FL-97-118 Recyclable Hot Melt Coatings for Corrugated Paperboard

Description:

A new technology for recyclable hot melt wax coatings for paperboard has been developed and tested. The material package has passed the tests for repulpability and recyclability, and has been proven to be coatable on existing converting equipment. The approach taken was to develop a dispersion of inorganic mineral fillers, petroleum wax, and polymer additives to provide moisture barrier protection. The coated material can be recycled without any changes to existing equipment or processing conditions used for recycled paperboard manufacture. The mechanism for separating the recyclable wax coating from the fibers is a mechanical separation, rather than the chemical separations used in other approaches to making a recyclable hot melt coating. Fibers recovered from the repulped wax-coated fiber stock can be used to make new paperboard that meets all existing performance requirements.