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The effect of compression of enclosed air on the cushioning properties of corrugated fibreboard
Author(s) -
Naganathan Prabakaran,
He Jimin,
Kirkpatrick Jim
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
packaging technology and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.365
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1099-1522
pISSN - 0894-3214
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1522(199903/04)12:2<81::aid-pts456>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - cushioning , compression (physics) , materials science , corrugated fiberboard , composite material , structural engineering , engineering drawing , mechanical engineering , engineering
This work showed that the shock‐absorbing properties of corrugated fibreboard are dependent on the size of the cushion even when the static loading of the impacting product on the cushion is kept a constant. At least part of this phenomenon was found to be due to the effect of the air enclosed within the flutes of fibreboard cushions. During the dynamic compression of fibreboard pads there is a build‐up of air pressure within the cushion, which improves its cushioning performance. The greater ease with which air can escape smaller fibreboard cushions, leads to differences in their shock‐absorbing behaviour compared with larger cushions. Suggestions are made on how the design of fibreboard pads can be modified to increase the build‐up of air pressure within the flutes and improve the efficiency of the cushion. For comparison, expanded polyethylene foam was also examined and its shock absorbing properties were found to be largely independent of cushion size for constant static‐loading impacts. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.