Upgrading of Old Corrugated Container Board with Aseptic Packaging Container for Paper Board Applications - A Laboratory Handsheet Study

In the recent past packaging material is on high demand. The use of environmentally friendly packaging materials requires that more recycled material is utilized in the manufacturing chain. Fiber material from liquid container board packaging which may contain over 75% virgin bleached fiber material may be used to offset and or upgrade existing board products.

In this laboratory handsheet study the use of presently not utilized liquid containerboard packaging material together with currently used recycled fibers from old corrugated containers was investigated.

The recycled fiber material was repulped for 30 minutes at a pH of 10, a temperature of 150°F (65.6°C), and 1% Oxone addition based on fiber content under laboratory conditions.

Repulping results indicate that repulping of old corrugated container fiber material and liquid container board fiber material together might require a higher energy input for repulping and processing afterward due to a higher Canadian standard freeness level, and flake content compared to old corrugated container fiber material alone, whereas repulping of liquid container board fiber material only resulted in slightly higher energy consumption and slightly higher Canadian standard freeness level.

Handsheets containing repulped liquid container board showed a significant improvement in the short compression test strength, an important mechanical paper property for the evaluation of cardboard box material.

Increasing the liquid containerboard fiber content resulted in increased brightness and color of the manufactured handsheets compared to old corrugated container fiber material with similar opacity levels.

It can be concluded that LCB fibers can be used as a valuable source of recycled fiber material with the potential to upgrade board paper products regarding mechanical and optical requirements if additional deflaking and refining processes are considered.