Measuring the mechanical behavior of paperboard in a changing humidity environment

Abstract

“Both the strength and stability of compressively loaded paperboard are known to be adversely affected by cyclic changes in relative humidity. Current research at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) seeks to observe and explain this phenomenon and to develop a simple, practical test to determine allowable "working loads" in cyclicmoisture environments. A new research apparatus has been developed to measure creep strain, stiffness, and strength in constant and changing humidity environments. Early results link cyclic change in relative humidity with significant loss in compressive strength and suggest the existence of a critical load value above which cyclical humidity changes are progressivelydestructive to the integrity of the web structure. Current efforts are directed toward evaluating the relationship between strength loss, creep load, rate of humiditychange, and number of humidity cycles. We anticipate this work will result in a method for "derating" the compression strength of paperboard when used in applications involving changes in moisture content.”

Citation

Gunderson, Dennis E.; Considine, John M. 1986. Measuring the mechanical behavior of paperboard in a changing humidity environment. Proceedings of the 1986 International Process and Materials Quality Evaluation Conference. Atlanta : Tappi Press, 1986: pages 245-251.