Edge Crush Test (ECT)

Edge Crush Test (ECT) is a key physical performance indicator for corrugated cardboard, used to measure the board's ability to withstand vertical pressure along the flute direction, expressed in pounds per inch (lb/in) or kilonewtons per meter (kN/m). It directly reflects the compressive strength of corrugated boxes and is an important basis for packaging material acceptance and transport safety assessment in foreign trade. Usage scenarios include: export product packaging design, quality inspection of carton suppliers, transport stacking tests, etc. Notes: ECT value is affected by base paper grammage, flute type (e.g., A, B, C, E flute), and production process; testing methods differ slightly among countries (e.g., US TAPPI T811, China GB/T 6546), and the standard adopted must be specified in the contract. Difference from Bursting Strength: ECT focuses on edge compression resistance of the board and is more suitable for evaluating stacking performance; Bursting Strength focuses on surface resistance to local compression and is often used for heavy packaging or fragile goods. Foreign trade practitioners should choose ECT grade comprehensively based on transport mode, stacking layers, and humidity conditions.