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Specifications for Singlewall B-Flute Corrugated Board

Specification Number 600-612-6/19/02

This specification is provided as a public service by the Preservation Directorate of the Library of Congress. Any commercial reproduction that implies endorsement of a product, service or materials, in any publication, is strictly prohibited by law. This Specification is written for L.C. purchasing purposes and is subject to change when necessary.

I. General Specifications - II. Product Requirements - III. Inspection

I. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

A. Stock Composition for Liner and Medium

  1. Pulp:
    • Fiber: The stock must not contain any post consumer waste recycled pulp.
    • Lignin: The stock must give a negative reading for lignin as determined by the phloroglucinol test when tested according to ASTM D 1030, Section X5, spot stains and shall have a Kappa number of 5 or less when tested according to TAPPI T 236 cm-85.
    • Impurities: The stock must be free of metal particles, waxes, plasticizers, residual bleach, peroxide, sulfur (which will be less than 0.0008% reducible sulfur as determined by TAPPI T 406 om-88), or other components that could lead to the degradation of the paper and artifacts stored therein.
    • Metallic Impurities: Iron must not exceed 150 ppm and copper shall not exceed 6 PPM when test according to TAPPI T 266.
    • Optical Brighteners: The stock must be free of optical brightening agents.
  2. pH:
    The stock should have a pH value within a range of 8.0 to 9.5 as determined by TAPPI T 509 om-88, cold extraction (modified by slurrying sample pulp before measurement).
  3. Alkaline Reserve:
    The alkaline reserve should be in the range of 2 - 5%, calculated as CaCO3 when tested according to ASTM 4988-89.
  4. Sizing:
    Only neutral or alkaline sizing shall be used. No alum rosin or rosin sizing should be used as determined by ASTM D 549-88.
  5. Basis Weight:

    As determined by TAPPI T410:

    Liner: 42 ± 2lb./1,000 ft2 basis weight
    Medium: 26± 2lb./1,000 ft2 basis weight

  6. Color:
    • The color should be tan, cream, or buff and must be non-bleeding and light-fast.
    • Bleeding: The color must show no bleeding when soaked in distilled water for 48 hours while held under suitable weight in contact with white bond paper.
    • Discoloration: The color of the stock on both sides must not change more than 5 points of brightness as measured by directional reflectance at 457 nm (TAPPI T 452 om-92), when exposed 24 hours to a Xenon arc lamp in an Atlas Weatherometer under the following conditions: Irradiance Level: 1.0 watts/m2 at 420 NM Inner filter: Borosilicate glass. Outer filter: Clear soda lime glass. Black panel temperature: 50°C. Wet bulb depression: 8.5°C.
  7. Scorecracking:
    The liner board should not fray, crack nor split along a scoreline (no fiber break-out should occur).
  8. Abrasion:
    The outer surfaces of the liner board stock must show a loss of less than 2% of the total weight (mounting card and sample) when tested with a #CS10 wheel and 100 wear cycles according to TAPPI T 476 om-84 .
  9. Surfaces:
    The outer surface of the liner board should be finished to resist soiling and be free of fingerprints, dirt, knots, shives and other abrasive particles. Smoothness should have a maximum of 320 Sheffield units as determined by TAPPI 538 OM-88.

B. B-Flute Board

  1. Delamination of B-Flute Board:
    • The corrugator bond strength should be 60 lbs/15 in. of glue line when tested according to the Pin Adhesion Test, Tappi T-821.
    • The corrugated board should not delaminate when subjected to the following test procedures:

      Delamination should not occur when samples are flexed down 90°and than up 90° (total of 180°). The samples should be flexed 180° four times.

      Sample sizes

      4" x 12" with flutes parallel to the 4" direction
      6" x 12" with the flutes parallel to the 12" direction
  2. Burst Strength of B-Flute Board T807:
    The board must meet a minimum requirement of 200 lbs. on the Mullen Burst Test, TAPPI T807.
  3. Four-Point Bending Stiffness:
    The board must meet a minimum requirement of MD 55 and CD 26, TAPPI T 836.
  4. Flat Crush:
    The board should have flat crush reading of minimum 48 psi, TAPPI T-825.
  5. Adhesive:
    The adhesive must not cause the stock to become transparent nor alter the color of the stock. The adhesive must not yellow, discolor, or fail (causing delamination) over time.

C. Workmanship

Edges should be cut square and clean, and sizes accurate.

D. Identification

There should be no identification marks on the board stock.

E. Packaging

  • Outer Wrapper:
    The boards must be stacked on palettes, wrapped in plastic wrap and protected by whatever is necessary to ensure that they arrive at the Library of Congress dry and undamaged. If straps are used, the boards must be protected by folded corners and any possible damage caused by the straps.
    I.D.: The outside of each container must be identified by vendor, type, size and number of items within, manufacturing run or batch number and Purchase Order number or Contract number.

F. Testing

  1. Responsibility:
    The supplier is responsible for meeting all the requirements specified herein. The Library of Congress has the right to perform any of the tests set forth in the specification where such tests are deemed necessary to ensure that supplies conform to prescribed requirements.
  2. Sampling:
    To sample for testing, shipments will be sampled according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 2.5 percent defective from each lot offered. Copies of MIL-STD-105E are available from Naval Publications and Forms Center; Standardization Document Order Department, Building 4, Section D; 700 Robbins Avenue; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111-5094.
  3. Methods:
    Tests will be conducted in accordance with specified test methods of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI). Publications describing these tests may be ordered directly from the technical associations at the following addresses:
    • ANSI, 1430 Broadway, New York, NY 10018
    • ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
    • TAPPI, One Dunwoody Park, Atlanta, GA 30348
  5. Tests:
    Requirements Test Method
    Lignin negative/Kappa 5 ASTM D 1030, X5 or TAPPI 236 cm-85
    Reducible Sulfur < 0.0008% TAPPI T 406 om-88
    Iron < 150 PPM TAPPI T-266
    Copper < 6 PPM TAPPI T-266
    pH 8.0 - 9.5 pH TAPPI T 509 om-88. cold extraction, slurried pulp
    Alkaline Reserve 2 - 5% ASTM D 4988-89
    Alum Rosin Sizing negative ASTM D 549-88
    Basis Weight: liner
    Basis Weight: medium     		42 lbs./1,000 ft2
    26 lbs./1,000 ft2     		TAPPI 410 om-93
    TAPPI 410 om-93
    Color Bleeding none See above, "I.A.6. Color"
    Color Retention < 5 points TAPPI T 452 om-92
    Abrasion < 2% TAPPI T 476 om-87
    Smoothness max. 320 Sheffield TAPPI 538 om-88
    Pin Adhesion 60 lbs/15 in. glue line TAPPI T-821
    Mullen Burst 200 lbs

    TAPPI 807
    4pt. Bending Stiffness MD 55/CD 26 TAPPI 836
    Flat Crush min. 48 psi TAPPI 825
    Ply Bond Firmly secured  

G. Quality Assurance Inspection

  1. Sampling:
    To evaluate non-tested requirements, shipments will be sampled according to MIL-STD-105E at inspection level S-2 with an acceptable quality level of 4.0 percent defective from each lot offered.

II. PRODUCT REQUIREMENTS: Singlewall B-Flute Corrugated Board

A. Construction, illustrated below

  1. Dimensions:
    Each sheet of B-Flute board should be a maximum of 48" x 96" or a minimum of 48" x 86.5" and priced according to board size or otherwise specified.
  2. Flute Direction:
    The flutes should be long, e.g., parallel to the longest board dimension.
  3. Corrugated Board Assembly:
    The smoothest side (felt side) of the liners should be the outer surfaces of the B-Flute board. The wire side of the liners should be next to the corrugated medium to promote maximum adhesion.
  4. Flute Adhesion:
    The flutes must be adhered to each liner all along the tips of the flutes.

III. INSPECTION: Singlewall B-Flute Corrugated Board

An examination will be made to determine whether the items comply with the Requirements Sections. The qualities and characteristics which will be examined include the following.

  1. Testing Inspection
    • Materials must pass all composition and performance specifications stated in "I. General Specifications."
  2. Visual Inspection
    • Color must be tan, cream, buff or as specified on the purchase order or Contract
    • Scorelines must not fray, crack, or split
    • Edges must be cut square and clean and sizes accurate
    • Flutes must be adhered to each liner all along the tips of the flutes.
    • Flute direction must be in the long direction, parallel to the longest board dimension
    • Outer surfaces of the B-Flute board should be the felt side of the liners
    • Surfaces must be free of fingerprints, dirt, knots, shives and other abrasive particles
    • Adhesives must not soften or run, nor cause the stock to become transparent or alter the color of the stock. The adhesive must not yellow or discolor, fail (causing delamination), or extend beyond the joined area.
    • Identification markings should not appear on the stock.
    • The outer wrapper must be identified as specified and must ensure arrival in dry, undamaged condition. If straps are used, the boards must be protected from possible damage caused by the straps by using folded corners under the straps or other effective method.

FAILURE TO MEET ANY OF THE SPECIFICATIONS WILL BE CAUSE FOR REJECTION.