How to Figure Out the Required Tensile Strength for Plastic Strapping

The following figures applies to plastic strapping only.

To figure what tensile strength strapping you will need, use this quick formula.

1) Take the weight of the pallet being strapped,
2) Divide by the number of plastic straps that will be applied to the pallet,
For example: A pallet that has a weight of 2,000 lbs. and is being secured with four straps, your plastic strapping tensile strength, or break strength of 500 lbs. each.

Tensile strength

Tensile strength is the stress at which a material breaks or permanently deforms.
There are three definitions of tensile strength:

Yield strength

The stress at which material strain changes from elastic deformation to plastic deformation, causing it to deform permanently.

Ultimate strength

The maximum stress a material can withstand when subjected to tension, compression or shearing. It is the maximum stress on the stress-strain curve.

Breaking strength

The stress coordinate on the stress-strain curve at the point of rupture.
In most plastic strapping applications, the tensile strength is the average Breaking Strength.