Evaluation of the performance of corrugated shipping containers : virgin versus recycled boards

The compression strength and creep responses of corrugated fibreboard boxes after exposure to high and cyclic relative humidity conditions were studied and compared between boxes made from virgin and recycled liners and mediums which had the same ring crush values. The effect of moisture absorption rate by materials on the creep rate was investigated also. The results revealed that exposure to the high and cyclic relative humidity conditions used in this study caused significant reduction in compression strength for both box types. The cyclic condition was more detrimental. Recycled boxes experienced greater losses in compression strength than virgin boxes. Significant differences in final compression strength also existed between virgin and recycled boxes for three different humidities. The final compression strength was not only related to moisture content, but also related to the moisture content history of the boxes. It was found that there were significant differences in creep rate and survival time between virgin and recycled boxes. The cyclic conditions did not cause either a higher creep rate nor an earlier failure for either box type within the testing range