Feasibility of using straw in moulded pulp packaging material

Researchers at Bangor University UK examined the feasibility of replacing paper fibre with waste cereal straw fibre. The aim was to produce materials that could be used to form flat, round trays, such as those used in shrink wrapped food items. The material was required to have properties that matched existing alternatives, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), in terms of physical and mechanical characteristics.
They found that adjustments in product thickness allowed performance parameters to be met. Wet end addition of chemicals was successfully used to provide water resistance without affecting other variables. An article about the research is published in Industrial Crops and Products.
Click here for an abstract of the article.
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