There are many different types of cardboard on the market. Thus, cardboard is a very versatile material with different thicknesses, shapes, and forms. The most common use for cardboard is in packaging and shipment.
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This guide presents information on the different types of cardboard packaging. Let&#;s start by looking at what exactly corrugated cardboard is and what it is made out of, including what they&#;re typically used for.
Are you looking for more information on different types of cardboard packaging material? Check out our guide about types of shredded cardboard.
Corrugated cardboard, also known as corrugated fiberboard, is a typically cardboard for packaging situations such as moving house or packaging products. It is made of kraft paper and can be re-used.
Watch this YouTube video to see the step-by-step process of how corrugated boxes are made.
We have listed below several different kinds of cardboard packaging, depending on your needs and requirements:
1.
Corrugated fiberboard is the most common type of cardboard and is characterized by its flute profiles. It is made from three different elements:
A wavy, fluted corrugation layer between two other flat layers of cardboard. This type of packaging is used for shipping goods and has quite a high-strength-to-weight ratio, depending on the level of protection you required.
Also, corrugated fiberboard sizes are commonly represented by letters of A, B, C, E or F. The width and frequency of the waves in the fluted layer in the middle determine the size.
2.
Single-face-board looks like corrugated fiberboard, except it doesn&#;t have the second section on the other side of the flute layers. This type of packing is often used to segregate items in a single box so that they don&#;t get broken during transit.
3.
This type of packing is a typical corrugated cardboard and features paperboard on both sides of the fluting to guarantee protection against impact that aren&#;t too delicate. Single-wall board is commonly used in boxes.
4.
The double-wall board adds an extra layer of fluting in between the two outermost layers. This type of packing offers extra protection for whatever goods are stored inside and are more resistant to bending.
5.
The triple-wall board are very strong boxes and is ideal for heavy objects like automotive parts or major appliances. This cardboard contains 3 layers of fluting in between the two outside walls.
But there are even more cardboard with more layers, such as four, five, or more layers of fluting between the two outside walls. Thus, these more-walls are very uncommon and would only be used in rare instances.
6.
Honeycomb cardboard is a less commonly used type of cardboard packing. It consists of several layers of corrugation, which make up the length of the piece. This type of packing material helps to fill empty spaces for the packaging or transportation of any type of product.
7.
Paperboard is an extremely thin form of cardboard that is utilized for toilet paper rolls and cereal boxes. Thus, it is also known by the name chipboard or carton and is less durable than corrugated fiberboard. Also, paperboard is used for lighter items or non-load-bearing applications.
8.
Both types are made of recycled paper materials. Grey paperboard is used for packaging purposes and grey cardboard can be found in different industries, including bookbinding and packaging products. The difference between these two is the thickness.
9.
Matboard is a heavy paper-based material and can be found in picture frames to protect artwork or photography. It comes in several different types of matboard such as a standard matboard, black core, white core and color core matboard, and conservation board.
The main difference between corrugated cardboard and the non-corrugated cardboard is the structure. Corrugated fiberboard is normally made up of more layers rather than just a single sheet.
Other differences:
Read here the 10 advantages of corrugated board that the German association of Corrugated Board Makers has summarized.
Short answer: Yes, most of the corrugated cardboard. We say most because it also depends on the condition and if there are chemical substances.
The Packaging Company shared their knowledge when it comes to recyclability of corrugated cardboard in different situations.
As we know, corrugated cardboards are popular and are used as packaging material. With that being said, these industries are using corrugated fiberboards:
More detail can be read here.
What can your business do to improve the reduction, reuse, and recycling of cardboard? Read our Cardboard Recycling Guide.
There are many different types of cardboard on the market, owing to the variety of ways that we can use it in everyday life.
With different thicknesses, shapes and forms, cardboard can be an incredibly strong yet lightweight material and even have solid thermodynamic properties.
This article will look at the most common types of cardboard used in the packaging industry and explain why they're so relied upon.
Let's start by looking at what exactly cardboard is made out of.
Types of Paper
Before diving into the various cardboard types, it's essential to know what types of paper or paper pulp are used to make cardboard. These types of paper create different cardboard properties and dictate how we can use the cardboard.
Even with its various uses, there are only really two 'types' of paper used to make cardboard: Kraft and Test liners.
Kraft paper is generally made with virgin softwood trees like pine, spruce and fir.
Virgin means that the fibres in the paper pulp are fresh and haven't been recycled from something else.
The virgin nature of these wood fibres as well as the manufacturing process it requires makes Kraft paper incredibly strong and the easiest type of cardboard to print on.
These reasons make kraft paper the most common type of paper used on cardboard surfaces that will be printed and parts that require structural integrity.
The name 'test' paper doesn't do it justice. It simply means that it's paper that's recycled.
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However, as the wood fibres have been damaged in turning it from another paper product into a pulp and then back into cardboard, it's not as strong or easy to print on.
This makes it less costly but sees it primarily used on surfaces that won't be seen.
Both Kraft and test liners are usually made of two laminated layers.
The base layer is used for strength, with the cover layer being of better quality, used for printing and visual appeal.
Test and Kraft liners are the most popular and widely used forms of liners, but others can be used for base and cover layers.
These include variants that sacrifice visual appeal for strength, are bleached white or made from more or less recycled content.
Cardboard types & material construction
Now it's time to look at how cardboard is formed - more specifically, corrugated cardboard, the most common type of cardboard.
In the simplest terms, corrugated cardboard is made from three different elements - a wavy/fluted/corrugated sheet of cardboard between two other flat layers of cardboard.
Each side of the fluted cardboard is glued and attached to the flat layers, and it's the fluted layer that gives corrugated cardboard its strength.
Weights & thicknesses (GSM)
Next in line is how thick these papers are, as it's evident that the paper thickness has a significant impact on the strength of the cardboard.
The Grams per Square Meter (GSM) measurement is the standard way of explaining how thick and heavy the paper is.
You often see cardboard grammage explained like '135/155K'. This means that the inner liner is 135 GSM and the outer liner is 155GSM, with the K on the end indicating a kraft liner.
Wall Types
Wall types are important when you're talking about the types of cardboard used in packaging - and if you're paying such close attention to cardboard, you've probably got some vested interest in packaging!
When the two flat surfaces and the fluted layer of cardboard all combine to create a box, this is generally called a 'single-walled' box because there's a single wall of cardboard.
Below is a 'single wall'
However, you can add another fluting layer and another liner to this existing wall and create a double-walled box.
This type of packaging is a go-to solution for large or heavy items or even delicate items that need extra protection during the shipping process.
Below you can see EB fluted cardboard stack on top of each other.
Automotive and industrial parts that are even heavier can find adequate protection in triple-walled or tri-wall packaging.
Cardboard can be layered inside a box to also improve it's thermal properties, such as keeping the contents cool or warm.
Learn more about Psi Bufet and their thermally insulated packaging here.
Flutes
Flutes are the 'wavy' part of the cardboard. This flute has so much of a bearing on the structural integrity of the cardboard and therefore defines what it can and can't be used for.
Unsurprisingly, it's the fluting that is also a significant contributor to the weight and, consequently, the cost of the cardboard.
By changing the corrugation's height and, therefore, the flutes' size, the cardboard takes on entirely new properties.
There are standardised sizes for fluting that range from E (very fine), which is suited for retail packaging and ideal to be printed onto, right through to A or B flute, which is thick and usually suited to heavy-duty tertiary packaging.
Standardised sizes include:
A flute: 5mm in thickness
B flute: 3mm
C flute: 4mm
E flute: 1.5mm
F flute:.2mm
G flute: 0.5mm
What's the difference between E and B flutes?
The thickness. B flute is thicker, heavier, and therefore stronger.
As you read earlier, cardboard can be double or triple-walled and therefore have an EB flute or a BC flute.
Such combinations are ideal for combining structural security (B flute) with a perfect blank canvas to print onto (E flute).
Popular fluting for double-walled cardboard includes:
BC flute: 6mm - B + C flutes
EB flute: 4.5mm - E + B flutes
AC flute: 8mm - A + C flutes
Corrugated board explanation
With everything you've just learned, you can condense a lot of specific information into a short abbreviation.
Take, for example:
125K/E/125T
This means that the outer layer is 125 gsm Kraft paper, the flute is an E grade, and the inner liner is a 125GSM Test paper.
It's important to remember that the first instance in this sequence is always the external layer.
In the above example, you'd have a 330 gsm kraft paper liner, a C grade flute, and a 220 gsm test paper liner on the inside.
Individual flute uses/info
As you read earlier, there are a lot of standardised sizes in the cardboard industry, especially fluting. Here are some examples of how those fluting sizes are used.
Note: Flute sizing isn't sequential. C flute is thicker than B flute, but E flute is thinner than C. A flute is thicker than C.
The most common flute used in cardboard boxes, B flute, is the go-to type of cardboard for mailer boxes.
C flute is between 3.5mm and 4mm in thickness, a little thicker than usual and offers better crash protection than B flute. For this reason, it's commonly used in standard moving and shipping boxes as secondary or tertiary packaging. It's great for stacking but will give out quickly once it's reached its capacity.
E flute is the thinnest type of corrugated cardboard that's produced in bulk. Between 1mm and 1./5mm in thickness, it provides good crush protection, which also is the ideal form of corrugated cardboard to print on.
A common type of double-walled cardboard that's approximately 7mm in thickness. A standard solution used in shipping boxes for heavy products and products that require an extra level of protection.
The best of both worlds - a thick and a thin flute.
Between 4mm and 5mm in overall thickness, this setup provides a fantastic surface to print on and strength and durability.
Conclusion
Understanding the role cardboard plays in packaging is vital to making the right decisions in packaging design.
If you're trying to source reliable cardboard packaging, reach out to the team at Packhelp and tell us about the challenge in front of you.
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