There are many different choices when it comes to packaging paper. Each of them has distinct properties. How to distinguish them? In this article we will help you distinguish between Kraft-liner and Testliner paper
The term Kraft-liner and Testliner in the packaging paper industry
Kraft-liner and Testliner are two terms that are mainly used in the export goods market, to distinguish the types of paper used to make linerboard when producing corrugated cardboard.
What is Kraft Liner?
Kraft-liner is the definition for kraft paperboard with at least 80% virgin kraft fiber content. The advantage is that the kraft-liner is made from pure wood pulp, the cellulose fiber structure is tightly intertwined, so the paper has good bearing capacity, good tensile strength, and is difficult to tear. These properties make the paper extremely ideal for the packaging industry, especially those with complex structures and requirements for strength and bearing capacity. Kraft-liner is also a special paper suitable for high humidity environments.
The kraft-liner itself also has many sublines that need to be distinguished:
- White top kraft-liner is a product with 2 layers. The top layer is composed of bleached pure hardwood kraft fibers, and the base layer is made of unbleached softwood kraft fibers. With such white paper on one side, White top kraft-liner provides excellent printing quality for packaging products.
- Brown kraft-liner is also a 2-layer product. The top layer is pure unbleached softwood kraft fiber, the base layer is a combination of unbleached softwood kraft fibers and high quality recycled wood fibers. Brown kraft-liner has strong durability and good printing quality.
- Virgin kraft-liner paper has only one layer, made entirely from pure wood pulp. Known for its extremely high strength, bearing capacity, good tensile strength, tear resistance and resistance to high humidity environments, this paper is often used as a cover sheet for the top and bottom of cartons that have 1 or more wave layers.
What is testliner?
The term testliner is used to refer to a paperboard that is similar to kraft paper but is manufactured from 100% recycled fibre, with colorants that provide consistent color quality. The addition of powdered paste helps to increase strength, while strengthening the surface of the paper, optimizing the printing ability of paper. However, because it contains many recycled fiber components, the bearing capacity as well as the printing results on Testliner are lower than that of Kraft-liner. And of course, at the same time, the cost will also be lower.
Testliner is commonly used as the following products:
- Food packaging
- Packaging for consumables
- Sheets lined in corrugated cartons
Although these terms are still controversial, but hopefully this article can somehow help you visualize and choose the right product for your needs.