Kraft as a term comes from the similar German word which means strength, aptly describing the different characteristics of this paper. It’s a high-quality and very durable paper that’s known for being resilient and stronger than most other types of paper that’s out there.
It is directly made through wood pulp which uses a kraft process, and it’s what gives it that robust, distinct brown color you don’t see anywhere else.
It’s far less likely to actually get punctured, and it’s ideal for the packaging. The higher levels of elasticity and the resistance to tearing is what makes it suitable for wrapping items that are heavy, or those with edges that are sharp. It’s also very versatile, and can be used in rolls, bags, sheets, and a lot more.
How Kraft is Made
Kraft is made through a process of the same name. It is also known technically by the Sulfate type of process, and it involves converting the wood directly into a pulp, and is made of a pure cellulose fiber.
This wood pulp is then subjected to chemicals and heat, which will remove the impurities, breaking them all down into a cellulose structure, to make it a durable, stronger paper than before.
Kraft is far more environmentally friendly than other types of processes to make paper. This is because it does reuse and recover the chemicals that get used.
The process also results in a paper with far less lignin that are impurities in the pulp that’s there, which helps to make the paper more durable, and stronger too.
There are multiple different types of kraft paper, such as natural kraft paper, kraft paper that’s been bleached to create a distinct color, a black kraft paper, kraft paper that’s colored, and final kraft paper that’s been printed.
The natural kraft paper is the one you see the most, known for the brown coloring it has. Bleached kraft paper is not seen as often, because you need to put it through a specific kraft bleach process to make this white.
The other colors are made during a manufacturing type of process, and you can also use printed types, aptly customized with designs and logos based on the requirements of the business.
The qualities of kraft paper
Here’s a rundown of the different qualities that kraft paper has.
- The first, is that there’s a higher tensile strength to this, which has a higher grammage compared to regular paper
- Sack types of kraft paper or sack paper, is a more porous type of kraft paper with a higher elasticity, and a higher resistance to tearing, and is made for products that have a higher demand and durability to the strength of it.
- You also have absorbent kraft paper, with a controlled type of absorbency, which is a high level of porosity to this, and it is made from low kappa hardwood that’s cleaned, and a kraft that’s got good uniformity and a great formation.
- The spinning kraft paper is one that’s made with lower grammage and has better machine direction and elongation of the cross machine. This is usually done with a higher fiber orientation on a paper machine.
- Hunting cartridge paper is made from the same paper in shells for shotguns, with a high tensile strength and different directions.
- Candy wrapping paper is usually flexor printed or offset printed. Good in strength, with a highly oriented fiber to this to make them opaque or supercalendered.
Kraft paper has some cool benefits many people can enjoy.
Corrugated Business 