T 479 cm-99

SUGGESTED METHOD – 1948

REVISED – 1971
OFFICIAL TEST METHOD – 1981
REVISED – 1986
REVISED – 1991
CLASSICAL METHOD – 1999
© 1999 TAPPI

The information and data contained in this document were prepared by

a technical committee of the Association. The committee and the
Association assume no liability or responsibility in connection with the
use of such information or data, including but not limited to any liability
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is responsible for determining that this document is the most recent
edition published.

Smoothness of paper (Bekk method)

1. Scope

This method is for determining the smoothness of individual surfaces of paper when under a clamping pressure of
approximately 100 kN/m2 and using an anvil with an effective area of 10.00 ± 0.05 cm2.

2. Summary

The specimen is clamped with a pressure of one atmosphere between a plain, circular anvil having a small hole in its center
and a soft rubber pad. The time required to draw 10 mL of air radially between the anvil and the specimen is measured,
when a decreasing suction averaging 49.3 kPa (370 mm of mercury) is applied to the hole.

3. Significance

This test is an indirect measure of smoothness when the paper is under moderate pressure. At other pressures, such as the
higher pressure used in some printing presses, the ranking of papers may be changed, depending upon the relative
compressibilities of the papers being compared (1). With some papers, radial air leakage may affect the result (2).

4. Apparatus

4.1 Testing instrument1 having:

4.1.1 An anvil with a circular, plain, glass surface, with a small hole (1-2 mm diameter) in its center, the surface
having an effective area of 10.00 ± 0.05 cm2. A capillary connected to a suction chamber having a volume such that the
addition of 10 mL of air at 23EC and normal pressure causes its negative pressure to fall from 50.7 to 48.0 kPa (380 to 360
mm Hg).
4.1.2 A 4-mm-thick pad of soft butyl or EPDM rubber about 50 mm across with smooth surfaces and a Shore
Durometer hardness of 39 ± 5 units (A scale).

1
Names of suppliers of testing equipment and materials for this method may be found on the Test Equipment Suppliers list in the bound
set of TAPPI Test Methods, or may be available from the TAPPI Operations Department.

Approved by the Physical Properties Committee of the Process and Product Quality Division
TAPPI
T 479 cm-99 Smoothness of paper (Bekk method) / 2

4.1.3 A platen (pressure disk) with means of applying a load2 of 100 ± 5N, including the disk and rubber pad, to
the specimen on the anvil.

NOTE 1: Some instruments are supplied with a small chamber, one-tenth the volume that is specified, or with inserts that can be placed in the
chamber to reduce its volume to one-half or one-quarter of the normal volume. The one-tenth volume chamber reduces the
measurement to one-tenth, and the one-half or one-quarter inserts reduce the measurement to one-half and one-quarter, respectively.
They are for use with very smooth papers when the time for test with the standard chamber exceed 300 s.

4.2 Stopwatch or timer

5. Calibration

5.1 Check the instrument frequently for leakage. By means of a vacuum pump, raise the mercury level, turn the
stopcock to the closed or “0" position, and allow the instrument to remain in this state for at least 5 h. If the drop in the
mercury column is found to be over 5 mm, tighten all gaskets. If air leakage continues, remove the stopcocks and the
regulating valve pin, clean them, and apply a thin film of stopcock grease to the polished surfaces. Make certain that the nut
holding the plain glass block in place is tight.
5.2 It is particularly important that the capillary be kept clean. A jerky movement of the mercury column or
adherence to the glass is an indication that the capillary is dirty. In this case, carefully remove and clean the capillary by
washing it alternatively with nitric acid and a solution of potassium dichromate in concentrated sulfuric acid. Remove all
the cleaning solution by flushing with distilled water and rinsing with alcohol. (Do not use ether.) Dry the tube thoroughly
by letting it stand in a warm room or by blowing filtered warm air through it. The mercury and reservoir should be cleaned
at the same time. Before inserting the capillary, it is recommended that a layer, approximately 2 mm in height, of pure benzyl
salicylate by poured onto the surface of the mercury in the reservoir to lubricate the capillary walls.
5.3 Whenever the instrument is not being used, protect the polished glass surface with a dust cap. Keep the
surface of this block and the rubber pad clean at all times. Handle the rubber pad by the edges to prevent grease from finger
tips from accumulating on the surface of the pad. When the pad hardens beyond the specified limits, discard it.

6. Sampling and test specimens

6.1 Obtain a sample of the paper in accordance with TAPPI T 400 “Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot of
Paper, Paperboard, Containerboard, or Related Product,” being careful not to expose the sample to dampness.
6.2 From each test unit of the sample select 10 representative specimens (i.e., 5 for each side) at least 50 mm
square.

7. Procedure
7.1 Condition the specimens and test them in an atmosphere in accordance with TAPPI T 402 “Standard
Conditioning and Testing Atmospheres for Paper, Board, Pulp Handsheets, and Related Products.” Ensure that the apparatus
is not subjected to any vibration during the test.
7.2 Set the stopcock of the tester to position “P”. With gentle strokes of the vacuum pump, raise the mercury
column to slightly above 380 mm and turn the stopcock to position “0".
7.3 Place a specimen with the side to be tested in contact with the polished glass surface. Lay the rubber pad
on the paper and, on top of this, center the pressure disk.
7.4 Gently bring the pressure bar down to a horizontal position, with the leveling screw resting on the depression
in the center of the disk. With the aid of the level, and by means of the leveling screw, bring the pressure bar to level
position.
7.5 After a waiting period of 1 min., during which the paper rapidly compacts under the applied pressure, turn
the stopcock to position “M”, and by gently manipulating the fine regulating vent at the base of the air chamber, permit the
mercury column to drop to approximately 380 mm. Just before the mercury column reaches 380 mm, close the fine
adjustment vent with a firm pushing-turning motion.

2
A 10-kgf is within the allowable tolerance shown of 100 ± 5 N force.
3 / Smoothness of paper (Bekk method) T 479 cm-99

7.6 Various types of stopwatch or timing techniques or devices may be found in various models of instruments
conforming with the method. Visual observation of the drop of the mercury column with manual timing with the stopwatch
is described in 7.6.1. An electromechanical method utilizing electrodes placed in the capillary column at appropriate points
to activate a solenoid which operates the stopwatch is described in 7.6.2. An optical sensing device which detects the
dropping of the mercury column past the appropriate measurement points with its related timing device is described in 7.6.3.
7.6.1 Visual / manual timing. At the instant the 380-mm mark is reached, start the stopwatch and note the time
required in seconds for the mercury column to drop from 380 to 360 mm.
7.6.2 Electrode / electromechanical timing. As the mercury column drops past the 380-mm mark, an electrical
circuit is activated causing a solenoid to start the stopwatch. As the mercury column passes the 360-mm mark, an electrical
circuit is activated and the solenoid is activated to stop the stopwatch.
7.6.3 Optical / electrical timing. At the instant that the mercury column drops past the 380-mm mark, a light
bean/photocell device activates an electrical circuit which starts an electronic timer. At the instant the mercury column
passes the 360-mm mark, another light beam/photocell device activates an electrical circuit which stops the timer.
7.6.4 The time referenced in 7.6.1, 7.6.2, and 7.6.3 represents the time necessary for 10 mL of air to pass between
the plain surface and that of the test specimen.
7.7 Before removing the paper, turn the stopcock back to the “0" position.
7.8 If the time required for the 20-mm drop is over 300 s, instrument adaptations to change the cavity size may
be used. If the instrument is equipped with a chamber one-tenth the standard size, turn the stopcock to the one-tenth
position3, repeat the test on a separate specimen, and multiply the observed time by 10. If the instrument is equipped with
chamber changing devices, insert either the one-half or one-quarter volume plugs and repeat the test on separate specimens,
multiplying the observed time by either 2 or 4, respectively.
7.9 Use a separate specimen for each test, because the pressure on the test specimen slowly compacts the fibers.
7.10 Test five specimens each on the wire and on the felt sides, respectively.

8. Report

8.1 For each test unit report as Bekk smoothness the average result in seconds, for each side of the paper, to
three significant figures.
8.2 Include also the number of specimens tested and the standard deviation for each side.

9. Precision

The precision of this method has been studied on several occasions (2-4). Recent information from the TAPPI Collaborative
Testing Program (5) indicates that variations in the machine and cross directions of the paper and the nature of the paper
can have an appreciable effect on the precision of testing. For a very uniform paper, a repeatability of 5% or less may be
expected. For most papers the repeatability is in the range 8-25% for test results, each of which is an average for five test
specimens. It is reasonable to expect a reproducibility of the order of 20-30%, but occasionally a poorer reproducibility (40-
90%) occurs with porous papers, possibly because of the use of inadequate backing material. The reader should be
cautioned that this analysis on Collaborative Testing Program Data is based on actual mill/laboratory measurements with
instruments or procedures that may not conform with this method. This information is given as a guide as to the potential
variation in smoothness that may exist across the industry.

10. Additional information

10.1 Effective date of issue: August 19, 1999.

10.2 This method was first published in 1948 as a Suggested Method and was revised in 1971. In the 1981
revision, only the Bekk instrument was described. A waiting period of 1 min. was specified after the pressure is applied to
the specimen in accordance with the specifications of the original manufacturer.
10.3 The mercury columns on some instruments are calibrated at positions representing pressures other than 380
and 360 mm. The use of pressure drops other than those specified in the method is contrary to the procedure described and
should be avoided.

3
Use of the one-tenth position may result in considerably different test results and suitable comment should be made in the test report.
T 479 cm-99 Smoothness of paper (Bekk method) / 4

10.4 Additional information on the Bekk Smoothness instrument may be found in DIN 53 107. This method
reports that the volume of air drawn into the Apparatus for the pressure differential of 380 to 360 min. (-507 to -480 m bar)
is equal to 10 ± 0.2 mL (Method A).
10.5 In 1999, this method was made Classical by vote of the committee.
10.6 A diagram and description of the measuring principle is given in ISO 5627: 1995(E) “Paper and paper board
- determination of smoothness (Bekk method).”

11. Keywords

Paper, Smoothness, Bekk testers

Literature cited

1. Lashof, T. W., Mandel, J., and Worthington, V., “Use of the Sensitivity Criterion for the Comparison of the Bekk and
Sheffield Smoothness Testers,” Tappi 39 (7): 532 (1956).
2. Institute of Paper Chemistry, “Instrumentation Studies, The Bekk and Gurley Smoothness Testers,” Paper Trade J.
104 (12): 62 (1937).
3. Wehmhoff, Simmons, and Boyce, “The Bekk Smoothness Tester as an Aid in Studying the Printing Quality of Paper,”
Paper Trade J. 96 (4): 36 (1933).
4. Lashof, T.W., and Mandel, J., “Measurement of the Smoothness of Paper,” Tappi 43 (5): 385 (1960).
5. TAPPI Collaborative Reference Program, Report No. 10, p. 15, National Bureau of Standards, October 1970.

Reference

Bekk, J., “Apparatus for Measuring Smoothness of Paper Surfaces,” Paper Trade J. 104 (12): 62 (1937).

Your comments and suggestions on this procedure are earnestly requested and should be sent to the TAPPI Technical
Operations Manager. •