Views: 14 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-11-04 Origin: Site
Pulp Molding is a new type of environmentally friendly material made from plant fibers through molding and shaping. Due to its excellent environmental performance and biodegradability, pulp molding has been widely used in many fields. Also known as paper tray, paper molding, plant fiber molding, pulp molding, 3D fiber molding, and three-dimensional paper making, etc.
Pulp molding is a common manufacturing process that utilizes plant fibers as the main raw material and shapes them into various products through molds. This process has widespread applications in many fields.
The manufacturing process of pulp molding usually includes the following steps: preparation of pulp (plant fibers), design and manufacture of molds, entry of plant fibers into molds, shaping, heating and drying of molds, and demolding and subsequent treatment of products.
Preparation of plant fiber raw materials is the foundation of pulp molding. Plant fibers can be made from waste paper, wood or other cellulose materials. The process of preparing plant fiber raw materials includes separation of cellulose, adjustment of pulp mixture, and stirring of pulp. By controlling the composition and concentration of the pulp, suitable pulp can be obtained.
Design and manufacture of molds is the key to pulp molding. The design of molds should consider the shape, size and structure of the product. Common materials for molds include metals, plastics and rubber, etc. The process of manufacturing molds includes processing, polishing and surface treatment of molds. The quality and precision of molds directly affect the quality of the final product.
Pulp molding can be divided into dry pulp molding and wet pulp molding, and the pulp molding commonly referred to is wet pulp molding.
Wet pulp molding process is the core step of injecting pulp into molds in the wet pulp molding process. In the injection process, pulp is evenly injected into the mold to fill the empty cavity. The method of injecting pulp can be manual or mechanical, depending on the requirements of the product and the production scale.
The application areas of pulp molding are very extensive, including food (pharmaceutical) hardware tools, electronic products, ceramics, glass, communication equipment, computer accessories, food, drugs, cosmetics, agricultural products, instruments and meters, various small household appliances, toys, gifts, mobile phones and accessories, etc. as packaging materials, agricultural products packaging, such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, meat, disposable tableware, such as tableware, bowls, spoons, knives and forks, cultural products, seedling cultivation, toys, furniture, household items, gifts, festival items, and also products parts.
1. Packaging field: Pulp molding has extensive applications in the packaging field. Due to its excellent cushioning performance and customizability, it can effectively protect products and reduce the damage rate during transportation. At the same time, its biodegradable characteristics also meet the requirements of green packaging. With the development of pulp molding products, it has been expanded from transportation cushioning packaging to sales packaging and other fields.
2. Agricultural field: Pulp molding is used in agriculture to make seedling transplant trays, desert water retention trays, and seedling transport trays, which can play a role in insulation, moisture retention, and pest and disease prevention. This application not only improves the yield and quality of crops and seedlings, but also helps reduce the use of irrigation water.
3. Industrial field: In the industrial field, pulp molding products are used as disposable toolboxes, transportation pallets, and packaging for various products, which can be quickly decomposed after use, reducing the pressure on the environment.
4. Medical field: The application of pulp molding in the medical field is increasing, such as disposable medical supplies and medical packaging. These products can be quickly biodegraded after use, reducing the impact of medical waste on the environment.
5. Catering field: The application of pulp molding in the catering field is also increasing, such as biodegradable tableware and food packaging.
The raw materials for pulp molding products are widely available and not subject to restrictions, which meets the national environmental protection requirements and the needs of industrial development. Especially the best choice to replace plastic foam materials and PVC vacuum packaging materials. Plant fiber molding products can be recycled and degraded, and by adding special processes, they have good waterproof and oil-resistant properties, which can partially replace foam plastic products and effectively eliminate "white pollution." With the research and development of pulp molding technology, pulp molding products are not only used more and more in the field of product inner packaging, but also begin to replace product sales packaging, seize the market that used to belong to glass packaging, iron packaging, plastic bottles, plastic boxes and fine paper boxes, and begin to enter the short-term use of product parts market and the cultural creative market, home decoration market, daily necessities market.
The product features of pulp molding products are as follows:
1. Eco-friendly and sustainable: The main raw materials of pulp molding products are waste paper and plant fibers such as sugarcane bagasse, which can be recycled, reducing the consumption of forest resources and the generation of garbage, making them environmentally friendly.
2. Good cushioning performance: Pulp molding products have a loose internal structure, providing excellent cushioning properties that effectively protect the contents and reduce damage during transportation and storage.
3. Easy to process: Pulp molding products are easy to process and can be customized through cutting, pasting, and hot pressing to meet various customer needs.
4. Aesthetically pleasing and practical: Pulp molding products have a neat and attractive appearance, with good printing and decoration capabilities, enhancing the brand image and market competitiveness of the products.
5. Low cost: The raw material cost of pulp molding products is low, and the production process is simple, effectively reducing production costs and improving the economic efficiency of enterprises.
6. Strong degradability: Pulp molding products can naturally decompose under specific conditions, causing no long-term environmental pollution.
7. Poor oil resistance: Pulp molding products have poor oil resistance; contact with oil or organic solvents may affect their structure and appearance. Adding oil-resistant agents can improve oil resistance, and they are compatible with printing materials, enhancing printability.
8. Poor heat resistance: Pulp molding products are not heat-resistant and are generally used below 80°C. They may deform or decompose in high-temperature environments.
9. High moisture absorption: Pulp molding products have strong moisture absorption, which may affect their structure and performance in humid environments. This property can be beneficial for packaging brittle foods like roast duck, squab, or fries, enhancing their crispness.
10. Opaque: Pulp products are not transparent. In applications where the product itself needs to be seen, a window may be required to address the opacity issue. In the case of mystery boxes, the opacity is an advantage.
11. Generally not suitable for flammable item packaging: Due to the flammability of pulp molding products, they are not recommended for packaging flammable items. Adding flame retardants can enhance flame resistance, such as when used as decorative panels, flame retardants are usually added to meet legal flame resistance standards.
In summary, pulp molding products have the characteristics of environmental sustainability, good cushioning performance, easy processing, beautiful and practical, low cost, strong degradability, etc., but they also have some disadvantages such as poor oil resistance, poor heat resistance and strong moisture absorption. When choosing to use pulp molding products, comprehensive consideration should be made based on actual conditions and specific needs.
