EVALUATION OF HIGHLY WEATHER-RESISTANT CORRUGATED FIBERBOARD

Abstract : The study was conducted to determine the physical properties of a new 'highly weather-resistant' single-wall corrugated fiberboard material as compared to grade V3c of Federal Specification PPP-F-320 and to evaluate its material performance and container performance under various environmental conditions and as containers in unit loads. The new fiberboard and the V3c control fiberboard were tested in accordance with American Society for Testing Materials standards or with the requirements of Federal Specifications, utilizing five various environmental conditions. Both materials were tested for ply separation, water absorption, scoreability and bending, bursting strength (wet and dry), and basis weight. Containers made of both materials were subjected to drop tests and compression tests after conditioning. Small size unit loads of both types of containers, sheathed and capped with V2s solid fiberboard, were given compression tests after environmental conditioning. It was found that the performance of the new material, because of the wet strength kraft used for the corrugating medium instead of virgin or reclaimed fiber corrugating medium, was superior to the V3c material in water absorption, wet Mullen, and in container drop tests after water spray conditions. The container drop tests performances after total immersion were very similar. The V3c containers slightly outperformed the new material containers in compression strength after long periods of storage at high temperatures and humidities; however, the new material showed durability under water spray and total immersion conditions.