Multiple recycling of paperboard: Paperboard characteristics and maximum number of recycling cycles— Part I: Multiple recycling of corrugated base paper

Abstract

Paper for recycling is an important fiber source for the production of corrugated base paper. The change in production capacity toward more and more packaging papers affects the composition of paper for recycling and influences the paper quality. This research project investigated the influence of the multiple recycling of five different corrugated base papers (kraftliner, neutral sulfite semichemical [NSSC] fluting, corrugating medium, testliner 2, and testliner 3) on suspension and strength properties under laboratory conditions. The corrugated board base papers were repulped in a low consistency pulper and processed into Rapid-Köthen laboratory sheets. The sheets were then recycled up to 15 times in the same process. In each cycle, the suspension and the paper properties were recorded. In particular, the focus was on corrugated board-specific parameters, such as short-span compression test, ring crush test, corrugating medium test, and burst. The study results indicate how multiple recycling under laboratory conditions affects fiber and paper properties.