METRIC UNITS/ SI UNITS
The metric system, using SI units, is required because your readership is international and SI units are used
throughout the world.
Basic units: * meter (length) * kilogram (mass) * second (time) * Ampere (electric current) * degrees Celsius
(temperature) * (luminous intensity
New units that have been introduced : * Newton (N) = Force * Pascal (Pa) = Pressure
It is equal to a Newton per square meter and corresponds to the familiar pounds per square inch (psi): 1 psi =
6.89 kilopascal.
The following are some of the common conversion factors for SI SI Unit conversions
Quantity or Test
Value in Trade or Customary
Conversion
Unit
X Factor
=
6.45
Area
square inches
0.0929
square feet
0.836
square yards
0.405
acres
3.760
Basis Weight* or
lb (17x22-500)
1.627
Substance
lb (24x36-500)
1.480
(500-sheet ream) or
lb (25x38-500)
1.406
Grammage* when
lb (25x40-500)
4.882
expressed in g/m2
pounds per 1000 sq ft
(Paperboard)
Breaking Length
meters
0.001
Burst Index
g/cm2
0.0981
g/m2
Bursting Strength
pounds per square inch
6.89
Caliper
mils
0.0254
Concora Crush
pounds
4.45
Edge Crush
pounds per inch
0.175
Energy
British thermal units (Btu)
1055
Flat Crush
pounds per square inch
6.89
Force
kilograms
9.81
pounds
4.45
0.1
Length
angstroms
1
microns
0.0254
mils
0.305
feet
0.907
Mass
tons (2000 lbs.)
0.454
pounds
28.3
ounces (avd p)
Mass per Unit Volume ounces per gallon
7.49
pounds per cubic foot
1.60
Puncture Resistance
foot pounds
1.36
Ring Crush
pounds (for a 6” length)
0.0292
Stiffness (Taber)
gram centimeters (Taber
0.0981
Units)
Tear Strength
grams
9.81
Tensile Breaking Load pounds per inch
0.175
kilograms per 15 millimeters
0.654
Volume, Fluid
ounces (US Fluid)
29.6
gallons
3.79
16.4
Volume, Solid
cubic inches
0.0283
cubic feet
0.765
cubic yards
* See TAPPI Technical Information Paper 0800.01 for additional SI Unit conversions
Value in SI Unit
Symbol
square centimeters
square meters
square meters
hectares
grams per square meter
grams per square meter
grams per square meter
grams per square meter
grams per square meter
cm2
m2
m2
ha
g/m2
g/m2
g/m2
g/m2
g/m2
kilometers
kilopascals
grams per square meter
kilopascals
millimeters
newtons
kilomewtons per meter
joules
kilopascals
newtons
newtons
nanometers
micrometers
millimeters
meters
metric tons
kilograms
grams
kilograms per cubic meter
kilograms per cubic meter
joules
kilonewtons per meter
millinewton meters
km
KPa.m2/g
g/m2
kPa
mm
N
kN/m
J
kPa
N
N
nm
µm
mm
m
t
kg
g
kg/m3
kg/m3
J
KN/m
mN• m
millinewtons
kilonewtons per meter
kilonewtons per meter
milliliters
liters
cubic centimeters
cubic meters
cubic meters
mN
kN/m
kN/m
mL
L
Cm3
m3
m3
For Information on TAPPI's Style Guide, please visit http://www.tappi.org/content/pdf/standards/tip_guidelines_complete.pdf
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