Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for deep-drawing a tray (1) from fiber-based sheet material (2), such as polymer coated board. The apparatus comprises a female moulding tool (3), which comprises a cavity (7) for forming the tray bottom outwardly, a male moulding tool (4), which comprises a plunger plate (11) for forming the tray bottom inwardly, the plunger plate being movable with respect to the cavity for forming the tray, and clamps (6, 15) with an interface for holding the sheet material and forming a tray rim flange. According to the invention by laterally distancing at least one of the moulding tools (3, 4) from the sheet material leeway is provided for free forming of the tray side walls while wrinkling or tearing of the same is avoided. Spacer plates (13) may be positioned behind the plunger plate (11), to adjust its position in relation to the cavity (7) of the female moulding tool (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of deoxygenating tall oil pitch, yielding aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The invention even comprises turning the aliphates into polymerizable olefins by steam cracking, and turning the aromates into polymerizable terephthalic acid by oxygenation and, as necessary, rearrangement. The monomers can be used for the production of polymers of partially or completely biologic origin. According to the invention, tall oil pitch is first heated to turn it into liquid, which is then fed into a catalyst bed and catalytically deoxygenated with hydrogen. The deoxygenation catalyst is preferably a Ni—Mo catalyst and, in addition, a cracking catalyst can be used, such as an acidic zeolite catalyst. The deoxygenated product stream is cooled down so as to obtain a liquid, which is distilled for separation of the aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons for use in the production of the respective monomers and finally polymers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a web of fibrous cellulosic material derived from wood pulp, said web being suitable for three-dimensional moulding to form a packaging product, wherein the web comprises >40 wt % of soft wood chemical pulp and at least one strength enhancement agent, wherein the web has a grammage less than 400 g/m2, and wherein the cellulose fibers of said soft wood chemical pulp comprise a fiber curl of >9%.

Abstract: A deep-drawn paper tray made of paper material, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the tray, and a closed product package comprising the tray. The tray having a bottom and upwardly expanding side walls around the bottom, the side walls of the tray being shaped to expand through a plurality of circumferential steps dimensioned low enough for obtaining wrinkle-free side walls for the tray. The outermost step is a flat, wrinkle-free rim flange, which enables liquid and gas proof heat-sealing of a lid to form the package. The apparatus may comprise upper and lower moulding tools with concentric movable frames for forming the tray bottom and side wall steps from paper blanks, and moulding tools may be mounted onto a rotating turret carrying a paper blank through working stations arranged along the turret circumference, to shape the tray bottom and the side wall steps at the consecutive stations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for deep-drawing a tray (1) from a blank of sheet material (2). The blank is provided with score lines, which determine the location of wrinkles formed in the process. The apparatus comprises a female moulding tool (3), which comprises a cavity (7) for forming the tray bottom outwardly, a male moulding tool (4), which comprises a plunger (11) for forming the tray bottom inwardly, the plunger being movable with respect to the cavity for forming the tray, and clamps (6, 15) with an interface for holding the sheet material and forming a tray rim flange. According to the invention by laterally distancing at least one of the moulding tools (3, 4) from the sheet material leeway is pro-vided for free forming so that wrinkling of the tray side walls is achieved in a controlled manner. Spacer plates (13) may be positioned behind the plunger (11), to adjust its position in relation to the cavity (7) of the female moulding tool (3).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing paper or board, the paper or board obtained by the method, and a method of producing a tray from the board. In a fibrous stock for papermaking is incorporated an amount of polymer coated fibrous particles, which even have a foaming agent such as moisture contained therein. A web is formed from the fibrous stock on a forming fabric of a paper or board machine, followed by pressing and drying to a finished paper or board. As the paper or board is sufficiently heated the foaming agent within the particles evaporates, causing expansion and foaming of the polymer coating, which adds to malleability of the board as it is moulded into a shaped article such as a board tray. The invention even covers production of doubly coated fibrous particles for use in said methods, the inner coating layer being of a foamable polymer with a higher melt flow rate and the outer coating layer being of a non-foaming polymer of a lower melt flow rate.

Abstract: A method of forming an aqueous solution comprising mircrofibrillated cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing a substantially dry composite material, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and a filler material, wherein said filler material is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of said microfibrillated cellulose; providing an aqueous media, wherein the method further comprises the step of lowering the pH value of said aqueous media and then mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus dissolving said microfibrillated cellulose; or the step of mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, and then lowering the pH of said mixture, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus releasing said microfibrillated cellulose.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method of manufacturing paper or board, the paper or board obtained by the method, and a method of producing a tray from the board. In a fibrous stock for papermaking is incorporated an amount of polymer coated fibrous particles, which even have a foaming agent such as moisture contained therein. A web is formed from the fibrous stock on a forming fabric of a paper or board machine, followed by pressing and drying to a finished paper or board. As the paper or board is sufficiently heated the foaming agent within the particles evaporates, causing expansion and foaming of the polymer coating, which adds to malleability of the board as it is moulded into a shaped article such as a board tray. The invention even covers production of doubly coated fibrous particles for use in said methods, the inner coating layer being of a foamable polymer with a higher melt flow rate and the outer coating layer being of a non-foaming polymer of a lower melt flow rate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for extrusion coating of a fiber-based substrate, wherein a twin-screw extruder is used on-line in the extrusion coating process.

Abstract: The present invention is in the technical field of packages, specifically surfaces of materials used for packages, and the manufacture thereof. According to the present invention, a micropattern is created on at least surface of a substrate, to obtain a material suitable for manufacturing packages.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for lowering the melt viscosity and thereby improving heat-sealability of a polyester. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a heat-sealed container or package from fibrous-based, polyester-coated packaging material, and a method for heat-sealing polyester. The solution according to the invention is subjecting polyester to electron beam (EB) radiation. The lowered melt viscosity allows a lower heat-sealing temperature, and permits sealing of polyester to an uncoated fibrous surface. The preferred polyester for the invention is polylactide, as such or as blended with another polyester.

Abstract: The invention relates to use of polylactide (PLA) as an extruded polymer coating on paper or board intended for the production of containers and packages, which are heated in a stove or microwave oven. According to the invention a polyfunctional cross-linking agent, such as trialkyl isocyanurate (TAIC), is blended with PLA, and the extruded coating layer is subjected to cross-linking electron beam (EB) radiation. PLA may be used as such or blended with another biodegradable polyester such as polybutylene succinate (PBS). EB radiation has been found to improve adhesion of the coating to the paper or board substrate, heat-scalability of the coating, and heat-resistance of the finished containers and packages.

Abstract: Method for producing a sterilized foam web, wherein the method comprising the steps of preparing a wet foam (1), feeding the wet foam (1) to a head box (2, 11), distributing the wet foam by the head box (2, 11), treating the wet foam (1) with electron beam radiation (3a, 3b, 3c) to immobilize and sterilize the wet foam (1), receiving the electron beam treated foam on a moving wire (4) to form a foam web (6, 13), pressing and the foam web (6, 13), and drying the foam web (6, 13).

Abstract: A method of forming an aqueous solution comprising mircrofibrillated cellulose, the method comprising the steps of providing a substantially dry composite material, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and a filler material, wherein said filler material is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of said microfibrillated cellulose; providing an aqueous media, wherein the method further comprises the step of lowering the pH value of said aqueous media and then mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus dissolving said microfibrillated cellulose; or the step of mixing said aqueous media with said substantially dry composite material, and then lowering the pH of said mixture, such that the filler material is released from said microfibrillated cellulose, thus releasing said microfibrillated cellulose.

Abstract: A deep-drawn paper tray made of paper material, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the tray, and a closed product package comprising the tray. The tray having a bottom and upwardly expanding side walls around the bottom, the side walls of the tray being shaped to expand through a plurality of circumferential steps dimensioned low enough for obtaining wrinkle-free side walls for the tray. The outermost step is a flat, wrinkle-free rim flange, which enables liquid and gas proof heat-sealing of a lid to form the package. The apparatus may comprise upper and lower moulding tools with concentric movable frames for forming the tray bottom and side wall steps from paper blanks, and moulding tools may be mounted onto a rotating turret carrying a paper blank through working stations arranged along the turret circumference, to shape the tray bottom and the side wall steps at the consecutive stations.

Abstract: A deep-drawn paper tray made of paper material, a method and an apparatus for manufacturing the tray, and a closed product package comprising the tray. The tray having a bottom and upwardly expanding side walls around the bottom, the side walls of the tray being shaped to expand through a plurality of circumferential steps dimensioned low enough for obtaining wrinkle-free side walls for the tray. The outermost step is a flat, wrinkle-free rim flange, which enables liquid and gas proof heat-sealing of a lid to form the package. The apparatus may comprise upper and lower moulding tools with concentric movable frames for forming the tray bottom and side wall steps from paper blanks, and moulding tools may be mounted onto a rotating turret carrying a paper blank through working stations arranged along the turret circumference, to shape the tray bottom and the side wall steps at the consecutive stations.

Abstract: A method of deoxygenation of tall oil as well as methods for the production of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polymerizable monomers from tall oil. Sulphurous crude tall oil together with hydrogen gas is fed into a reactor comprising a catalyst bed. The oil is catalytically deoxygenated by hydrogen in the bed by use of a sulfided metal catalyst, e.g. a NiMoS catalyst. The flow exiting the reactor is cooled down and a hydrocarbon-bearing liquid phase is separated from a gas phase, followed by subjecting the liquid phase to distillation for removal of useless aromatic hydrocarbons and then to steam cracking to form a product containing olefins such as ethylene or propylene. By regulation of the deoxygenation temperature to be at least 270° C. but less than 360° C. the yield is rich in linear and cyclic aliphates that usefully turn to olefins in the steam cracking, while formation of napthalenes is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a polymer-coated packaging material, a method of manufacturing the same, and products, such as a disposable drinking cup, made from the material. The packaging material comprises a fibrous base (1) of paper or board and an extruded polymer layer (2) containing a blend of (i) 0 to 25 wt-% of a branched low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a lower melt viscosity and (ii) 75 to 90 wt-% of a linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with a higher melt viscosity. The packaging material of the invention comprises multilayer coatings, e.g. an adhesive innermost and a heat-sealable outermost layer (2, 4) of said blend and a vapor barrier middle layer (3) of at most 90 wt-% of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The layers (2, 3, 4) are brought and adhered to the fibrous base (1) by coextrusion. To maximize renewability of the materials HDPE and LLDPE as used for the structure are of biologic origin.

Abstract: The present invention relates to determination of the microorganism content in material comprising cellulose within the pulp and paper industry. The material comprising cellulose is enzymatically pretreated and microorganisms are determined using PCR based technology.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing at least one ply of a paper or paperboard product which process comprises the steps of; subjecting cellulosic fibers to heat treatment wherein the fibers are treated at a high dry content and at an increased temperature, preparing a slurry comprising said heat treated fibers, forming a web of said slurry and, dewatering said web whereby a ply of said product is formed. The present invention further relates to a paper or paperboard product produced according to the process.