Cardboard Tubes
Cardboard tubes are long, cylindrical pieces of cardboard that have numerous applications and functions. Cardboard tubes can be made from a number of materials that fall under the heading of cardboard: paperboard, made from layers of cellulose fibres; fibreboard, a thicker material made of wood fibres; kraft paper, produced from the chemical pulp of softwood and other heavy-duty paper composites.
Cardboard tubes possess all the appealing qualities of other cardboard products. They are easy to make and very cost effective, producing little waste during their manufacture. They are also durable, with their durability increasing as thicker cardboard is used in their production. They are very light in weight, which makes for ease of transport, and they are 100% recyclable and also biodegradable, in the case of pure cardboard tubes.
Cardboard Mailing Tubes
The primary use for cardboard tubes is in transporting documents, such as papers and posters, or any other item that can be rolled up to fit inside the cardboard tubing. Tubes used for this purpose are often called cardboard mailing tubes, and they are used worldwide for the transport and postage of large papers or any other document that is not suitable to be put in an envelope. This could be because it would be damaging or degrading to fold the document, whereas rolling it up will produce no noticeable lines on it. Cardboard mailing tubes are often treated to make them waterproof if they are made of paperboard, as it would be disastrous if any moisture penetrated through to the documents contained within. The cardboard mailing tubes also greatly reduce the chances of the corners of a document getting scuffed or otherwise damaged in the post. The cardboard mailing tubes themselves are available in a range of lengths and widths, depending on the dimensions of the documents to be posted. Generally, 48 inches is the longest cardboard tube that is available for mailing purposes, but tubing is generally available for most documents or oddly shaped items. In a similar vein, the mailing tubes are available in a wide range of colours, making them an attractive way to send gifts in the post.
The mailing tubes are sealed by way of a snap-on plastic cap at either end, or a fold that can be folded in and tightly sealed. Unfortunately, the usage of plastic caps does reduce the recycling potential of the tubes, and they must be disposed of separately.
Cardboard Tubing
Cardboard tubing has several other practical applications. Cardboard tubes are the primary material for constructing the rocket bodies of fireworks, and they are also used in the electrical industry as fuse tubes and wire insulators. If the cardboard tubes are waxed, then they can be used to as tubes for sifting food items such as coffee and spices. Cardboard tubes that are much heavier and more durable are used as sonotubes, which act as frameworks for the construction of concrete pillars. They act as a much cheaper alternative to fibreglass or steel tubing in this case, and they are also much cheaper to transport, set up and ultimately dispose of.