Spheres and areas of application of cardboard. Where is cardboard used?
People once made book covers from this material, and today it is one of the most widely used types of packaging in the world. This article discusses cardboard and where it is used. At first glance, cardboard may not seem especially interesting, because we encounter it every day both at home and at work. Nevertheless, the spheres and areas of application of cardboard are extensive, and its classification is complex.
By area of application:
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By common grades and composition:
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Each type of cardboard has features related to raw material, density, thickness, coating and purpose. Therefore, requirements depend on whether the board has to protect a product, print well, withstand creasing or be suitable for contact with food. We will discuss this in more detail below.
Application of packaging cardboard
As the name suggests, packaging cardboard is used to produce containers and cardboard packaging. It must be sufficiently rigid, stable when creased and suitable for the specific product. A multilayer structure improves stiffness and makes it possible to combine different types of fibres, but barrier properties are usually provided not only by the board layers, but also by coating, lamination, polymer or other special layers. By raw material, packaging cardboard is often divided into virgin pulp board, mixed pulp board and recycled board.
- Virgin pulp packaging board is used for food products, confectionery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and perfume products, especially when raw material purity, appearance and print quality are important.
- Mixed pulp board, for example FBB, is used for folding cartons, frozen and chilled food packaging, sweets, cosmetics, medicines and everyday consumer goods.
- Recycled board, for example WLC, is suitable for many non-food products, footwear, toys, stationery and some food packaging when safety requirements are met and the necessary barrier layers are present.
There are also various grades of packaging board that differ in their properties. SUB is usually made from unbleached chemical pulp and is used for strong packaging, for example beverage carriers, household chemicals, frozen products, shoes and toys. FBB combines layers of chemical and mechanical pulp and is well suited to folding cartons with quality printing. WLC is made mainly from recycled fibre, so it is often chosen for mass packaging when requirements for direct food contact are covered by additional layers or liners.
Application of printing and design cardboard
The first thing to say is that printing cardboard differs significantly from packaging cardboard. It does not have to be as rigid and durable as packaging cardboard, because it is used for completely different purposes. Printing cardboard is used to produce various brochures, flyers, posters, folders, as well as wrapping paper for gifts.
Printing cardboard has certain features. For example, this type of cardboard must have a special top coated layer. This makes it possible to create high-quality printing on it. It should be noted that the coated layer may be double-sided. With such a layer, high-quality double-sided printing can be produced.
As for design cardboard, it appeared relatively recently. This type of cardboard is of high quality due to the use of expensive raw materials and new production technologies. It differs from other types of cardboard by its special print application and wide color range. It is used for expensive packaging and for producing catalogs, magazines and books.
Application of cardboard in construction
Cardboard is a versatile material. Its applications are not limited to packaging and printing. In construction, cardboard and paperboard products are used as protective and separating layers, temporary templates, concrete formwork tubes, honeycomb panels and elements of lightweight structures. Drywall should also be mentioned separately: its core is made of gypsum, while the outer layers are made of dense paperboard that holds the sheet shape and serves as a base for finishing.
Cardboard remains important because it is lightweight, easy to process, suitable for printing and often recyclable. At the same time, in some tasks it is replaced by polymer, composite or multilayer materials, especially when moisture resistance, tightness or long product storage is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is cardboard used most often?
Cardboard is most often used for packaging, printing, design products, protective inserts and some construction-related products. The specific board type is chosen by stiffness, thickness, fibre composition, print quality and food-contact requirements.
What is the difference between SUB, FBB and WLC?
SUB is usually made from unbleached chemical pulp and is used for strong packaging. FBB combines chemical and mechanical pulp layers and is suitable for folding cartons with good print quality. WLC is made mainly from recycled fibre and is often used for mass-market packaging.
Can any cardboard be used for food packaging?
No. Food packaging requires board that meets safety requirements and is suitable for the specific product. Some materials need barrier layers, liners or coatings, especially when the board is made from recycled fibre.