put the container in the bottom position and fill to the mark with distilled/deionized water at (23 ± 1) °C; thoroughly dry the rod and all contacting parts. Insert the dry test piece horizontally under the rod, bend it around the rod to form a loop, clamp both ends in the upper clamp, align parallel to the pull direction. Raise and lock the container so the looped end is immersed ≥20 mm; start a stopwatch immediately. After 15 s, lower the container and immediately start the tensile test at (50 ± 2) mm/min.

  3. Validity: discard readings where the piece breaks on the rod or within 2 mm of the clamping line, until 10 valid results per direction are obtained. If >20 % of the pieces from a specimen break at the rod or within 2 mm of the clamp, reject all readings for that specimen, inspect the apparatus and take remedial action.

  4. Housekeeping: wipe the rod dry after each test; top up water after each test; clean and refill after each sample set.

  5. Retention option: remove the water, dry the rod and contact parts, and measure the dry tensile strength of conditioned pieces the same way, without water.

Horizontal method

  1. Remove the table, insert the soaking device, fill with distilled/deionized water at (23 ± 1) °C.

  2. Manual soaking: place the test piece between the clamps, push the ends toward each other so the middle dips into the water, soak 15 s, gently pull the ends apart to lift it from the bath, reposition and clamp, then start the test; record force F in newtons.

  3. Automatic soaking: set soaking time to 15 s, insert, clamp, follow the manufacturer's instructions.

  4. Validity: discard breaks within 5 mm of the clamping line; collect 10 valid results per direction; replenish water after each test; clean/refill after each set (not necessary if the device volume is small enough that water is effectively renewed during the series).

  5. Retention option: remove the soaking device, refit and dry the table and clamps, and measure the dry tensile strength in the same manner.


Industry Fields / Applications

This standard applies to tissue‑paper manufacturing and converting industry, covering base tissue stock, toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towels, kitchen roll and other absorbent tissue‑based consumer or industrial tissue products. It is used for incoming raw‑material quality control, factory production‑line release testing, wet‑strength‑agent formulation development, product‑performance characterisation, and compliance‑related laboratory evaluation. 

It does not apply for impurity‑ or defect‑count testing of tissue material. 

ISO 12625-5 Wet Tensile Strength Test for Tissue Paper


Related standard: 

ISO 1924-2Paper and board - Determination of tensile properties - Part 2: Constant rate of elongation method (20 mm/min)
TCVN 1862-2Paper and board. Determination of tensile properties.Part2:Constant rate of elongation method(20mm/min)
BS 4415-1Determination of the tensile properties of paper and board.-Constant rate of loading method
ISO 1924-3Paper and board - Determination of tensile properties - Part 3: Constant rate of elongation method (100 mm/min)
GB/T 22898Paper and board. Determination of tensile properties. Constant rate of elongation method(100 mm/min)
ISO 12625-4Tissue paper and tissue products — Part 4: Determination of tensile strength, stretch at maximum force and tensile energy absorption
ASTM D828Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus
ASTM D829Wet tensile test for paper and board (saturated with water) – companion to D828 for moisture‑exposed applications.
ISO 3781"Paper and board — Determination of tensile strength after immersion in water"
ISO 12625-5"Tissue paper and tissue products — Part 5: Determination of wet tensile strength"
GB/T 465.2Paper and board - Determination of tensile strength after immersion in water
ANSI/TAPPI T494Tensile properties of paper and paperboard (using constant rate of elongation apparatus)
AS/NZS 1301.448

Methods of test for pulp and paper - Tensile strength of paper and paperboard (constant rate of elongation method)


Keywords: ISO 12625-5 tester, tissue paper wet tensile strength test machine, tissue product wet tensile retention tester, CRE tensile tester for tissue, Finch Cup wet tensile test rig, horizontal soaking tissue tensile equipment, toilet paper wet strength tester, facial tissue wet tensile testing machine, absorbent tissue physical property tester, tissue mill wet tensile test fixture, paper tissue water soak tensile test system, disposable tissue performance testing equipment

Related products and device

ISO 12625-5 Tissue Paper Wet Tensile Breaking Strength Tensile Testing machine

WDW Series Computer Control Electronic Universal Testing Machine made by UNITEDTEST range from 100N to 600KN load capacity with various models like single columns, table type, door frame type etc., is used to perform tension, compression, flexure/bending, shearing, peeling etc., test for metal and nonmetal specimens.

ISO 12625-5 Tissue Paper toilet paper wet strength tester, facial tissue wet tensile testing machine

Tensile test fixture for plastics is based on the test standatd ASTM D638, determination of the tensile properties of unreinforced and reinforced plastics in the form of standard dumbbell-shaped test specimens when tested under defined conditions of pretreatment, temperature, speed.

Related Standard

ISO 3781 wet tensile strength test for paper and board –

ISO 3781 Paper and board — Determination of tensile strength after immersion in water

ISO 3781 specifies the test to measure wet tensile strength after water immersion, it measure the wet tensile strength (kN/m) and, optionally, wet tensile strength retention (%),  applies to paper and board in general, provided a suitable soaking time is agreed between the parties. 


ASTM D829 Paper & Tissue Wet Tensile Breaking Strength Test –

ASTM D829 — Standard Test Methods for Wet Tensile Breaking Strength of Paper and Paper Products

ASTM D829 Measures the (wet) tensile breaking strength of paper, paper products and paperboard when saturated with water — corrugated board is excluded. Intended for materials that will be stressed while wet during processing or use: tissue products, map-making papers, photographic and blueprint papers, bags, food wraps.


ISO 1924 Test of Tensile Properties of Paper and Board (Tensile Tester) –

ISO 1924 Paper and board - Determination of tensile properties 

Part 2: Constant rate of elongation method (20 mm/min)

Part 3: Constant rate of elongation method (100 mm/min)


ISO 1924 defines uniform laboratory methods to quantify mechanical tensile performance of paper and paperboard, eliminating inconsistent test data across global paper mills, converters and laboratories.  

ASTM D828 Paper and Paperboard Tensile Strength Test –

ASTM D828 Standard Test Method for Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard Using Constant-Rate-of-Elongation Apparatus

ASTM D828 covers the procedures for determining the tensile properties of paper and paperboard using a constant-rate-of-elongation (CRE) tensile tester. It applies to all types of paper, paperboard, paper products, and related materials within the measurement limits of the equipment, but not to combined corrugated board. The method can be performed on vertical or horizontal instruments, whether manually operated or computer-controlled. It is used to determine tensile strength, stretch, tensile energy absorption (TEA), tensile stiffness, breaking length, and tensile index.

ISO 2759 Board bursting strength test –

ISO 2759 Board — Determination of bursting strength. 

ISO 2759 defines a uniform hydraulic bursting test method to measure the maximum uniform pressure a solid or corrugated fibreboard can withstand before rupture, with results expressed in kilopascals (kPa).

ISO 3036 Pendulum Puncture Resistance Test of Board –

ISO 3036 Board — Determination of puncture resistance using a pendulum device.

ISO 3036 is an impact test method to quantify the energy required to fully pierce paperboard and corrugated fibreboard via a swinging pendulum triangular pyramid probe, with test results expressed in joules (J).

EN 320 Particleboard and fibreboard Screw Axial Withdrawal Test –

EN 320 Particleboards and fibreboards — Determination of resistance to axial withdrawal of screws is the official European test standard we fully support with our custom-built axial screw withdrawal testing machine.

This European norm defines a standardized laboratory test procedure to measure axial screw withdrawal resistance, also referred to as axial pull-out force, needed to pull calibrated standard screws out of particleboard, medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and high-density fibreboard (HDF) panels. Our universal testing machine paired with dedicated EN 320 screw pull-out fixtures delivers precise, repeatable force measurement that fully meets all specimen setup, axial loading and data recording rules laid out in EN 320.

ASTM D4521 Coefficient of Static Friction of Corrugated and Solid Fiberboard –

ASTM D4521 is specifically for corrugated fiberboard (corrugated cardboard) and solid fiberboard used in packaging. It measures only the static (starting) coefficient of friction — not kinetic/sliding COF.

ISO 6308 Testing for Gypsum plasterboard Products –

ISO 6308 Testing of Gypsum plasterboard Products 

Relates to gypsum plasterboard intended to be used as a vertical or horizontal lining in buildings, excluding that which has been subjected to secondary manufacturing operations. Includes boards manufactured to receive either direct surface decoration or gypsum plaster finishes. Specifies the general characteristics of the boards and appropriate test methods and defines types and their various applications.


The test methos appear in the following order: 

(1) flexural strength (Method A); 

(2) core, end, and edge hardness (Method A); 

(3) nail pull resistance (Method A); 

(4) humidified deflection; 

(5) end squareness; 

(10) water resistance of core-treated water repellant gypsum panel products;

(11) surface water resistance of gypsum panel products with water-repellant surfaces.

ISO 1974 Elmendorf paper tearing resistance test –

ISO 1974 Paper – Determination of tearing resistance – Elmendorf method

ISO 1974 defines the universal Elmendorf pendulum test to measure the out-of-plane tearing resistance of paper and lightweight paperboard, and specifies the full technical chain from sampling, specimen preparation, equipment calibration, operation to result calculation.  

ISO 2758 Paper bursting strength test –

ISO 2758 Paper — Determination of bursting strength

ISO 2758 defines a uniform hydraulic burst test for thin single-layer paper, measuring the maximum uniform hydraulic pressure (kPa) a paper sheet withstands before rupture. It is strictly separated from ISO 2759 for thick solid/corrugated board due to distinct equipment geometry and test parameters.

ISO 5636-5 Air Permeability test Paper and board –

ISO 5636-5 permeability test Paper and board — Determination of air permeance (medium range) Part 5: Gurley method

ISO 5636-5 specifies the Gurley method for determining the air permeance of paper and board using an air resistance tester, the Gurley apparatus.

It is applicable to papers and boards which have air permeances between 0,1 µm/(Pa⋅s) and 100 µm/(Pa⋅s) when tested with the Gurley apparatus. It is unsuitable for rough-surfaced materials, which cannot be securely clamped to avoid leakage.

ISO 12625-4 Tensile Testing of Tissue Paper and Tissue –

ISO 12625‑4 Tissue paper and tissue products — Part 4: Determination of tensile strength, stretch at maximum force and tensile energy absorption

ISO 12625‑4 specifies a test method for determining the tensile strength, stretch at maximum force, and tensile energy absorption (TEA) of tissue paper and tissue products. It also gives formulas for calculating the tensile index and the tensile energy absorption index. The standard uses a tensile‑testing apparatus operating at a constant rate of elongation (CRE). 

ISO 12625‑5 Wet Tensile Strength Test – FAQs

Q1. What is the ISO 12625-5 test?

A. It is the international test method for determining the wet tensile strength of tissue paper and tissue products after soaking with water, using a tensile tester running at a constant rate of elongation (CRE). The 2024 edition also defines wet-tensile-strength retention — the wet strength expressed as a percentage of the dry, conditioned strength (ISO 187).


Q2. Why is wet tensile strength so important for tissue?

A. Dry paper is held together mainly by hydrogen bonds between cellulose fibres — and water destroys those bonds. Without wet-strength resin, a tissue keeps only a few percent of its dry strength once wet, i.e. it falls apart exactly at the moment of use (wiping a wet surface, blowing your nose, cleaning up a spill). Wet tensile strength therefore measures whether the product survives its actual job.


Q3. Who needs this test?

A. Tissue mills (production control and resin dosing), converters (toilet paper, facial tissue, kitchen towel, hand towel, napkins, wipe substrates), brand owners writing specifications, third-party QC labs, and importers/exporters needing EN-compliant data.


Q4. Why must the result be reported separately for machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD)?

A. Tissue is highly anisotropic — fibres are oriented in MD, so MD and CD strengths differ substantially. The standard requires ≥10 specimens per sample, one test piece in MD and one in CD from each, i.e. ≥20 test pieces per sample, calculated and reported separately.


Q5. Vertical (Finch Cup) or horizontal — which should I use?

A. Both are permitted by the standard and both are commercially available. The vertical/Finch Cup route is the classic method (the strip is looped around a Ø5 mm rod, so the machine's force reading is halved in the calculation because two legs carry the load). Horizontal testers are easier to automate and are common in high-throughput labs. Important: Annex A reports precision separately for the two instrument types because results are not automatically equivalent — so the test report must state which type was used.


Q6. Can I convert a wet result measured on a horizontal machine to a vertical-machine value?

A. Not reliably. The 2002 interlaboratory trial (11 labs, 5 products) had to be reported separately for horizontal (6 labs) and vertical (5 labs) instruments. Always quote the instrument type alongside the value.


Q7. What is accelerated (rapid) ageing — do I have to do it?

A. Wet-strength resins keep developing for days to weeks. Accelerated ageing (curing) with heat reproduces that final level quickly: (80 ± 2) °C for 30 min, then re-condition ≥1 h; for fast production checks (105 ± 2) °C for 15 min may be used. It is the user's decision. Rule of thumb in the standard: mill/production samples are generally rapid-aged; goods already in the marketing chain or on sale to consumers are generally not. Whether (and how) the piece was aged must be stated in the report — cured values can differ from what the end user experiences.


Q8. How many test pieces, what size?

A. (50.0 ± 0.5) mm wide × ≥150 mm long, at least 10 specimens per sample × 2 directions = ≥20 test pieces. Pieces must be free of perforations and faults not inherent to the tissue. For very short products, cut the longest piece possible, shorten the span/rod distance, and report the span used.


Q9. How is ISO 12625-5 different from ISO 3781 and TAPPI T 456?

A. Those cover paper and board after immersion in water (ISO 3781 soaks for about an hour). ISO 3781 explicitly excludes tissue and other lightweight, highly absorbent papers and points to ISO 12625-5 instead; TAPPI T 456 (with the Finch device or total immersion) is aimed at heavier papers/boards. ISO 12625-5 is the method tailored to low-basis-weight, fragile tissue.


Q10. Is there a national equivalent?

A. Yes — EN ISO 12625-5:2024 (identical text; CEN members had to implement it by December 2024). In China, GB/T 24328.4—2020 is a MOD adoption of ISO 12625-5:2014 and uses the same core parameters (50 ± 2 mm/min, 50.0 ± 0.5 mm strip, 15 s soak, Finch rod Ø5.0 ± 0.1 mm, S = F/wᵢ × 10³).


Q11. What should I look for when buying an ISO 12625-5 tester?

A. (1) Compliance with ISO 1924-2 / ISO 7500-1 with force accuracy ±1 % or ±0.025 N; (2) correct 50 mm/min rate and span settings (100/50 mm, and 43.5 mm rod-to-clamp distance for vertical); (3) a Finch Cup and/or horizontal soaking device matching the standard's dimensions; (4) a 50.0 ± 0.5 mm cutter giving clean parallel edges; (5) software that reports MD/CD separately, discards invalid breaks, and prints a Clause 10-compliant report; (6) optional automatic soaking (15 s) and constant water level; (7) a curing oven (80 °C or 105 °C) if you run mill samples; (8) calibration certificate and local service.


Q12. Why choose ISO 12625‑5 Wet Tensile Strength Testing Machine for Tissue Paper and Tissue Products from UnitedTest?

UnitedTest manufactures ISO 12625‑5:2024 wet tensile tester for tissue paper & tissue products. Vertical Finch‑Cup and horizontal soaking‑bath configurations for wet tensile strength & wet‑strength‑retention test. Compliant laboratory tissue testing equipment for tissue mills & QC labs worldwide.


UnitedTest designs and manufactures fully‑compliant ISO 12625‑5 wet tensile tester, supporting both vertical Finch‑Cup test setup and horizontal soaking‑bath test method for tissue paper, toilet tissue, kitchen roll, facial tissue and converted tissue products. Our tissue wet strength testing equipment helps paper mills, converting factories, third‑party testing laboratories and R&D labs measure wet tensile strength (N/m) and wet‑tensile‑strength retention (%) according to ISO 12625‑5:2024 latest edition, superseding old ISO 12625‑5:2016.


Our ISO 12625‑5 tensile test machine runs at standard test speed 50 ± 2 mm/min, meets strict force‑measurement accuracy requirements referenced to ISO 7500‑1 and ISO 1924‑2. Optional accessories include standard Finch‑Cup soaking device, horizontal soaking bath assembly, precision specimen cutting tool, and temperature‑controlled soaking water module.


Whether you need production quality‑control batch testing, wet‑strength‑agent formula research, accelerated‑ageing curing test evaluation, or third‑party laboratory certification‑grade measurement, UnitedTest’s ISO 12625‑5 tissue wet tensile testing machine delivers repeatable, inter‑laboratory‑comparable test data for both machine direction (MD) and cross‑direction (CD) tissue samples.

< Previous: ISO 12625-4 Tensile Testing of Tissue Paper and Tissue

> Next: ISO 12945-2 Martindale Pilling Test for Fabric Pilling, Fuzzing & Matting

Require More Customized Solutions?

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you
Customize Now

Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.