tbs                     TDC8 ( 5627 )P3 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Draft  
Tanzania Standard  
Textiles – Polypropylene Baler Twine  – Specification s 
(First edition)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TANZANIA BUREAU OF STANDARDS  
 
1 
 0. FOREWORD  
0.1 This Draft Tanzania Standard has been prepared with a view of assisting manufacturers of 
Polypropylene (PP)  baler twines to come up with a product of defined quality suitable for intended 
applications.  
0.2 In the preparation of this Draft Tanzania Standard, assistance was derived from  
Local company specifications  
ISO 9554: 2010 (E) – Fiber Ropes – General specifications  
ISO 1346: 2012  – Fibre Ropes – Polypropylene split film, monofilament and multifilament (PP2)  
ropes  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
2 
 Tanzania Bureau of Standards  
Draft Tanzania Standard       TDC8 ( 5627 )P3 
Textiles – Polypropylene Baler Twine – Specification s 
 
1. SCOPE   
 
This Draft Tanzania Standar d describes  requirements  for Polypropylene  (PP) baler twine used for 
packaging applications.  
2. NORMATIVE REFERENCES  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies   
a) TZS 3:  Atmospher ic conditions for testing;  
b) TZS 4:  Rounding off numerical values.  
3. TERMS AND DEFINITIONS  
For the purpose of this Draft Tanzania Standard, the following terms and definitions shall apply:  
3.1 Twine  – textile product normally less than 5mm in diameter generally assembled into a structure that 
compacts the fiber into a useable structure in various construction forms  
3.2 Linear density  – mass per unit length of a fiber, twines, yarn or rope. In the universal count system, it 
is expressed in Tex or kilotex  
3.3 Bale  – large bundle, or package  
3.4 Baler – twine used to tight or bind large packages into bales.  
3.5 Spool – cross – wound cylindrical unit twine  
3.6 Runnage – normal measure of the size of twine, expressed in meters per kilogram  
3.7 package – container, as a box or case, in which something is or may be packed in.  
4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS  
 
4.1 PP baler twine s shall be man ufactured using the finest PP  material.  
4.2 PP baler twine s shall be of a highly abrasion resistant and which does not unravel when cut and 
unspooled.  
4.3 PP baler twine s shall be substantially circular in cross section.  
4.4 Each package  of PP baler twine shall be of continuous length and knotless.  
4.5 The package  shall be designed for the PP baler twine s to be drawn from the center.  
4.6 Each package  shall be capable of working with continuity throughout its length.  
 
 
  
3 
 5. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS  
The specific requirements shall include t he following : 
5.1 Linear density and runnage – They are subject to a tolerance of ± 5% and shall be as describe d in 
annex A.  
5.2 Minimum breaking force  – Shall be as specified in Table 1. Any tolerance to be allowed shall be 
agreed between the purchaser and the supplier. Breaking force shall  be determined as described in 
annex B.  
5.3 Mass of package – A tolerance of   ± 5% shall be allowed on the specific mass of any package 
provided that the va riation from the gross specified mass of any delivery of one size and description does 
not exceed 5%.  
5.4 Twist – Unless stated or  unless otherwise ordered, PP baler twines shall be S -twist direction.  
5.5 Treatment – PP baler  twines shall be protected agai nst deterioration d ue to exposure to sunlight 
(UV). 
Table 1  – Requirements of PP baler twine  
Reference 
number  Description  Linear density  
Min, 
(tex) Runnage  
±5% 
(m/kg)  Breaking force  
min, 
(tex) 
1 Fine 2400  417 525 
2 Medium  2800  357 725 
3 Extra medium  4500  222 925 
4 Course  5400  185 1020  
 
6. FINISH  
6.1 The finished PP baler twine shall be of any colour unless otherwise specified by the purchaser.  
6.2 The PP baler twine shall contain no cuts or damaged sections and all ends shall be secured.  
7. PACKING AND LABELLING  
7.1 Packing  
The identity of the material, quali ty and origin of PP twine conforming to this Draft Tanzania Standard 
shall be marked alongside the package  so as to remain visible during usage. For covered twine, the 
marking tape shall be incorporated between the cover and the core or within the core.  
7.2 Labeling  
Each cone shall have a label, which is firmly fixed in place, giving the following information:  
a) constituent material;  
b)  identification of manufact urer and country of origin;  
c) reference number and  
d) delivered length.   
4 
 8. PACKAGING AND DELIVERED LENGTH  
8.1 Packaging.  
8.1.1 The packaging unit may be a reel, a coil, a box or a bag or as specified by the purchaser.  
8.1.2 The finished twine shall be supplied in a package, so that it can be distributed freely without 
entanglement of any kind.  
8.1.3 Either the unit mass or the length may be used to invoice the twine. When the gross mass is used 
for invoicing,  the mass of the packaging shall not exceed 1.5% of the gross mass of the twine.  
 
8.2 Delivered length  
8.2.1 Standard delivered length  
The length of the package  shall be determined by dividing the mass of the package  by the mass per 
meter of the twine. The limit deviation on delivered length shall not be -3% twines.  
On condition that the gross mass corresponding to the delivered length is not less than the product of the 
minimum linear density and the theoretical deli vered length.  
Standard del ivered lengths are as follows : 
100m; 183m; 200m; 220m; 366m;  
Other lengths may be supplied for special orders.  
8.2.2 Shorter delivered length due to sampling  
To carry out testing at the request of the purchaser, test pieces may be  taken from the order length of 
twine. The length of the twine delivered shall be less than the ordered length because of these test pieces 
(which are considered to be part of the delivery).  
In the event that a specific length is required and testing is re quired, the purchaser may be invoiced the 
additional length or mass of the rope required to perform such testing.  
9. TESTING  
9.1 The testing of the finished twine shall be conducted as specified in this Draft Tanzania Standard and 
in the purchase order or  contract.  
9.2 The required length and number of test samples shall be removed from the selected test reels as 
outlined in 8.2.2, if required.  
9.3 Test reports shall be prepared in accordance with contract or the purchaser order.  
 
 
 
 
 
  
5 
 ANNEX A  
DETERMINATION OF LINEAR DENSITY AND RUNNAGE  
A-1 Principle  
Weigh, under specified conditions, specimens of specified length, then followed by calculation of the 
linear density and the runnage (or length in meters per kilogram).  
A-2 Apparatus  
A-2.1 Balance, accurate to 0.5g.  
A-2.2 Wrap – reel of known perimeter  
A-3 Specimen  
Selection  
Select 10 m (heavier twine) or 20m (lighter twine)  from each package , proceeding in the following manner : 
Directly from the center of each package , in an anti –clockwise direction, draw the first 10m of twine and 
discard them. The n draw 10m of twine (for 1000m/kg and heavier) or 20m of twine (for lighter than 
1000m/kg) and wind them as adjacent turns (without overlapping) on the wrap – reel, exercising just 
sufficient tens ion on the twine to maintain straightness.  
Each of 10m or 20m thus obtained constitutes a test piece.  
A-4 Procedure  
Weigh each specimen nearest to 0.5g (let m, be the mass obtained in grams).  
A-5 Expression of results  
A-5.1 Calculation of linear density  
For each specimen; calculate the linear density T, in Tex, using the following formula:  
  T =      
  
Where  
m, is the mass, in grams, of the specimen and  
l, is the length, in meters of the specimen.  
A-5.2 Calculation of runnage  
Calculate the runnage L, in meters per kilogram of twine, using the following formula:  
   L =    
  
          Where T, is the linear density  
A-5.3 If the specimen is outside the tolerance, a check test shall  be carried out on another package .  
A-5.4 If the result of the check test is found to be within the limits of the permitted tolerances, it is the 
result of the check test which is adopted for value of the linear density.  
  
6 
 ANNEX B  
METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF BREAKING LOAD  
B-1 Apparatus  
Use a power driven constant rate of extension o r constant rate of traverse testing machine, which 
includes a pair of suitable devices to hold the specimen, a means of elongating the specimen at a suitable 
rate and a load – indicating mechanism to indicate or record continuously the load applied to the 
specimen.  
The machine shall comply with the specified requirements for grade A machine, that is; the maximum 
permissible error shall not exceed 1% of the applied load or 0.2% of the maximum of the scale, whichever 
is the greater. Subject to agreement betwe en the purchaser and the supplier a power -driven machine of 
the constant rate of loading type may be employed.  
B-2 Specimens  
Take 10  or more than 10 specimens per sample length. The free length of the test specimen between the 
holding devices at the start of the test shall be 500 mm. 
A-3 Speed  
The rate of traverse of the straining head of Constant rate of extension (CRE ) and Constant rate of 
traverse ( CRT) machines shall be 500mm ± 50 mm per minute.  
If a CRL machine is used, the rate of loading shall be that the time to break is 60 ± 10 seconds.  
B-4 Procedure  
Insert the specimen carefully between the holding devices, set the machine in operation and increase the 
load continuously until the specimen breaks. Record the maximum load attained. Should any specimen 
slip in either of the holding devices or break in or at either of the holding devices at a load less than the 
appropriate minimum breaking load specified in the schedule, disregard the result and test a fresh 
specimen.  
B-5 Results  
Express the result for t he breaking load of each specimen in N or kg or decanewton (daN) to the nearest 
1% 
*The SI unit for force is the newton (N). A load of 1kg = 0.981 decanewton (daN)  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
7 
 ANNEX C  
INFORMATION ON DEFECTS AND VARIANCES  
B-1 Major defects  
Major defects include the following:  
a) any cuts, snags,  pulled strands;  
b) any damaged sections;  
c) any twine/rope ends knotted or spliced to make a continuous standard length;  
d) colour not as specified;  
 
B-2 Minor defects  
a) clearly visible and excessive stains  
b) broken, lose or projecting ends in the twine  
c) ends not cut off squarely, or not securely whipped, taped or heat -sealed;  
d) any chaffed sections