Cardboard
Cardboard is the umbrella name for a number of products that are made by layering sheets of heavy-duty paper together.
Corrugated Cardboard
The most commonly encountered form of cardboard is corrugated cardboard, and this is usually manufactured from two other materials: flat sheets of puncture resistant paper and sheets of corrugated short fibre paper. These sheets of corrugated short fibre paper are employed to act as 'fluting', as it is fluted, or wavy in appearance and form. In order for a cardboard manufacturer to make a sheet of cardboard the corrugated short fibre paper is first heated and steamed to give it its fluted form, unless only small quantities are required, in which case no steam is used in the process. Following this, a machine glues a sheet of puncture resistant paper to the top and to the bottom of the fluting using starch-based adhesives. This creates a kind of sandwich effect, with the fluting acting as the filling between the two sheets of heavy-duty paper. This process can be applied to sheets of any size depending on the purpose for which the cardboard is required. The benefit of this design is that the inner layer of fluting lends significant strength to the outer smooth sheets, with larger and thicker flutes resulting in stronger sheets of corrugated cardboard.
Types of Cardboard
Other types of cardboard are also available, some of which fall under the collective heading of cardboard paper. Graphic cardboard is made by sticking pieces of kraft paper together to build up the material to the desired thickness. The smoothness of the end product allows graphics to be printed on it, making it ideal for use in games and puzzles, such as jigsaws. This is also what is used in the manufacture of covers for hardback books.
Chromo board is a thin sheet of cardboard material that is generally used in retail outlets, for the inserts in clothing and clothing packaging.
Drawing cardboard is also available, and this material is very thin and very smooth, making it ideal for use as a canvas.
Cardboard Recycling
Cardboard is generally considered to be a fairly strong and resilient material. As well as being a strong material, it is also incredibly easy to cut and shape it as needed. Another positive attribute of cardboard is that it is cheap and environmentally friendly to manufacture. Furthermore, as cardboard is in essence just thick sheets of paper, cardboard recycling is easy and cheap.
Cardboard is not without its disadvantages however. It is, as all paper products tend to be, susceptible to water and highly flammable. Once the cardboard becomes wet, it is very hard to keep it in a usable form. Similarly, if the cardboard rips, it is difficult to repair it while still keeping its strength intact.
Cardboard Uses
Cardboard has myriad uses in commercial, industrial and residential settings. Cardboard boxes are the most obvious application, but cardboard can be used for many other purposes. It can be used to create decorative craft items for use in the home for instance, or as an underlay for compost in the garden to keep away weeds. Its use in composting is in fact ideal as the cardboard itself will eventually harmlessly degrade, negating the issue of cardboard disposal. Waste cardboard can also be used to start and maintain fires and bonfires, as it is non-toxic when it burns.