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Magazine articles
Evaluating hardness and the S-test, TAPPI Journal March 2019
ABSTRACT: The corrugated industry typically quantifies crush resistance using the Concora corrugated medium test (CMT) on fluted medium or flat crush on combined board. These tests compress the materials until the point of complete failure of the flutes. Combined board elastically resists crushing forces until a certain point, the hardness of the structure, while additional load causes permanent damage and deformation. This study investigates how hardness can be measured directly from a load curve collected during CMT (or flat crush) testing and how it varies throughout the North American paper supply. It also explores how hardness corre-lates with the values obtained from the newly developed S-test. This new test method deserves further study as a potentially more appropriate specification for crush resistance of corrugated medium.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Controllable anisotropic properties of wet-laid hydroentangled nonwovens, TAPPI Journal March 2019
ABSTRACT: For nonwovens, fiber orientation distribution is an important structural characteristic that directly influences the anisotropic properties of the materials. Different Vslurry/Vbelt ratios were adopted to fabricate nonwovens during the wet-laid process. The results indicated that fiber orientation distribution of nonwovens can be regulated by adopting different Vslurry/Vbelt ratios owing to the web-forming principle of wet-laid techniques. Mechanical tests showed that both wet and dry tensile strength of nonwovens in different angle directions present anisotropy under different Vslurry/Vbelt ratio parameters. A liquid spreading distribution experiment proved that liquid spreading length and area of nonwovens could be manipulated using different Vslurry/Vbelt ratios in the fabrication process. Therefore, specific anisotropic properties of wet-laid hydroentangled nonwovens can be realized by controlling the process parameters for particular end-use applications.
Journal articles
Hydrogen peroxide and caustic soda: Dancing with a dragon while bleaching, TAPPI JOURNAL July 2013
Authors: Peter W. Hart; Carl Houtman; and Kilby Hirth | ABSTRACT: When hydrogen peroxide is mixed with caustic soda, an auto-accelerating reaction can lead to generation of significant amounts of heat and oxygen. On the basis of experiments using typical pulp mill process concentration and temperatures, a relatively simple kinetic model has been developed. Evaluation of these model results reveals that hydrogen peroxide-caustic soda systems are extremely sensitive to hydrogen peroxide:caustic soda ratio, transition metal contamination, and temperature. Small changes in initial conditions can result in a closed system becoming explosive. Analysis of model results was used to develop guidelines for safer application of hydrogen peroxide in a mill setting.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Standards
On-machine visible dirt measurement on moving sheets and the relationships to standard laboratory methods, TAPPI Journal August 2020
ABSTRACT: There has been a proliferation of new sensors to measure on-machine dirt specks that employ different technologies and methodologies to perform measurements. The differences in the on-machine technologies are discussed in terms of the TAPPI and ISO standard laboratory test methods with respect to dirt detection using light reflected from, or light transmitted through, the sheet. Also discussed are the requirements for measuring sta-tistically representative areas of the sheet; the difference between the dirt physical size and Equivalent Black Area (EBA) size; and the implication of these issues when specifying cleanliness acceptance criteria.This technical brief describes on-machine visible dirt measurement’s relationship to standard laboratory testing.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Standards
Relating bending stiffness measurements across various free span lengths, TAPPI Journal August 2020
ABSTRACT: Bending stiffness should be an intrinsic property of a material, so it is puzzling that the TAPPI Standard Test Method T 836 “Bending stiffness, four point method” specifies span lengths when testing different types of corrugated fiberboard. These specified spans often limit the samples that can be measured with this method. To better understand the relationship between bending stiffness and span length, we performed measurements on a range of materials at different spans. The results provide a practical tool enabling comparison of bending stiffness measurements made at various span lengths. Additionally, this note discusses several areas that could serve as the foundation for more fundamental work exploring the bending behavior of corrugated board.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Improved deinking and stickies removal
Improved deinking and stickies removal, TAPPI JOURNAL November 2017
Journal articles
Editorial: Advancing barrier science and protective materials: The 2025 winners of TAPPI Journal Best Research Paper Award and Honghi Tran Prize, TAPPI Journal April 2026
At the end of each year, the TAPPI Journal Editorial Board Members nominate papers for consideration as recipient of the Best Research Paper and Honghi Tran Prize from that year, looking for outstanding contributions that push the science and engineering boundaries of fiber-based materials. For 2025, the Board nominated 10 papers and evaluated each nomination in terms of scientific merit, innovation, creativity, and clarity. After voting on the papers earlier this year, the Editorial Board chose two co-winning papers for this distinct honor.
Journal articles
Designing paper and board barrier constructions for food contact applications, TAPPI Journal November 2025
ABSTRACT: This study examines the effect of multiple factors on barrier performance for purpose-built paper and paperboard constructions produced on an industrial pilot coater machine. Impacts from precoat latex chemistry, application method (flooded nip with bevel blade, jet with bevel blade, and pre-metered film coater, laboratory rod drawdown) and precoating calendering were studied in relation to resulting porosity, roughness, and barrier (liquid water, moisture, and oil). Results reveal a complex interaction between controllable and uncontrollable factors, offering insight for designing advanced barrier coatings on cellulosic substrates.
Journal articles
Editorial: TAPPI Journal eBook version offers easy content, TAPPI Journal September 2025
Many readers of TAPPI Journal are familiar with accessing the PDF version of our published research papers, but not all are familiar with the availability and functionality of our eBook version. As opposed to the traditional PDF format, which is a static digital replica of the paper, the eBook version offers a range of additional benefits that make the content more dynamic, accessible, and user-friendly. In addition, you can more easily review all papers in a particular issue much as you could in a print version, as opposed to opening multiple PDFs. Below are some highlights on accessing and making the most of the eBook version.
Journal articles
Editorial: Design considerations for developing high-quality flexible packaging laminates, TAPPI Journal July 2025
ABSTRACT: The global flexible packaging industry has constantly evolved by developing new materials, film design, polymer processing techniques, and machinery to overcome challenges posed by consumer demands, regulation, and societal pressure. While achieving superior quality and improved mechanical film attributes has always been the cornerstone for new technical developments in this industry, the end-of life shortcoming for most plastic films has driven the value chain to strive harder to design and develop sustainable packaging structures.