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This paper introduces novel mathematical optimisation models for the 2-Dimensional guillotine Cutting Stock Problem with Variable-Sized Stock that appears in a Spanish company in the honeycomb cardboard industry. This problem mainly differs from the classical cutting stock problems in the stock, which is considered variable-sized, i.e. we have to decide the panel dimensions, width, and length. This approach is helpful in industries where the stock is produced simultaneously with the cutting process. The stock is then cut into smaller rectangular pieces that must meet the customers' requirements, such as the type of item, dimensions, demands, and technical specifications. Furthermore, in the problem tackled in this paper, the cuts are guillotine, performed side to side. The proposed mathematical models are validated using real data from the company, obtaining results that drastically reduce the produced material and leftovers, reducing operation times and economic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFood contact paperboard poses a potential risk of food contamination due to the possible release of chemicals (intentionally added or not), particularly in recycled paperboard. Water extractions were performed, according to wet food procedures, of paperboard samples collected from a manufacturer at the beginning and the end of a recycling production chain. Chemical analysis and hormonal activities in vitro of water extracts were studied. ICP–MS analysis confirmed the presence of 15 trace elements with lower concentrations after the recycling process, with the exception of chlorine. The chromatographic analyses demonstrated that the identified substances in the starting paperboard, before the recycling process, were approximately twice as high as in the end paperboard, after the recycling process. These substances included also natural wood products, chemical additives, and undesirable substances such as phthalates. Two major products (3,5-di-tert-butylphenol and methyl-2-pyrrolidone) were found in the starting and the end paperboard extracts, respectively. Two common substances were identified in both extracts: 2,4-di-tert-buthylphenol and dehydroabietic acid. Evaluation of potential endocrine disruption showed that the starting paperboard extract exhibited oestrogenic and antiandrogenic effects, while these effects nearly disappeared in the end paperboard extract. These results confirmed that the recycling process was effective in removing most of the contaminant substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe primary heat transfer source in the conventional multi-cylinder drying of paper and board is conduction. Conduction is facilitated by high-tension contact with steam-heated cylinders, while convective drying, the main mass transfer source, operates as heated air flows over the article web in the pockets. This conduction process occurs at elevated temperatures and contact pressures to ensure effective contact between the wet paper web and the heated cylinders. The contact pressures and temperatures of the hot surface significantly influence the conductive drying characteristics. This research paper presents an experimental study that involves designing a simple lab-scale setup with in-situ and continuous sensing capabilities for various commercially available grades of paper and board. Embedded thermocouples measure the temperatures of the heated platen and the sheet, allowing the collection of flux data to determine heat transfer characteristics. The goal of this study is to ascertain the instantaneous contact coefficients for different basis weights as a function of moisture content. The acquired data will provide valuable insights and information toward process development, design, and simulation of the article drying process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flexural vibration (FV), torsional vibration (TV), static torsion (ST), longitudinal vibration (OAV), and tension (OAT) of 45° off-axis tests of flat pieces of cardboards were analyzed to determine the in-plane shear modulus (IPSM) using samples of various widths. The analyses were performed with simulations using the finite element method (FEM) for models with and without lamination and physical experiments using cardboard samples. For the FV, TV, and ST tests, the IPSM was calculated using binary search (BS) and linear regression (LR). The FEM results suggest that the IPSM values obtained from the TV and ST test simulations were affected by lamination. In contrast, the effect of lamination was not clear in the FV, OAV, and OAT test simulations. The coefficient of variation obtained from the FV experiments was often larger than that obtained from other tests. Despite this variation, the FV test is more attractive than the other tests because the experiments could be performed easily, and the effect of lamination could be reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air cleaning reduces indoor exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during wildfire smoke events. However, resource and cost constraints may limit access to air cleaning during such an event, as both commercial devices and the higher-rated MERV filters that do-it-yourself (DIY) assemblies typically rely upon tend to be expensive and in short supply. With these constraints in mind, we developed and evaluated several configurations of a novel, DIY air cleaner that uses common household fabrics as filtration media. Clean air delivery rates (CADRs) of the devices were experimentally evaluated in two ways: first, with independent measurements of flowrates and single pass removal efficiencies, and second, via pull-down testing in a large chamber. With two layers of cotton batting fabric and a flowrate-increasing cardboard shroud attached, the device achieved particulate matter CADRs of 162, 134, and 206 m3/h in 0.02–0.3, 0.3–1, and 1–2.5 µm particle diameter bins, respectively, during chamber testing. Results indicate that these simple, inexpensive, fabric configurations can meaningfully reduce PM2.5 levels in smaller zones of a home, and thus represent a viable option for improving indoor air quality during rapid-onset air pollution events, such as wildfires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste fiber reinforced concrete is gaining recognition as a high‐performance construction material, offering notable load‐bearing capacity, corrosion resistance, and enhanced durability features. As the building and construction industry focuses on sustainable practices, fibers derived from waste materials create an opportunity to be utilized further in composite designs. This study explores the tensile, compressive, and flexural behaviors of cardboard fibers (kraft fibers) and textile polyester fibers in concrete materials. The composite microstructure is also investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to measure the bonding performance of the fibers within the cementitious matrix. Four mix designs were created using 2.5% textile fibers as a reinforcement agent and 5% silica fume modified kraft fibers (SFKFs) as a partial cement replacement. The combination of fibers achieved 44 MPa compressive strength, equaling the control. Tensile strength was enhanced by 5% when using the combination of the two fibers, achieving 3.58 MPa in comparison to 3.41 MPa. However, flexural strength was reduced among all fibrous concrete materials. SEM images distinguished the natural and synthetic characteristics associated with the two fibers within the cementitious matrix. Namely, demonstrating the chemical bonding of SFKFs in comparison with the physical bonding properties of the textile fibers. This study serves as a valuable resource for future investigations and the broader adoption of binary waste fiber composite designs in cementitious composite applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The packaging industry is undergoing a major turn in its history looking for biobased, recyclable and biodegradable alternatives to petrobased products. Cellulose based materials such as paper and board can be a good solution, however, they present poor barrier properties, which are mandatory for packaging applications. In this study, all cellulose packaging with good barrier properties to grease, oxygen, water and water vapour were produced combining two innovative technologies: the wet lamination of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and the chromatogeny grafting. First, a thin layer of MFC (10 to 25 g/m2) was applied on a board without the use of glue in one pass. The influence of the MFC grade on the minimum MFC coat-weight required to develop grease barrier properties was investigated. Secondly, the MFC wet laminated board was grafted by chromatogeny at pilot scale. The MFC covered produced samples present excellent grease barrier properties with an oil absorption lower than 2 g/m2 after 1800s (Cobb oil 1800s), a kit test of 12 and very good oxygen barrier properties. The chromatogeny grafting of fatty acids on the MFC hydroxyl groups confers barrier properties to water and water vapour to the MFC wet laminated board with a water vapour transmission rate around 36 g/(m2.d). Finally, the mechanical properties of the samples and the adhesion of the MFC layer on the board were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAmidst the dramatic expansion of online shopping, wasted cardboard packaging has become a significant challenge in modern-day society. In this paper, we propose an innovative approach to address the issue of box packaging waste by efficiently selecting an optimal cardboard box for a set of items. Employing depth vision and deep learning classification techniques, the proposed system analyzes depth images to compute an optimal cuboid for unpackaged items while accounting for fragility characteristics. The system, facilitated by two Intel RealSense RGB-D cameras, first captures the overhead and sideview images to determine the dimensions of an unknown object. Then, the developed vision system utilizes averaging and morphological opening filters to denoise the acquired images, calculates the difference between the background image and object image, and employs thresholding by Otsu’s algorithm to find the minimum cuboid of the irregular object. After, a two-step deep learning model is used to determine the general category and characteristics of an object, considering factors, such as fragility, that may necessitate wrapping or separate packaging. Finally, a modified largest area first fit algorithm uses the outputted dimensions for irregular-shaped objects and packaged objects to determine the optimal fitting box from the standard Amazon box catalog. The computer simulation shows that the proposed method can be implemented in a cardboard packaging warehouse for optimal box selection, effectively minimizing cardboard waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of paper and paperboard as fiber-based materials capable of replacing conventional polymer-based materials has been widely investigated and evaluated. Due to paper's limited extensibility and inherent heterogeneity, local structural variations lead to unpredictable local mechanical behavior and instability during processing, such as mechanical forming. To gain a deeper understanding of the impact of mechanical behavior and heterogeneity on the paper forming process, the Finite Element Method (FEM) coupled with continuum modeling is being explored as a potential approach to enhance comprehension. To achieve this goal, utilizing experimentally derived material parameters alongside stochastic finite element methods allows for more precise modeling of material behavior, considering the local material properties. This work first introduces the approach of modeling heterogeneity or local material structure within continuum models, such as the Stochastic Finite Element Method (SFEM). A fundamental challenge lies in accurately measuring these local material properties. Experimental investigations are being conducted to numerically simulate mechanical behavior. An overview is provided of experimental methods for material characterization, as found in literature, with a specific focus on measuring local mechanical material structure. By doing so, it enables the characterization of the global material structure and mechanical behavior of paper and paperboard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the influence of the layered structure of paper on its selected strength properties. Two types of cellulose pulp were used: unbleached kraft pine pulp (UBSK) and unrefined bleached birch kraft pulp (BHK). Multi-ply papers were obtained from layers of appropriate grammage formed separately and bonded in a wet state. Paper layers were formed from primary pulps (UBSK and BHK) or their mixtures (threeply UBSK-BHK paper and three-ply UBSK-BHK-UBSK paper), from which various variants of laboratory paper samples were made. This work focused on three-layer papers. The obtained laboratory sheets were analysed for changes in tear resistance, tensile strength, bursting strength, short span compression strength (SCT), and corrugating medium test (CMT). In most cases, three-layer structures were characterised by higher strength parameters than single-layer papers. The tear strength and SCT of papers consisting of three layers formed from both mixed pulps were slightly lower than those of solid papers. The results demonstrate the feasibility of producing three-ply paper with significantly reduced variability in parameters such as elongation and bursting strength, which are inherently subject to high variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces the results of an experiment on lighting perception and reading speed where data collected in a physical space is compared to that collected in representations of that space simulated through a web survey and three VR Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs). The results build on an experiment, where perceptions of electric lighting conditions in a physical space were compared to those of the same space simulated in a single VR HMD (HTC Vive Pro). This study extends the previous scope to compare three VR HMD groups (cardboard VR, Oculus Quest 2, and HTC Vive Pro) to ratings of the same lighting conditions viewed through 2D-perspective or immersive panoramic images displayed in a web survey. Past research has compared perceptions of daylight and electric lighting scenes between physical and VR environments, but there is a lack of research that compares ratings of lighting conditions between VR HMDs and to other conventional image formats. For the VR HMD groups, the results revealed significant differences in reading speed between the physical space and cardboard VR HMD groups. An analysis of our subjective ratings showed all three VR HMDs producing fewer significantly different ratings from the physical space than either of the web groups, but ratings in the panoramic group outperformed the 2D-perspective group. The findings suggest that the type of VR HMD impacts reading speed in virtual lighting scenes and more immersive images produce less error than 2D-perspective images when compared to ratings in a physical space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a report on the global prevalence of oral disorders and the importance of oral health for overall well-being. The report emphasizes the need for affordable and accessible oral health care, particularly for marginalized populations. The journal Oral from MDPI has published a special issue that covers a wide range of topics related to oral health, including disease mechanisms, diagnostic strategies, and the impact of systemic diseases on oral health. The articles in this special issue aim to improve patient outcomes and address the global burden of oral diseases. They cover subjects such as odontogenic keratocysts, intraoral sialadenoma papilliferum, medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw, primary failure of eruption, periodontitis and psoriasis, oral health in post-acute-COVID syndrome patients, oral complications of cancer patients undergoing immunotherapy, digital health technologies in oral and general healthcare, and photodynamic therapy for oral cancer. The articles highlight the importance of research in improving clinical practice and patient outcomes in oral health. The authors stress the need for continued investment in oral health research and collaboration among researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to address global health disparities and prioritize oral health as a fundamental component of overall well-being. [Extracted from the article]

The present work reveals the potential application of dialdehyde and carboxylated nanocellulose for the in-situ reduction of Ag+ and immobilization as silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on cellulose surfaces. Tollens' reagent (Ag(NH3)2OH) at concentrations ranging from 5·10–3 to 10–1 M was incorporated in both dialdehyde cellulose (DAC) and dialdehyde-modified TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers (DA-TOCNFs). The results showed that DA-TOCNFs facilitated faster reduction of Ag+ and effective immobilization of AgNPs on the nanocellulose surface. The resulting suspensions exhibited stability and demonstrated strong antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis when coated on paper surfaces. Importantly, the coated papers did not show significant silver migration to food simulants B (3 vol% acetic acid) and D1 (ethanol/water mixture, 50 vol%), indicating the potential of these suspensions for active food packaging. The advantages of using DA-TOCNFs over DAC were attributed to their higher cationic demand and ζ-potential, resulting in a higher density of binding sites. Moreover, the charged and entangled network of DA-TOCNFs allowed for the individualization of AgNPs, unlike DAC, where some agglomerations were observed. Overall, this study presents an improved single-step process for the synthesis of AgNPs on nanocellulose surfaces, highlighting their potential for safe and high-performance applications in food packaging. Paper sheets coated with nanocellulose/AgNPs suspensions fully inhibited the growth of B. subtilis, at least for one month after coating, and caused damage to their cell membranes. This research provides a one-pot facile route to fabricating hybrid nanocellulose/AgNPs systems, stable in water, and may be used directly as a coating layer for board and paper active packaging with little or even undetectable release of Ag. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recycling of wood processing waste generated at pulp and paper and woodworking enterprises by reusing it in obtaining a high-yield semi-finished product for the production of paper and cardboard has been studied. The economic and environmental feasibility of wood waste recovery is beyond doubt. The aim has been to develop technology and modes for recycling wood waste from the production of high-yield pulp (birch sawdust) and woodworking (coniferous and the mix of coniferous and deciduous chips). In the course of the study, high-yield pulp has been obtained from birch sawdust using continuous technology (at Perm Pulp and Paper Company) and batch technology (at most pulp and paper industry enterprises). Cooking of wood chips has been carried out only using batch technology. It is shown that the recycling of birch sawdust to produce a fibrous semi-finished product for use in the production of paper and cardboard solves an important economic problem of the pulp and paper industry, which is the need to reduce the consumption of pulpwood and preserve forest resources. The process of recycling wood waste does not require changes to current technology. This produces high-yield pulp, which in terms of quality is not inferior to a similar semi-finished product made from birch technological chips and meets the enterprise standards. It has been revealed that wood chips from coniferous and deciduous wood from woodworking enterprises can also be used as a raw material for the production of high-yield pulp, but only together with sawdust from birch wood. High-yield pulp from the chips of coniferous and the mix of coniferous and deciduous wood is obtained with increased yield, but with low mechanical strength, since the neutral-sulfite method is intended for the production of a fibrous semi-finished product only from deciduous wood; coniferous wood is not boiled using this method. High-yield pulp with quality indicators corresponding to the enterprise standards from technological chips is produced by the ratios of chips and sawdust of 50:50 and 70:30. The yield of the semi-finished product from the raw materials of all used compositions is high – 75…82 %. Tests of high-yield pulp obtained from birch sawdust have shown that the fibrous semi-finished product can replace 20 % of the MS-5B waste paper mass in production in the production of paper and cardboard compositions.

The purpose of the work is to study by experimental analysis and finite element methods the mechanical response of a packaging, consisting of a corrugated cardboard container, used for the transport of fruit and vegetables. During the container design, three different configurations were selected which differ both in the choice of liner and in the type of wave. In particular, the type E, F and N microwaves were chosen. They are characterized by a lower amplitude than the high and medium waves commonly used in corrugated cardboard packaging, making it possible to reduce material consumption and, consequently, costs. In the initial phase of the study, experimental tests were performed to evaluate the mechanical strength of the liners. In addition, edge compression tests (ECTs) were performed to determine the stacking resistance of the structure. The break‐in resistance of the structures was analysed using a test conducted according to an internal standard, called strength packaging test (SPT). Subsequently, a parametric study was set up with the finite element method for the simulation of the mechanical behaviour of the three structures, using the homogenization technique. The comparison between the maximum total deformations, measured experimentally and calculated numerically, has highlighted the need to introduce corrective coefficients to improve the homogenization of the wave structure. In this way, it was possible to improve the matching of the results obtained on the structures simulated by the homogenization technique and those obtained on the corresponding real structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling leather waste, which accumulates in large quantities in tanneries, and producing packaging paper with improved properties reduces the environmental burden and is at the same time economically efficient. A modified fibrous mass of waste from tanned and untanned leather scraps, waste paper, and acrylic emulsion was obtained and packaging paper based on them was produced. Alkaline modification of tanned leather waste - chrome shavings - leads to an increase in the electrokinetic potential and, accordingly, the stability of the fibrous suspension, partial hydrolysis of skin collagen occurs with the formation of new polar groups, and at the same time, the degree of cross-linking of the skin increases. In the paper composition, new intermolecular bonds are formed between cellulose and skin collagen. The microstructure, elemental composition, morphology, thermal and physical-mechanical properties of modified chrome shavings and composite paper were determined. A significant improvement has been achieved in the main parameters of paper: surface density (decrease by 16-25%), breaking load and breaking length (increase by 15-23%), number of double bends (increase by 2-6 times) in comparison with paper obtained from pure waste paper, and also to a greater extent compared to paper obtained from unmodified leather waste.

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A significant amount of paper residue has continuously been discarded worldwide. This rsidue encompasses a high-cellulose content that can be converted into value-added chemicals. Hydrolysis can be applied as an effective method to produce chemicals from lignocellulosic materials. This work presents a study on biomass waste valorization that uses acid hydrolysis to convert the cellulose residue into raw materials. Commercial cardboard waste was used as a lignocellulosic material source to produce fermentable sugar. The original material was crushed to about 1 mm pieces before being submitted to the hydrolysis reaction. It was found 4.8 mg of calcium ion (Ca2+) per gram of cardboard by means of a complexometric method using direct titration. The calcium ion acted as an inhibitor for the action of yeasts during the fermentation process, and then Ca2+ ions were removed by calcium sulfate decantation. A low-cost ionic liquid (n-butylammonium acetate) was used to enhance the hydrolysis reactional media. The fermentable sugar was obtained by two-step cellulose hydrolysis. Sugar content was assessed by both the Fehling test and the 3,5-dinitro-salicylic acid (DNS) method. Without ionic liquid, the maximum sugar concentration was 6.09 and 0.85 g/L, respectively, to 10% and 35% sulfuric acid concentrations. In the presence of ionic liquid, the corresponding sugar concentrations were 6.56 and 5.68 g/L. The whole reaction conversion achieved 30%, which must be considered significant for cellulose encompassed in the cardboard waste. The high amount of sugar obtained by acid hydrolysis of cardboard waste using ionic liquid points to a proper recovery and discarding for cardboard waste. Results show paper residues as an alternative source to sugar production, which is feasible to be converted into bioenergy and biofuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to measure the impact of pre-sales services in their dimensions (initial response to customer requirements, design and pricing completion, production scheduling and shipping, pre-sales customer communication) on enhancing the customer experience in packaging companies in the corrugated cardboard sector in Saudi Arabia. The study relied on the descriptive analytical method, and an questionnaire was used to measure the study variables, distributed to a sample of customers of packaging companies in the corrugated cardboard sector in Saudi Arabia. Due to the difficulty of conducting a comprehensive census of all members of the study community, the study used a simple random sampling method, with a total of 384 respondents who answered the questionnaire. The study found several results, the most prominent of which was the statistically significant positive impact of pre-sales services dimensions on enhancing the customer experience in packaging companies in the corrugated cardboard sector in Saudi Arabia. The study recommended the necessity of providing training courses for the work team to enhance their understanding of customer needs and improve their communication skills before starting the sales process. These courses may include simulating real-life scenarios and workshops to enhance communication and understanding of needs, as well as regularly updating and revising product design and pricing processes to ensure their alignment with customer expectations and market developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health-beneficial emergency bedding has become increasingly important for dealing with natural disasters such as the anticipated Nankai Trough earthquake in Japan. When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred, cardboard beds were provided to evacuees. However, there were concerns about lower back pain and sleep disturbances, as cardboard beds offer insufficient pressure distribution. This study aimed to compare the effects of cardboard beds with those of foldable camp cots on sleep quality. Methods: A randomized controlled crossover study involving 20 healthy participants aged 18–45 years was conducted between June 2022 and January 2023. Participants were asked to sleep for one night on a camp cot and for another night on a cardboard bed, with a minimum three-day washout period between the two nights. Body pressure distribution and sleep metrics obtained from polysomnography (PSG) and questionnaires were compared between the two-bed types (P < 0.05). Results: The camp cot exhibited better body pressure distribution than a cardboard bed, leading to improved sleep satisfaction, bedding comfort, and reduced morning sleepiness. Nevertheless, polysomnography revealed no notable differences in sleep metrics or sleep architecture between the two types of beds. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that cardboard beds have lower pressure dispersion capabilities than camp cots, leading to an increased number of position changes during sleep. Additionally, subjective sleep quality, such as alertness on waking, sleep comfort, and sleep satisfaction, was lower for cardboard beds, suggesting that camp cots might offer a more comfortable bedding option for evacuees. However, there were no discernible differences between the two-bed types in terms of objective sleep metrics derived from PSG. The potential for sleep disturbances caused by lower back pain from a hard mattress has been noted, and it is possible that a single night's experience in healthy individuals might not be enough for sleep issues to manifest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The building and construction industry heavily relies on the use of concrete and cementitious composites due to their exceptional attributes, including strength and durability. However, the extensive use of these materials has led to significant environmental challenges, including resource depletion, carbon emissions, and waste accumulation. In response to these challenges, recent advancements in fibre cementitious composites have shown promise in mitigating these detrimental effects. The integration of waste materials to supplement manufactured fibres represents a promising development in reinforced concrete composite materials. Waste materials like textiles and cardboard are emerging as potential fibre supplements in cementitious composites. While these materials have primarily been investigated for their mechanical characteristics, understanding their thermal properties when applied in construction materials is equally crucial. Incorporating fibres within composite designs often requires matrix modification to reduce degradation and enhance fibre longevity. This study aims to investigate the thermo-phase change properties of both textile and cardboard fibres within varied concrete matrices. Additive materials offer a range of advantages and challenges when used in composite materials, with additional complexities arising when incorporating fibre materials. Understanding the thermal reactivity of these materials is crucial for optimizing their application in construction. This study demonstrates the potential of waste fibres used with gypsum, metakaolin, and silica fume as matrix modifiers in concrete. This research provides valuable insights for future studies to explore specific material combinations and investigate complex fire testing methods, ultimately contributing to the development of sustainable construction materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coatings industry is aiming to replace petrochemical-based binders in products such as paints and lacquers with bio-based alternatives. Native polysaccharide additives are already used, especially as adhesives, and here we show the use of oxidised dextran as a bio-based binder additive. Linear dextran with a molecular weight of 6 kDa was aerobically oxidised in water at the C3-position of its glucose units, catalysed by [(neocuproine)PdOAc]2(OTf)2. The resulting keto-dextran with different oxidation degrees was studied using adipic dihydrazide as a crosslinker in combination with the commercial petrochemicalbased binder Joncryl®. Coating experiments show that part of the Joncryl® can be replaced by ketodextran while maintaining the desired performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest to reduce global plastic consumption has led to the emergence of biodegradable fiber-based composites as a promising sustainable replacement to conventional plastics in the food packaging industry. As the packaging sector is shifting more towards fiber-centric materials, thermoforming techniques for the 3D forming of the fiber-based materials, especially using complex mold designs, should be thoroughly researched to replace the conventional plastics in the industry. Finite element analysis of the deformation behavior of the paperboard during the thermoforming process and the factors that trigger the fracture of the composite layers were studied in the present work. The results show that 90° fiber orientation, 0.3 mm sheet thicknesses, and specific mold geometries can result in better forming results, thereby maximizing the potential of fiberbased materials in thermoforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-use plastic foams are used extensively as interior packaging to insulate and protect items during shipment but have come under increasing scrutiny due to the volume sent to landfills and their negative impact on the environment. Insulative compression molded cellulose fiber foams could be a viable alternative, but they do not have the mechanical strength of plastic foams. To address this issue, a novel approach was used that combined the insulative properties of cellulose fiber foams, a binder (starch), and three different reinforcing paperboard elements (angular, cylindrical, and grid) to make low-density foam composites with excellent mechanical strength. Compression molded foams and composites had a consistent thickness and a smooth, flat finish. Respirometry tests showed the fiber foams mineralized in the range of 37 to 49% over a 46 d testing period. All of the samples had relatively low density (Dd) and thermal conductivity (TC). The Dd of samples ranged from 33.1 to 64.9 kg/m3, and TC ranged from 0.039 to 0.049 W/mk. The addition of starch to the fiber foam (FF+S) and composites not only increased Dd, drying time (Td), and TC by an average of 18%, 55%, and 5.5%, respectively, but also dramatically increased the mechanical strength. The FF+S foam and paperboard composites had 240% and 350% higher average flexural strength (σfM) and modulus (Ef), respectively, than the FF-S composites. The FF-S grid composite and all the FF+S foam and composite samples had equal or higher σfM than EPS foam. Additionally, FF+S foam and paperboard composites had 187% and 354% higher average compression strength (CS) and modulus (Ec), respectively, than the FF-S foam and composites. All the paperboard composites for both FF+S and FF-S samples had comparable or higher CS, but only the FF+S cylinder and grid samples had greater toughness (Ωc) than EPS foam. Fiber foams and foam composites are compatible with existing paper recycling streams and show promise as a biodegradable, insulative alternative to EPS foam internal packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The high costs of environmentally responsible and socially just approaches are some of the factors that hinder the implementation of sustainable projects in the industrial sector. However, upstream collaborative integration in the corrugated cardboard industry in southeastern Brazil is a reality. In this context, this study aimed to highlight the structure of a collaborative sustainable project in the context of the corrugated cardboard industry, to analyze ESG risk management in the corrugated cardboard industry in the Southeast Region of Brazil, the relationship between ESG risk management and social responsibility in corrugated cardboard industries, the strengths and weaknesses of risk management models in use by the consulted participants, and to propose innovations regarding risk analysis, applicable in sustainable projects with a collaborative bias. The methodology adopted was the case study, with consultation with managers in professional activity in the industrial sector, corroborated by document analysis and systematic review of the literature. We identified preliminary risk analysis (PRA) and failure mode analysis (FMEA) as key practices used by managers in the corrugated paper industry in the region. These practices are insufficient in the convergence of objectives, engagement with the community, and extension of the lifecycle of products and processes. Our findings show that the sustainability of a project may be an extension of the risk analyses carried out in the initial phase, mainly about strategic decision-making and the operationalization of investments. Without bias to the need for risk analysis, the life cycle analysis is also an effective way of highlighting the critical factors, weaknesses, and strengths of a sustainable project. The study indicates the so-called GUT matrix approach (gravity – urgency – tendency) as the most suitable for innovation in risk analyses oriented towards sustainable projects in the analyzed sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, with the development of DC transmission projects in China, the number of converter stations has increased. Fire accidents in converter stations have also become more frequent. Transformer insulating paperboard, as a typical combustible material in converter station equipment, poses a greater fire risk. So in this paper, flame spreading behaviors, including experimental visual characteristics, fire spreading rate, mass loss with time and mass loss rate, of transformer insulating paperboard with different thickness and different inclined angles are investigated. The results show that: (1) In downwards flame spread, that is, in the case of positive angle, the flame height and width gradually decrease with the increase of angle; in the case of negatively inclined angles, the flame length shows an increasing trend with the decrease of inclined angles, and the flame thickness gradually becomes thinner. (2) In upwards flame spread, that is, in the case of negative angle, the fire spreading rate of the insulating paperboard decreases sharply with the increase of the angle; In the case of a positively inclined angle, the change of flame spreading rate is not obvious with the increase of inclined angles as compared with the conditions in negative angles. The paperboard thickness also has a significant impact on the flame spreading rate, and the flame spreading rate will decrease significantly with the increase of paperboard thickness. (3) In upwards flame spread, the mass loss rate of insulating paperboard will decrease significantly with the increase of inclined angles; in downwards flame spread, the change of mass loss rate is not obvious with the increase of inclined angles as compared with those in condition of negative angles. At the same time, the mass loss rate will increase significantly with the increase of paperboard thickness. (4) The mass loss rate and fire spread rate of the insulating paperboard have a strong correlation with the flame length and the length of the pyrolysis zone. A heat transfer process model about characteristic length scale and mass loss rate is established. In order to simplify the model, a dimensionless relation about angle is defined to replace the feature length and to explore the relationship between angle and mass loss rate. Based on the inherent relationship between fire spread rate and mass loss rate, the relationship between fire spread rate and angle is found. And the result shows satisfactory agreement between the predictions and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A control problem for the heating of moist paperboard with the evaporation of moisture from the inner pore surface is considered. The microstructure of the paperboard is known from the CT images. It is easily parametrized w.r.t. the volume fraction of the pores, the surface area of the pores related to the unit volume, averaged area of the contact surfaces between two fibers and the unsupported fiber length between two contact nodes, fiber thickness, and tortuosity. Simple averaging formulas are provided for the computation of the effective coefficients in the coupled diffusion‐heat problem and the dissipation energetic balance was analyzed and we pass to the limit w.r.t. the small parameter, the relation between the pore size and the paper‐board thickness. The limit model is similar to those models, recently available in the literature. However, it provides more understanding and different limiting models and the thresholds for them. Also, the limitation on the heating is derived from the solvability criteria, which means, that the evaporation should not overtake the heating. The model is validated by experimental and numerical results found in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the biggest challenges facing a designer of paper structures is its low resistance to moisture and water. Paper is a hydrophilic material that absorbs moisture from the outside. This causes the hydrogen bonds between the cellulose molecules to loosen and as a result a rapid decrease in strength parameters. In order to be able to use paper as a construction material, there is a need to select and evaluate the effectiveness of the appropriate impregnant, as well as to know its impact on the mechanical properties of the impregnated paper. The paper analyzes the effect of the use of various impregnations, including wood oil, yacht lacquer, and fire-retardant agent impregnation, on the tensile strength of several types of cellulose-derived materials, e.g. corrugated board, solid board, paper cores, and honeycomb board. The effectiveness of the impregnation was also assessed using the method of measuring the contact angle of the reference and impregnated surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, different food‐contact experimental and commercial aqueous polymeric dispersions were applied to paperboard via rod coating technology to achieve <5% non‐cellulosic content. Barrier (water, moisture and grease), mechanical (tensile and bending) and converting (heat‐sealing and creasing) properties were analysed before tray formation trials on pilot‐scale equipment. Dispersion‐coated samples were compared against polyethylene terephthalate (PET) extrusion‐coated paperboard, the principal industrial material used for food trays. Results show that, within the investigated properties, waterborne dispersions can achieve similar barrier properties compared with PET, yet at lower dry coat grammage (12 g/m2 vs. 40 g/m2 of PET‐coated paperboard). Additionally, the investigated coatings heat‐sealed at temperatures as low as 80–90°C, almost 100°C less than PET; however, lower seal forces could be achieved (15–20 N/(25 mm) vs. 23 N/(25 mm) of PET‐coated paperboard). Paperboard delamination occurred at the highest seal forces. Dispersion‐coated trays were obtained at 4.5–5.0% blank moisture content. Formed trays at industrial processing parameters showed critical coating damage during converting due to tensile stresses. This work shows that milder processing conditions allow a reduction in coat defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to plan and evaluate the cost of the logistics in manufacturing tetra duplex board using prime grade and recycled materials. The real-world data for this study is obtained from one of the largest paper and board industries in Asia. The bi-objective problem is formulated by developing a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model considering the constraints related to raw material supplies, processing, and storage. The metaheuristic optimization techniques are applied based on the concept of epsilon dominance to balance the conflicting objectives to counter the complex problem in the real world of transportation for the ease of the decision-makers to make the best-informed decisions in the selection of raw material. The investigation results indicate that the cost of prime-grade material in the tetra duplex board supply chain is 71 percent higher than recycled fiber. Furthermore, this study can be extended by evaluating the environmental aspects of prime and recycled-grade transportation. Moreover, the logistics of the prime grade can further be narrowed down by investigating it in various modes of transportation such as highways, waterways, rail, and air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented in this paper was undertaken in response to two instances of unexpected blade breakage in the cutting blade used in a Carton Wrap machine (CW). Failure of the Al7075 alloy blade occurred at an indentation during typical operational loading conditions. Subsequent metallographic examinations of the fractured samples confirmed that both cases were attributed to fatigue failure. The main objective of this study is to investigate potential causes of fatigue failure in the CW blade using simplified linear elastic static numerical simulations through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). In this research, we employed the well-established Theory of Critical Distance (TCD), and this case study provided a contextualization at an industrial level. Furthermore, the analysis focused on a second key aspect: proposing a new blade geometry aimed at mitigating the identified issues and eliminating possible causes of failure. In this context, the actual stress concentration at the indentation was determined using the TCD with Line Method (LM). The results from the numerical simulations indicated that the new blade geometry significantly reduced stress concentration, resulting in a risk factor reduction of approximately four compared to the original blade design, even under non-optimal operating conditions. Overall, in conjunction with simple linear static FEA, the proposed numerical approach provided substantial support for designers, especially in fault analysis and when comparing different industrial solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible coatings and active packaging have become more prevalent in response to changing consumption patterns and market trends to enhance the quality and safety of fresh products. In this work, we investigated the effect of aloe vera gel (AVG) coating and paraffin wax-coated paperboard (PWB) packaging on the postharvest quality attributes of both grapes and apples during storage. The fruits were coated with 50% AVG concentrations, and the inner wall of the corrugated paperboard was coated with paraffin wax emulsion. The grapes and apples were stored for 12 and 35 days, respectively, at ambient conditions (25 ± 3°C and 80–85% relative humidity). The physicochemical properties, microbiological attributes, and decay incidence of the fruits were analyzed at intervals during storage. Both fruits treated with AVG and PWB packaging retained better qualities than the control at the final day of the storage period. Particularly, PWB packaging provided considerably superior quality from the control sample in terms of weight loss (≈54% and 32%), firmness (≈48% and 68%), and color difference (≈30% and 28%) for both grapes and apples. These findings would introduce a novel approach for preserving the quality attributes of both climacteric and nonclimacteric fruits for a prolonged storage period at ambient temperature by PWB packaging and AVG coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents continued considerations presented in a prior publication on the development of a model for calculating the bending stiffness BS of cellular honeycomb paperboards, applying the strength properties of paper raw materials used for the production of paperboard and the geometric parameters of cellular board. The results of BS calculations obtained by using the analytical model presented in the prior publication were significantly overestimated in relation to the value obtained by measurements. The calculation error in relation to the measurement value for the tested group of paperboards in the case of bending stiffness in the machine direction MD was within the range from 23% to 116%, and the average error was 65%, while in the cross direction CD, it was within the range from 2% to 54%, and the average error was 31%. The calculation model proposed in this work based on the physical properties of cellular paperboard reduces the error values for bending stiffness in both the machine and cross directions. The value of the average error for both main directions in the paperboard plane was 10%. The method enables more accurate determination of BS in the machine direction MD and in the cross direction CD at the paperboard design stage. In order to validate the proposed analytical model, the calculation results were compared with the results of BS laboratory measurements performed using the four-point bending method and, in order to expand the group of tested paperboards, with the measurement results presented in the prior article for cardboards with different raw material composition and different geometric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Paperboard boxes represent a sought-after class of packaging products, where the use of recycled fibers offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to virgin fibers. The presence of a significant proportion of recycled fibers in the paperboard leads to a number of limitations associated with the deterioration of its characteristics. In this study, the properties of coated and uncoated paperboards containing recycled fibers, wood pulp, and virgin cellulose fibers were investigated using a laboratory sample of paperboard produced from 100% recycled fibers without any chemical additives for comparison. Properties such as smoothness, bulk density, absorbency, and tensile strength, as well as colorimetric characteristics, were determined for the recycled paperboards; for the latter test, charts were printed using inkjet printing and UV-curable inks. Whiteness was calculated by three formulae (CIE, Berger, and Stensby), and all the paperboards had a relatively low whiteness (not exceeding 90 CIE), with a yellowish tint due to recycled fibers and mechanical pulp in the composition. The absence of optical brightening agents in the paperboards was experimentally confirmed. The color gamuts of the paperboards were in direct ratio to their whiteness, with the highest ones demonstrated by the coated paperboards. Color reproduction, according to the tone value increase curves, also depended on the whiteness. Uncoated paperboards demonstrated smaller color shifts than the coated ones, with the greatest increase in tone for yellow color. Coated recycled paperboards are suitable for packaging printing under the same conditions as virgin fiber boards, while uncoated boards are the recommended choice for digital printing with UV inks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An optimised method was established for the determination of four chloropropanols in paper straws, namely 1,3-dichloropropan-2-ol(1,3-DCP), 2,3-dichloropropan-1-ol (2,3-DCP), 3-monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) and 2-monochloropropane-1,3-diol (2-MCPD). After extraction with a food simulant, purification with matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD), and derivatisation using heptafluorobutyrylimidazole (HFBI), the chloropropanols were analysed by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), and quantified with a deuterated internal standard. Under the optimised conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.200 µg/L for the four target compounds. The recoveries were in the range of 71.4% – 119.4% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.4% – 9.9%. The method fulfilled the requirements of the European regulations for the quantification of 3-MCPD and 1,3-DCP. Fifteen paperboard straws were tested using the proposed method. The results showed that 1,3-DCP and 3-MCPD exhibited the highest detection rate among the four chloropropanols tested (93.3%). the method can be used to detect chloropropanol contamination in paperboard products, and further to guide food manufacturers to reduce the levels of chloropropanols in paperboard food contact materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in various branches of engineering. In this article, artificial neural networks are used to predict the crush resistance of corrugated packaging. Among the analysed packages were boxes with ventilation openings, packages with perforations and typical flap boxes, which make the proposed estimation method very universal. Typical shallow feedforward networks were used, which are perfect for regression problems, mainly when the set of input and output parameters is small, so no complicated architecture or advanced learning techniques are required. The input parameters of the neural networks are selected so as to take into account not only the material used for the production of the packaging but also the dimensions of the box and the impact of ventilation holes and perforations on the load capacity of individual walls of the packaging. In order to maximize the effectiveness of neural network training process, the group of input parameters was changed so as to eliminate those to which the sensitivity of the model was the lowest. This allowed the selection of the optimal configuration of training pairs for which the estimation error was on the acceptable level. Finally, models of neural networks were selected, for which the training and testing error did not exceed 10%. The demonstrated effectiveness allows us to conclude that the proposed set of universal input parameters is suitable for efficient training of a single neural network model capable of predicting the compressive strength of various types of corrugated packaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is an automated system for controlling the bending mechanisms of the folding-gluing line for cardboard packaging products. In the work, the ways of optimization and the development of an automated control system for the bending mechanisms of the folding and gluing line, which makes it possible to fold various structures and standard sizes of cardboard boxes using modern automation tools based on programmable logic controllers, were carried out in the work. A mathematical model has been proposed to describe operations on the folding-gluing line. Based on the model, a methodology has been developed for calculating the parameters of the automated control system for the box folding production line, depending on the technical parameters of the line and the parameters of the boxes to be bent. This will make it possible to choose optimal technological modes of the production process and obtain high quality parameters of cardboard packaging products. To verify the mathematical model of the production line, software has been developed in the Delphi development environment, which was applied with the developed automated production process control system based on a programmable logic controller (PLC) and an operator panel. This produced a number of results, in particular, controlling the speed of the hook bend in proportion to the speed of the line. And also provided an opportunity to increase line speed and, accordingly, production productivity. It has been possible to change the mutual location of system elements, which made it possible to reduce the distance between workpieces and increase the capacity of the line tape by 30 %. The obtained research results were implemented at the production enterprise of typographic products «Dinas» (Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine), which contributed to the improvement and optimization of production processes. Conducting further research will provide an opportunity to expand the proposed methodology for use on all types of folding and gluing lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a numerical investigation was conducted on a verified packaging model, which sticks out beyond the pallet base area, which will evidently weaken its load-bearing capacity. This could lead to damage of the protected goods transported within this packaging. It might also result in the unnecessary overengineered design of the packaging, particularly when the potential for overhanging is anticipated beforehand, but its exact extent is not known. The article analyzed hundreds of cases, varying in terms of packaging dimensions (from 150 mm up to 600 mm), the extent of protrusion beyond the edge of the pallet (from 1% to 50% of box dimensions) and the use of various corrugated boards (B-, C-, EB- and BC-flute), in order to assess the decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the packaging compared to reference packaging, which was not overhanging on a pallet. For instance, it appeared that the decrease in the load-bearing capacity of the packaging when overhanging was insensitive to the corrugated cardboard material used. Additionally, the decrease in box strength was rapid while overhanging, even for a small value of overhanging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]