The ZD-tensile strength is tested by attaching the top and bottom sides of a paperboard to rigid blocks that are pulled apart. In a production laboratory the strength is recorded using a tape as an adhesive. In specialized laboratories a more thorough method is available that also measures the force-displacement curve of the sample. The advanced method involves laminating and gluing the paperboard sample to metal blocks which are mounted in a universal testing machine. 

In this study the advanced ZD-tensile method was refined by removing the glue step and laminating the paperboard directly to the blocks. The new method was validated against the regular method with adequate results. The limits of the refined method were explored with regards to ZD-strength and paper/paperboard thickness. 

In an attempt to unify the ZD-tensile and -compressive behaviour of paperboard, samples were laminated and tested in combined compression and tension testing. The compressive properties were compared to non-laminated samples. The laminated samples showed a different behaviour than the non-laminated samples. The flat slope seen in the initial part of the pure compression curve disappeared, replaced by a continuous response passing 0 N. The stiffness in this region resembled the response in tensile testing.