All about kraft paper

Many people will find it very useful to learn everything about kraft paper, about what it is, in general, craft paper. It is worth dealing with sheets of A3 and A4 format, other sizes. Additionally, it is required to clarify the features of bag, self-adhesive, printing and other types of kraft paper.

The term craft paper comes from the German word kraft, which literally translates to "strength". This implies, of course, the force required to break this tough material. From a chemical point of view, it is a sulphate cellulose that is fissured into long fibers. The original mass of raw materials is subjected to weak boiling. This technology is called the craft process.

To understand what kraft paper looks like, just look at the picture with its image as a background. Such material is becoming more and more in demand in the 21st century due to environmental considerations. Modern consumers have long appreciated its convenience and practicality. There are no toxic components in kraft paper. It is relatively inexpensive.

The usual density of this material varies from 0.07 to 0.09 kg per 1 m2. Such indicators are quite enough for use in packaging purposes without any risk. Craft paper production began in 1852. It was originally created in the United States, where the delivery and storage of large quantities of food in baskets or cloth bags proved inconvenient for trade. It is worth noting that the earliest packages were not strong enough, and it was only from the 1860s that they found a solution to this problem.

For a long time, kraft paper has been widely used in mailing. But there it was replaced by polyethylene and corrugated cardboard. Mostly this material is colored in a dark brown tone. An expressive shade of cellulose can be traced. However, sometimes kraft paper is bleached, making it much lighter. The dark color is largely due to the use of coniferous raw materials. After cooking, the pulp must be dried. Then it will have to be pressed and cut to size.

Such material is excellent for air permeability and water absorption. It guarantees isolation from sunlight, dust and dirt. The scope is very wide. Along with pure coniferous wood, raw materials of mixed composition can be used in the production process. The delivery of the finished product is made in rolls or in sheet format, depending on the nuances of the application. Reinforced packaging paper is supplied mainly in the form of bags. They can be equipped with transparent windows. Sometimes there are options with strong handles, or made in sachet format.

The color of the material can be flexibly varied. Dark (including black) variants are appreciated when applying texts in light fonts. In its pure form, kraft paper does not tolerate moisture. In this sense, it is hardly superior to writing paper. However, the problem is successfully solved by creating a special protective layer. The absence of foreign substances in the composition allows you to ensure complete safety for a person. Under normal conditions of use, this material is stable - you just need to protect all its types from getting wet.

When obtaining such a product, technologists must pay great attention to reducing the concentration of lignin to a minimum. Ideally, only trace amounts or even less should remain. The basic equipment in the workshop is a flat-mesh machine. Initially, a single-ply paper product is created. A long movable mesh is covered with a mass that has been cleaned of debris and other impurities in advance.

Cells provide water care. But the solid mass remains on the surface of the mesh. Pressing and squeezing allows you to remove a significant part of excess moisture. But you still can't do without additional drying. Tissue cylinders, inside of which are hidden heating elements, help to dry the cellulose; only after drying is it permissible to pack on sheets or rolls.

Washable kraft paper plays an important role in the range of suppliers. Abroad, this material is usually called washable kraft paper, and sometimes also kraft tex. Such a product is suitable for both drawing and printing. It is completely washable. Such a product meets absolutely all environmental requirements. When using persistent dyes, color retention after washing is not a problem. But most often, thick sack kraft paper is used. It is a highly durable wrapping material. Unbleached sulphate cellulose is taken as the basis for its production. The product is brown by default.

Rejected kraft paper is produced using a sophisticated technology. It is subjected to waxing as well. The outer surface of the web is always smooth and free from the slightest roughness. On the seamy side, the color and texture are the same as those of classic products. A similar material is used for packaging work and in needlework.

The highest level is considered to be bleached products. Typical raw materials are taken as a basis, which are carefully clarified. The surface of such craft paper is even and smooth. This product does not tend to wrinkle, it is very resistant to contact with high humidity and sunlight. The scope of bleached material is extremely wide. Only unbleached material is produced for bulk packaging.In its manufacture, fibrous waste is additionally used. This is the most affordable product. Sack kraft paper is created from 1-6 layers. The density of individual layers can vary greatly.

Sometimes the material is laminated and bituminated, as well as microcripted and foil-covered. This treatment improves the tensile properties. Additionally, the resistance to mechanical stress and protection from ultraviolet radiation increases.

It is produced according to strictly defined standards. Most often, products in sheets are intended for packaging needs. The standards determine the size of the supplied goods. Mostly they use craft paper in the following formats:

• A5;
• A4;
• A3;
• A2.

In this case, a roll with different widths and lengths can be meant. This circumstance makes it possible to use the material for both industrial and domestic purposes. Such wrapping products help to pack even fragile, large-sized items. Roll kraft paper is also used for repair work (both on machines and on construction sites) to ensure that paint is not spilled where it is not needed. Other applications are also possible.

An alternative name is craft paper for a printer. Sometimes, after the image is applied, it is used in the production of bags, bags and other containers. This ensures an excellent marking quality. And also printed material is needed to do:

• gift wrapping;
• Flyers;
• creative crafts;
• menu;
• Business Cards.

The advantage over plain paper is that relatively little ink is required to create text or images. The total cost of a printing order will be low. Consumers can vary the shades and textures at their discretion.

Most often, such beautiful products are used in gift wrapping. The shipment is mainly carried out in 10-kg rollers and 50-sheet packs. Coloring in one or two colors is possible. In the second case, one side is colored more intensely than the other side (for example, when the red and pink colors are combined). In a one-color version, the pigment is applied only to one side, the other is left without additional decoration.

The following is in demand:

• white;
• dark blue;
• green;
• red;
• black;
• light yellow;
• silver kraft paper.

This material is often used for cutting and printing. It goes on stickers, tags and nameplates. Cutting with plotters is not difficult. The cover is formed from silicone or polyethylene. The first option is preferable because it facilitates the separation of the substrate.

The characteristics of the glue and layers used are determined by how the finished product will be used. Tearing off too easily or too hard can interfere with the automatic labeling process. Kraft paper is usually laminated before being used in label production. Basically, it is needed to protect the adhesive mass. This protection is applied to the base itself.

This product is often referred to as the ecological packaging of the XXI century. It comes in rolls. Depending on the design solution, honeycomb craft paper has a white or gray color, occasionally other colors are found. Such a product is very effective in preserving fragile and unstable goods during transportation.

The domestic pulp and paper industry is in one of the best positions for this product in the world. More precisely, the production of craft paper in the Russian Federation is primarily concerned with:

• enterprise "Kondopoga";
• Sokolsky PPM;
• PJSC "Kommunar";
• OJSC "Svetogorsk";
• "Mariisky PPM".

The Kondopoga plant has been operating longer than any other Russian manufacturer. He has been supplying kraft paper back in the late 1920s. PJSC Kommunar, located in the Leningrad Region, has a wide variety of assortments. However, even more diverse production is located in Mari El. And the Karelian plant "Svetogorsk" is the leader in terms of technological equipment.

In the packaging of food products, dishes, packaging material of gray or brown color is mainly used. But the area of ​​use of kraft paper is not limited to this. A striking example of its non-standard application is the practice of artists. This material is suitable for creating pencil sketches no worse than a high-quality Whatman paper. Of course, not a single artist would carry around a pack of bulky sheets. The solution was found in making a notebook with your own hands. It can be in an arbitrary format so that it is easy to carry with you. However, craft paper is not only suitable for drawing. Wrapping paper is almost indispensable in kitchens as well.

With its help, it is easy to organize the storage of products. But this material is also suitable as a protective coating. It is able to effectively absorb moisture, water vapor, vegetable and animal fats. When preparing to move to an apartment or a private house, you can wrap fragile objects in a similar shell. Ceramics and glass then have a better chance of getting whole to a new address.

The properties of craft paper have been appreciated in the food industry and in other industries. There it has long become a common raw material for the production of bags, bags with various packing volumes. However, there is one more narrow professional application - for the sterilization of medical devices. We can talk about both materials and surgical, dental and other instruments. An alternative solution is gift wrapping.

This approach is good if the traditional cardboard box is not satisfactory or is not reliable enough. Most of the beautiful gift boxes are made on the basis of kraft paper. She is strong and presentable at the same time. In terms of the ratio of these parameters, other conventional materials are far inferior and can hardly be considered as a sane alternative.

In a number of countries, in general, legislative bans on the use of non-environmentally friendly packaging have been adopted, and lists of goods have been introduced that are allowed to be sold exclusively in paper containers. Even the most sophisticated image can be easily applied to such a surface, which is very useful from the point of view of branding and is not too expensive. Such a solution allows, among other things, without any problems to fulfill all the requirements of the legislation on the delivery of various information to consumers. Craft paper is also well suited for packaging in various colors. Bouquets, including roses and graceful gladioli, are very persistent in it.

Of course, this protection is well suited to move asters, attractive chrysanthemums and all other varieties of flowers that are only used for decoration purposes, as gifts. But the scope of application of such material does not end there either. It is needed by the paint and varnish industry, where it is used as a replacement for protective paper. At home, you can still get by with collected newspapers, but in the production of paints and enamels, more thoughtful protection is needed.

Such raw materials are also in demand when decorative bags are produced. Along with flowers and food, they can also pack in it:

• furniture;
• books;
• magazines.

Kraft paper can be released for the manufacture of various ribbons and threads. The cardboard corners made from it perfectly protect the edges of the pallets from transport deformations.

Even world-class designers have appreciated the aesthetic appeal of the material. Drawings and printed texts create strong, durable business cards.

Alternative printing applications:

• menus in restaurants, cafes and canteens;
• posters;
• ads;
• advertising brochures and leaflets.

Professional drawing albums, tags for goods and cargo in warehouses, for luggage in airports and train stations can also be made from craft paper. Returning to plants, it is worth emphasizing the benefits of this material for their shelter with the onset of the autumn-winter season. It is therefore logical that they are trying to use it in the thermal insulation of capital buildings. Expert studies have confirmed the high heat-shielding characteristics. Combined with robustness and reliability, they make this solution a reasonable choice even for office buildings and large residential complexes.

Reflective craft insulation works even better. It involves either lamination or the creation of a metal layer. In some cases, even a strong paper floor is equipped. It is quite reasonable to use it as wallpaper. With competent pasting of walls in this way, there is no doubt about the reliability and long-term service of the decorative coating.

In addition to the listed areas, it is worth mentioning:

• sterilization of cosmetic instruments;
• packing bulk building materials;
• preparing culinary parchment;
• obtaining corrugated cardboard (convenient for packaging household appliances and other portable electrical equipment);
• the development of brown twine (even if it is not very strong, but very aesthetic).

Craft paper is also used in the wine industry. By packing bottles in sturdy containers, you can significantly reduce the risk of damage during transportation. The graceful images that can be obtained on such a surface look quite attractive. Some wine boutiques purchase bags with comfortable twist handles. But, in order to complete the topic, it is necessary to return again to construction and repair, or rather, to the use of hardened paper for vapor barrier.

Of course, it is not used in its pure form. However, combined film solutions are quite widespread. A paper vapor barrier insulates mineral wool or ecowool well from the external environment. It also withstands substantial mechanical stress very well. This solution is recommended not only for walls, but also for pitched roofs. Fastening is made from the inside of the insulation. The polymer layer should remain on the side of the room. All joints are carefully glued with tape.