Characteristics, properties, classification and types of cardboard

In everyday life, cardboard surrounds us everywhere. Most often, the association is formed with the packaging of food, toy, shoe, etc. But in fact, this material is used in industry, construction, design, printing and other industries. Kinds of a cardboard, its properties and spheres of application we will consider in detail.

Definition

The word cardboard has Italian roots and means "solid". In our country GOST R 53636-2009 "Cellulose, paper, cardboard. Terms and definitions ":" In general, the term "paper" can also be applied to the concept of "cardboard". The difference between paper and cardboard is primarily based on an estimate of their thickness or the mass of the area of 1 m ² , and in some cases also their purpose. " Raw materials for cardboard production are hard wood fibers. Thus, cardboard is the same paper, but has more weight and density. With such a fuzzy definition, the boundary of a clear definition disappears. In practice, high-strength paper, thickness and thin cardboard are found.

Features of the structure

All types of cardboard have one thing in common - multilayered. The outer layers (lower and upper) consist of pulp bleached or unbleached, wood pulp or waste paper, pre-bleached. And the internal filling is made from cheaper fillers: waste products, waste paper, unbleached waste paper. It should be noted that the lower and upper layers can be duplicated (be two- or three-layered). The cost of the material is determined by the raw materials and the required output characteristics. Based on several properties, a conditional classification of the material takes place.

Classification of cardboard

There are several options, including German and European. In our country you can find these:

• By the type of raw materials: cellulose (cardboard from primary raw materials), waste paper, kraft-cardboard.
• By the method of production: coated, uncoated, cast coating, chromenez, chromocarbon, duplexkarton, triplexarton, cellulose.
• On purpose: container, printing, filtering, for light industry, technical, construction.
• According to the all-Russian classification: packing, light and printing industry, technical for various purposes, construction, filtering, automotive, other.

The European classification has an alphabetic designation and separates the types of cardboard according to the mode of production. In any case, for each application, certain characteristics are required.

Properties

GOST R 53636-2009 gives a complete list of characteristics of cardboard and paper with references to regulatory documents. The main ones are the following:

• white;
• Moisture resistance;
• Humidity (presence of water in the material);
• durability;
• rigidity;
• Bending stiffness;
• Fat permeability;
• strength;
• the weight;
• Density, etc.

As you can see, in order to select certain types of cardboard for a particular field of application, consider a sufficiently large range of characteristics. Which ones? This will be discussed further.

Cardboard. Types and properties

Consider the main classification of raw materials in conjunction with the properties:

• Cellulose board. A distinctive feature: it produces high-quality printing. And since primary raw materials are used, the fields of application are food, light industry, and printing. Such products are distinguished by a sufficiently high price and good strength properties. Therefore, they are used for exclusive goods, printing and packaging.
• Recycled cardboard. Has less rigidity and low price. Can be used in various activities. When choosing a thicker version, you need to retain strength characteristics when the price of the material is reduced. It is often used for goods of mass demand. For food products, additional isolation of the product from contact with the packaging is required.
• Kraft-cardboard. Refers to pure cellulose production. Has high strength characteristics at a low price. A distinctive feature is the inside of the unbleached.

Special applications

Child creativity and design are two popular areas for using colored cardboard. And if before it was presented in the form of painted sheets, then for today the diversity can please the most inquisitive mind and imagination. What kinds of colored cardboard exist?

• Ordinary color. It is one-sided and two-sided. Usually used to create a background.
• With pictures. Typically, a color background is applied to repeated patterns, elements.
• Holographic. Unusual material, it expands the field of activity for both designers and children.
• Corrugated. It carries in itself the functions of color, and moreover is voluminous. This material is used not only for crafts, but also exclusive designer types of packaging, vintage items for interior decoration.

Types of cardboard for packaging

In this area it is worthwhile to dwell in more detail. Cardboard as a package firmly entered the life of man. Regardless, whether you visited a grocery store, a toy or home appliances, from everywhere you will pick up the purchase in a carton. The following types of packaging cardboard are distinguished: thin and corrugated cardboard. The second variant can be single-layered and multilayered. Depends on the number of corrugated cardboard layers. This is the most popular type of packaging material. As for thin cardboard, it has found its application in food packaging, exclusive perfumes, designer items, etc.

When choosing the packaging material, attention is paid to the following characteristics:

• rigidity;
• strength;
• Barrier properties;
• bulk;
• the weight;
• Raw materials.

The popularity of cardboard packaging is determined by its merits.

Benefits

The main advantages of a cardboard container include:

• Ecological compatibility. Use either wood fibers or waste paper. In the first case, hygiene is observed, in the second case, the forest is preserved due to recycling.
• Light weight, strength, stiffness. When compared with materials such as polymer boxes, metal boxes, cardboard wins in weight, which saves money on transportation.
• Convenience of storage. Many people use cardboard containers several times. And when they do not need it, lay out and get flat sheets that do not take up much space.
• Recycling. This material is unique in that it can be recycled or disposed of in a simple manner that does not harm the environment.
• Low price. Of course, the cost depends on the raw material base used in the production of cardboard. However, in comparison with other types of material, cardboard is of low value.
• A wide range of products makes it possible to carry out various types of carton boxes. This is a very small gift, and great for transporting furniture.

With such a list of advantages, of course, there are a couple of drawbacks: opacity; Is destroyed under the direct influence of moisture. The first problem is solved by the insertion of polymer films in the form of windows, the second - by special polymer coatings. Cardboard due to its unique properties and relatively low prices will always enjoy popularity. Another issue in the protection of nature. If there is only deforestation, then ecology will suffer.