Abstract: The physical characteristics were compared between paper-making process reconstituted tobacco(RT) and tobacco leaf in terms of the tensile force,shearing force and friction coefficient.Nine leaf samples of different grades and eight RT samples of different specifications were tested.The results indicated that:1) The longitudinal shearing force and tensile force of RT were obviously higher than the transverse ones of RT,and the static friction coefficient of RT was higher than its dynamic friction coefficient.2) The shearing force and tensile force of RT were remarkably higher than those of tobacco leaf,while its friction coefficient was obviously smaller than that of tobacco leaf.3) The shearing force,tensile force and friction coefficient of RT closely correlated to its true density,cross-sectional fiber morphology and surface properties.