Copy Paper from Recycled Egg Cartons – A 12-inch Paper Machine Development Study

The presented research project describes the development of a copy paper product from recycled egg carton fiber material. The development included laboratory handsheet development and machine-made paper product produced on a 12-inch (304 mm) wide laboratory Fourdrinier paper machine which was operated at a speed of 6.4 ft/min (1.95 m/min).

The final machine-made paper had a recycled egg carton fiber content of 70% and 30% content of northern bleached softwood Kraft fiber as reinforcement fiber material to avoid sheet breaks on the laboratory Fourdrinier paper machine. The produced machine-made paper appeared to be visibly brighter to the eye with the addition of the northern bleached softwood Kraft pulp compared to paper without softwood fibers. Printing tests using an office type laser printer showed good results.

The produced machine-made paper had a basis weight of 81 g/m² and a solids content of 99.27%. After conditioning at a temperature of 23°C ± 1°C and a humidity of 50% the basis weight increased to 92.13 g/m², with a caliper of 186 μm. The tensile index and tear index was 93.20 Nm/g and 9.78 mN/gm² respectively, opacity measured 96.52%, and brightness measured at 37.09%.

It was observed that REC pulp fiber material can absorbs more moisture during conditioning which leads to increased basis weight and thickness due to swelling of the fiber material.