Abstract

Cyclic changes in temperature and humidity in real-life distribution environments decrease BCT and life-span of standard corrugated containers. As a result, BCT obtained from testing at standard TAPPI environment may be inadequate to protect the products inside from damages during real-life distribution. The corrugated containers users need to understand this concept in order to design a proper corrugated containers at a cost-efficient price that can retain BCT in these extreme temperature and humidity changes environments. Wax curtain coating is one of the most commonly used techniques to retain BCT of corrugated containers that are distributed in short-term high humidity environment, and usually found in the fresh produce, poultry and meat industries. In this study, standard and wax curtain coated corrugated containers were top-loaded with two different safety factors and conditioned in three different cyclic environments. Every 24 hours, moisture contents and heights of these loaded test containers were determined to investigate life-span and relationship between moisture content change and reduction in height. In addition, unloaded standard and wax curtain coated corrugated containers were conditioned in three different cyclic and constant environments. The reduction in BCT of these unloaded test containers in each cyclic and constant environment was investigated after the loaded test containers in that cyclic environment reached the critical deflection. The results of the experiment showed that there was a notable difference in reduction in BCT of the standard unloaded test containers after exposure to every cyclic and constant environments, but not of the wax curtain coated unloaded test containers. The life-span of loaded wax curtain coated test containers were also greater than of loaded standard test containers in every cyclic environment. The greater difference of temperature in cyclic environment resulted in greater moisture content change of corrugated material. Thus, both types of test containers experienced the greatest moisture content change in cyclic cold storage environment. However, due to its most severe temperature and relative humidity, cyclic tropical environment showed the greatest effect on reduction in BCT, reduction in height and life-span of both types of test containers.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Corrugated paperboard--Effect of environment on; Corrugated paperboard--Testing

Publication Date

1997

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

Mechanical Engineering (KGCOE)

Advisor

Jacobs, Deanna

Advisor/Committee Member

Goodwin, Daniel

Advisor/Committee Member

Proctor, Karen

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: TS1138 .S364 1997

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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