Packaging From Agricultural Plant Fibres

Abstract

A composition for making paperboard or paper comprising agricultural plant fibres and paperboard, paper and packaging made therefrom.

1 . A composition, preferably a pulp composition, comprising:
 a first component comprising agricultural plant fibres; and,   a second component comprising wood fibres, preferably recycled wood fibres.   
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural plant fibres are cereal plant fibres. 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2 , wherein the cereal plant is one or more selected from the group consisting of barley, wheat, rye, rice, sorghum, millet, and corn, preferably wherein the cereal plant is barley or wheat. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the wood fibres are one or more selected from the group consisting of softwood fibres, hardwood fibres, and recycled wood fibres, and more preferably are one or more selected from the group consisting of recycled softwood fibres and recycled hardwood fibres. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the recycled wood fibres comprise old corrugated container (OCC) fibres. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 1  comprising agricultural plant fibres in an amount of up to 50% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, preferably from 5% to 45% by weight based on the total weight of the composition, more preferably 10% to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the composition. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the first component to the second component is from 1:15 to 2:1 by weight, preferably from 1:10 to 1.5:1 by weight. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the average length of the agricultural plant fibres is at least 0.5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 5 mm, more preferably from 0.6 to 2 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 1.1 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the average width of the agricultural plant fibres is from 5 to 30 μm, preferably from 8 to 18 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein a ratio of the length to the width of the agricultural plant fibres is from 50:1 to 200:1, preferably from 75:1 to 150:1, more preferably from 100:1 to 120:1 
     
     
         11 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the coarseness of the agricultural plant fibres is less than 1 mg/m, preferably less than 0.9 mg/m, more preferably less than 0.1 mg/m. 
     
     
         12 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural plant fibres comprise α-cellulose in an amount of from 15 to 40% by weight, preferably from 19 to 35% by weight, more preferably 31 to 34% by weight. 
     
     
         13 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the agricultural plant fibres comprise lignin in an amount less than 20% by weight, preferably from 5 to 15% by weight. 
     
     
         14 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the first component comprises (e.g. consists of) barley fibres or wheat fibres; and, the second component comprises wood fibres or recycled wood fibres, preferably recycled wood fibres, and wherein the barley or wheat fibres are present in an amount of from 10 to 30% by weight based on the total weight of the first and second component. 
     
     
         15 . The composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additives, preferably wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of: sizing agents such as alkyl ketene dimers (AKD), alum, albietic acid, and/or alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA); silicas; pigments and dyes such as titanium dioxide zinc oxide and/or casein; non-ionic, cationic or anionic retention aids; adhesives; acidity regulators such as calcium carbonate; bleaches; fillers such as barium sulfate; binders; and, bonding agents such as carboxymethyl cellulose. 
     
     
         16 . Paperboard or paper prepared from the composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . Paperboard or paper as claimed in  claim 16 , which has a grammage of at least 90 g/m 2 , preferably from 100 to 800 g/m 2 , preferably from 250 to 450 g/m 2 , more preferably from 310 to 390 g/m 2 ; and/or, a thickness of from 200 to 1200 μm, preferably from 300 to 1000 μm, preferably 400 μm to 700 μm, preferably from 450 μm to 550 μm, more preferably from 450 μm to 500 μm. 
     
     
         18 . Paperboard or paper as claimed in  claim 16 , which has at least one, preferably two, and still more preferably all, of the following properties:
 Tensile strength (MD) dry of at least 15 kN/m, preferably from 20 to 50 kN/m, more preferably 30 to 40 kN/m;   Tensile strength (CD) dry of at least 8 kN/m, preferably 10 to 20 kN/m;   Tear strength (MD) dry of 2,500 to 10,000 Nm, preferably 3,000 to 7,000 Nm, more preferably 3,500 to 4,500 Nm; and/or   Tear strength (CD) dry of 3,000 to 12,000 Nm, preferably from 4,000 to 7,000 Nm.   
     
     
         19 . Packaging prepared from the composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . Packaging as claimed in  claim 19 , which is packaging for beverage containers, preferably folding cartons for baskets, wraparound packages, neck-through wraparound packages, cluster wraparound packages, open and closed baskets, trays, fully enclosed packs, fridge packs, suitcases, top clusters, rings, clips, top clips, moulded fibre, sleeves, fibre hi-cones, or box partitions.