An American National Standard

Designation: D 645/D 645M 97 (Reapproved 2002)

Standard Test Method for

Thickness of Paper and Paperboard1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 645/D 645M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year
of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.
A superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 3. Terminology
1.1 This test method covers the determination of the thick- 3.1 Definitions shall be in accordance with Terminology
ness of paper and paperboard except electrical insulating D 1968 and the Dictionary of Paper.4
papers (see Test Methods D 202).
1.1.1 Because of the relatively high pressure 50 kPa [7.3 4. Significance and Use
psi] used in this test method, it may not be suitable for 4.1 Thickness is an important property of paper or paper-
measurement of tissue or other soft or low density materials, board, critical for certain end uses of paper and paperboard.
because the structure may collapse (decrease in thickness) at This test method is useful for research work, routine control,
the prescribed pressure of 50 kPa. design of end-use products, and for acceptance testing for
1.2 The values stated in either SI units or in other units shall conformance to a specification. Apparent density and other
be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each paper properties are related to thickness.
system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system
must be used independently of the other, without combining 5. Apparatus
values in any way. 5.1 Micrometer, conforming to the following specifications:
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the 5.1.1 Motor operated, dead-weight (not spring) actuated.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the 5.1.2 The micrometer shall have a flat ground circular
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- movable
2
face (the presser foot), having an area of 200 6 5
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- mm [equivalent to about 0.31 6 0.01 in.2] and corresponding
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. to a diameter of 16 6 0.2 mm [0.63 6 0.01 in.].
5.1.3 The micrometer shall have a flat ground circular fixed
2. Referenced Documents face (the anvil) of such size that it is in contact with the whole
2.1 ASTM Standards: area of the pressure foot in the zero position.
D 202 Test Methods of Sampling and Testing Untreated 5.1.4 The surface of the presser foot shall be parallel to the
Paper Used for Electrical Insulation2 surface of the anvil to within 0.001 mm [0.00005 in.]. The
D 585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot of presser foot movement shall be on an axis that is perpendicular
Paper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related Product3 to the anvil surface. The minimum distance between the anvil
D 685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Products and the presser foot in the up or raised position shall be 0.75
for Testing3 mm [0.030 in.].
D 1968 Terminology Relating to Paper and Paper Products3 5.1.5 The presser foot, when lowered, shall exert steady
2.2 TAPPI Standards: pressure on the specimen of 50 6 2 kPa [approximately 7.3 6
T 411 Thickness (caliper) of paper, paperboard, and combi- 0.3 psi or 0.51 kgf/cm2] for 3 6 1 s. The period of steady
nation board4 pressure on the specimen is referred to as dwell time.
T 1206 Precision statements for test methods4 5.1.6 The presser foot shall have a lowering speed of 0.8 6
0.1 mm [0.03 6 0.004 in.]/s.
5.1.7 The frame of the micrometer shall be of such rigidity
that a load of 1.5 kg (3 lb) applied to the dial housing, out of
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D06 on Paper contact with either the weight or the presser foot spindle, will
and Paper Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D06.92 on Test
Methods. produce a deflection of the frame not greater than 0.0025 mm
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1997. Published November 1998. Originally [0.0001 in.] as indicated by the micrometer readout system.
approved in 1941. Last previous edition approved in 1996 as D 645 96.
2
5.2 Readout SystemTwo types of readout systems are
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 10.01.
3 available for use in this test method as follows:
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 15.09.
4
Available from the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 5.2.1 Dial-Type System with a dial, graduated to 0.002 mm
Technology Park, P.O. Box 105113, Atlanta, GA 30348. [0.0001 in.] or less, readable to at least 0.001 mm [0.00005 in.],

Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

1
 D 645/D 645M 97 (2002)
or 1 % of paper thickness, whichever is larger. If the large 8. Conditioning
indicating hand of the dial is required to revolve more than 8.1 Condition all specimens in accordance with Practice
once to cover the capacity of the gage, equip the dial with a D 685 prior to testing for thickness. Conduct all tests for
revolution counter to indicate the number of complete revolu- thickness in a room or chamber in which the atmospheric
tions of the indicating hand. conditions of Practice D 685 are maintained.
5.2.2 Digital-Type Readout System, with a digital display
indication to at least 0.001 mm [0.00005 in.], or 1 % of paper 9. Procedure
thickness, whichever is larger. 9.1 GeneralBefore using any micrometer, make sure that
5.2.3 The readout system used shall be capable of repeating the presser foot and anvil surfaces are clean, that the calibration
readings to within 0.001 mm [0.00005 in.] at zero settings or of the instrument has been verified and a calibration curve has
on a steel gage block. been prepared, if necessary, and that the instrument is mounted
on a solid level surface free from noticeable vibration.
6. Test Specimens 9.2 Place the specimen on the anvil in such a position that
6.1 Obtain specimens from samples obtained in accordance all points on the peripheries of the contact surface are at least
with Practice D 585. 6 mm (0.25 in.) from the edges of the specimen.
9.2.1 When using multiple-sheet test specimens including
NOTE 1Some paper manufacturers and users measure the thickness of combined paperboard, the presser foot shall not be closer than
papers 0.051 mm and under using a specimen that contains eight or ten
20 mm (0.75 in.) from any edge of the stack.
sheets of paper. Usually, but not always, if a micrometer is used to
measure the thickness of a single sheet of this thinness, the error in reading 9.3 Take a specified number of measurements mutually
the instrument is likely to make a significant difference in the result. If a agreed upon between the producer and the consumer. Measure
pile of 10 sheets is measured and the result divided by 10, there will also at regular intervals across the entire width of each specimen,
be an error due to the piling effect, but the latter error will, in general, preferably in a line that is at right angles to the machine
be smaller than the former. In existing specification documents the values direction of the paper. In all cases, make at least five such
for thickness of thin papers [0.051 mm or less] may require modification measurements on each specimen, except if only an estimate of
if this single sheet method is referenced in that material specification
document.
lot or test unit average is required (that is, variations of
thickness within a sheet are of no interest). Then only two
7. Calibration readings per specimen need be made.
9.4 Take each reading near the end of the dwell time. If
7.1 Measurements are made on standard steel gages with the
necessary, apply the calibration corrections to the readings.
thickness known within 0.0008 mm [0.00003 in.]. The mea-
9.5 If the thickness of noticeably compressible papers is
surements shall be within the following tolerances:
being measured, it is particularly important that the rate of fall
Permissible Deviation of Reading from Actual
Intervals Thickness of Standard Steel Gage
of the presser foot and the dwell time be within the specified
0 to 0.25 mm [0.01 in.] 6 0.0012 mm [0.00005 in.] limits. (See 5.1.5 and 5.1.6.) Examples of noticeably compress-
Over 0.25 mm [0.01 in.] 6 0.005 mm [0.0002 in.] ible papers include tissue paper, or other soft or low-density
NOTE 2In the use of steel gages made of a nondeformable material, papers.
it must be remembered that the value corresponding to the thickest portion
of the gage, rather than the average thickness, should be used in the 10. Report
calibration of paper micrometers. 10.1 Report the following information:
7.1.1 Apply the deviations for the parts of the scale corre- 10.1.1 The corrected values of average, maximum, and
sponding to the specimen thickness measured as corrections to minimum thickness obtained on each test specimen, except
the thickness reading. where, by agreement between producer and consumer, only
7.2 Parallelism of the FacesUse a uniform diameter wire two tests per specimen have been made. Then only the average
of any size up to half the operational opening of the faces (for need be reported.
example, 0.5 mm [0.020 in.] diameter). Alternate the wire on 10.1.2 The method used.
the left side, right side, front side, and back side approximately 10.1.3 The number of readings taken on each specimen.
3 mm [18 in.] from each respective edge of the foot. Note the 10.2 Thickness may be expressed in any applicable units of
readings. Adjust the anvil so that all readings are within 0.001 distance such as millimetres, inches, mils, etc., as agreed upon
mm [0.00005 in.] of one another. by producer and consumer.

NOTE 3An acceptable alternative to the thin wire described above is 11. Precision and Bias
a hard steel ball, 1 mm or less in diameter, fixed in a thin (less than 1 mm 11.1 Precision:
in thickness) flat piece of metal, or else the tip of a feeler gage of about 11.1.1 Repeatability1.25 %.
the same thickness specified for the wire. Use any of the three devices as 11.1.2 Reproducibility5.50 %.
described in 7.2.
11.1.3 The above precision was calculated from data taken
7.3 The frame of the micrometer shall be of such rigidity from 24 reports of the Collaborative Reference Program for
that a load of 1.5 kg (3 lb) applied to the dial housing, out of Paper,4 using procedures for calculation as specified in TAPPI
contact with either the weight or the presser foot spindle, will T 1206.
produce a deflection of the frame not greater than 0.0025 mm 11.1.4 The user of this precision data is advised that it is
(0.0001 in.), as indicated by the micrometer readout system. based on actual mill testing, laboratory testing, or both. There

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 D 645/D 645M 97 (2002)
is no knowledge as to the exact degree to which personnel 12. Keywords
skills or equipment were optimized during its generation. The
12.1 caliper paper; paperboard; thickness
precision provides an estimate of typical variation in test
results which may be encountered when this test method is
used by two or more parties.
11.2 BiasThe procedure in this test method has no bias
because the value of thickness is defined only in terms of the
testing conditions specified in this method.

APPENDIXES

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. MANUALLY OPERATED MICROMETER

X1.1 The manually operated micrometer does not conform lower the pressure foot to within 0.008 mm [0.0003 in.] of the
to this test method. This Appendix simply gives general surface of the specimen (as defined by the previous reading)
information on use of such a micrometer, as many are still in before releasing the pressure foot.
use. X1.3.3 As an alternative technique, recommended when the
X1.2 Apparatus: variations in specimen thickness are greater than 0.008 mm,
lower the pressure foot at some velocity less than 12 mm [0.5
X1.2.1 Dial-Type MicrometerManually-operated, dead-
in.]/s onto the surface of the paper specimen.
weight actuated, conforming in general to the requirements for
the motor-operated instrument. X1.3.4 Repeat, making five readings per specimen, exclud-
ing the trial reading.
X1.3 Procedure:
X1.3.1 Place the specimen between the contact surfaces and X1.4 Precision and Accuracy:
lower the pressure foot onto the specimen at a location outside
X1.4.1 Because of the greater influence of the operator, the
of the area to be measured. Note this trial reading. Raise the
manually-operated instrument has shown less agreement
pressure foot, move the specimen to the measurement position,
lower the pressure foot to within 0.008 mm [0.0003 in.] of the among laboratories than the motorized instrument. Properly
surface of the specimen (that is, to the previous reading plus and skillfully operated, the accuracy of the manually operated
0.008 mm) and then release the pressure foot. instrument should be as good as that of the motorized instru-
X1.3.2 For each succeeding measurement, raise the pressure ment except possibly on highly compressible papers for which
foot, move the specimen to the next measurement location, and differences of 3 % have been reported.

X2. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISO 534 AND TEST METHOD D 645

X2.1 Both the ASTM and TAPPI (T411) test methods alternative. An instrument conforming with the ISO standard
specify a pressure between the foot and the anvil of the of 100 kPa is likely to give lower values than an instrument
micrometer of 50 6 2 kPa. ISO 534 specifies the pressure of conforming to the ASTM standard, with the difference a
100 6 10 kPa as the preferred and 506 5 kPa as an function of compressibility of the paper.

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