Fiberboard Container with Localized Polymer Coating for Liquid Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current packaging solutions for liquid and food products are not environmentally friendly, as they often involve non-biodegradable materials and high manufacturing costs, and existing biodegradable polymers are expensive and difficult to process, while also complicating recycling due to reduced pulpability.

Innovation Solution

A container comprising a fiber-based board with a polymer-coated bottom and an uncoated sleeve, where the sleeve's edges are sealed to prevent liquid and grease penetration, using conventional board materials and biodegradable polymers to reduce costs and enhance recyclability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polymer-coated board is used for the entire container, then liquid and grease resistance is improved, but environmental friendliness and recyclability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid and grease resistanceVSAvoidenvironmental friendliness and recyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The container applies polymer coating only to specific areas (bottom, flange, and sealing surfaces) rather than the entire surface. This localized coating provides liquid and grease resistance where needed while leaving the majority of the container as uncoated recyclable paperboard, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and environmental friendliness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The container is divided into coated and uncoated zones, with the polymer coating segmented to apply only to functional areas requiring liquid barrier properties. This segmentation allows the container to achieve necessary protection while maintaining high recyclability through selective material application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If metal foil is used to make the board impermeable, then liquid and gas impermeability is improved, but manufacturing cost and environmental friendliness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid and gas impermeabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using expensive metal foil throughout the entire container, the invention applies polymer coating only to specific areas requiring impermeability. This localized approach achieves the same liquid and gas barrier function at lower manufacturing cost while maintaining environmental friendliness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Object-generated harmful factors

If biodegradable polymers are used for coating, then environmental friendliness is improved, but manufacturing cost and processing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and processing difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the polymer coating from being a continuous layer and applies it only as spot coatings or thin layers on specific surfaces. This reduction in polymer quantity lowers manufacturing cost and simplifies processing while maintaining environmental friendliness through reduced material usage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than applying full coverage polymer coating, the invention uses partial action by coating only the necessary areas (bottom, flange, sealing surfaces). This partial application achieves sufficient protection while reducing the complexity and cost of manufacturing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Reliability

If polymer coating is applied to the entire board, then liquid barrier properties are improved, but pulpability and recyclability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid barrier propertiesVSAvoidpulpability and recyclability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The container applies polymer coating only to specific areas (bottom, flange, sealing surfaces) rather than the entire surface. This localized coating provides liquid barrier protection where needed while leaving the majority of the container as uncoated recyclable paperboard, thus resolving the contradiction between protection and recyclability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a cost-effective, environmentally friendly container resistant to liquids and greases, suitable for packaging food and liquids, while reducing polymer usage and maintaining recyclability, with improved resistance and printing properties.

Implementation Method 1

The inner polymer layer of a package or container protects the board against moistening and wetting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrophobic effect: Hydrophobe

Implementation Method 2

the sleeve is formed by sealing two edges of the sleeve together along a side seam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical containment: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP2571771B1Container from fibre based board and a method for producing such a container

Publication Date: 2019.03.27 STORA ENSO OYJ

AI summary

The present invention relates to a container made from fiber based board wherein the container comprises a sleeve and a bottom, said bottom comprises polymer coated board, at least one side of said sleeve is uncoated and the sleeve is formed by sealing two edges of the sleeve together along a side seam. The invention further relates to a method for producing said container.