Wood pulp for sack paper is made from softwood by the kraft process
Wood pulp for sack paper is made from softwood by the kraft process. The long fibers provide the paper its strength and wet strength chemicals are added to even further improve the strength. Both white and brown grades are made. Sack paper is then produced on a paper machine from the wood pulp. The paper is microcrepped to give porosity and elasticity. Microcrepping is done by drying with loose draws allowing it to shrink. This causes the paper to elongate 4% in the machine direction and 10% in the cross direction without breaking.[2] Machine direction elongation can be further improved by pressing between very elastic cylinders causing more microcrepping.[2] The paper may be coated with polyethylene (PE) to ensure an effective barrier against moisture, grease and bacteria, although recyclability is hindered. Zein coatings are also water resistant but allow better recyclability.[4]
A paper sack can be made of several layers of sack paper depending on the toughness needed.
Kraft paper is produced on paper machines with moderate machine speeds. The raw material is normally softwood pulp from the kraft process.
Maintaining a high effective sulfur ratio or sulfidity is important for the highest possible strength using the kraft process.
The kraft process can use a wider range of fiber sources than most other pulping processes. All types of wood, including very resinous types like southern pine,[5] and non-wood species like bamboo and kenaf can be used in the kraft process.
Manufacturing
Boxes can be formed in the same plant as the corrugator. Such plants are known as "integrated plants". Part of the scoring and cutting takes place in-line on the corrugator. Alternatively, sheets of corrugated board may be sent to a different manufacturing facility for box fabrication; these are sometimes called "sheet plants" or "converters".
The corrugated board is creased or scored to provide controlled bending of the board. Most often, slots are cut to provide flaps on the box. Scoring and slotting can also be accomplished by die-cutting. Along with the print being produced on the box in these plants. These conversions are produce on different machines, depending on the conversion being made: "Flexo Folder Gluers (FFG)", "Rotary Die Cutters (RDC), "Printer Slotters" or " Printing Presses".