Effect of Relative Humidity and Temperature on the Compression Strength of Corrugated Boxes on Distribution Channel

In order to design the high strength corrugated fiberboard containers for agricultural products that can be used for the cold chain system, a large number of individual boxes were placed in various humidity environments at two different temperature of 5 and $20^{\circ}C$. The results indicated that temperature changes do not effect on physical strength of corrugated fiberboard containers as much as humidity changes did. The main conclusion from this study was that compression strength of corrugated fiberboard containers dropped significantly at high humidity condition, but the rates varied depending on the number of walls, temperature, and perimeter of containers. The packaging designer must consider the corrugated fiberboard boxes are also greatly affected by dimensional variations such as the length versus width ratio. Based on this study, water-resistant board would not be necessary if the ambient relative humidity does not reach to a critical point, 85 percent in the cold chain system. However, the designer must count for the unexpected fluctuation of rotative humidity resulting in severe loss of the compression strength of corrugated fiberboard container.

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