Barrier Application
Extrusion coating and wet adhesive methods apply protective polymer films to one surface of paperboard webs. Packaging converters specify single sided lamination to provide grease resistance, moisture holdout, or heat-seal functionality on carton interior faces. Unequal moisture absorption between the lined surface and raw exterior fiber induces hygroscopic curl if converting tension is unbalanced.
Curl Dynamic
Applying a non-porous barrier film to one face prevents ambient moisture from entering or exiting that specific side of the paperboard. When environmental relative humidity fluctuates, the uncoated exterior side absorbs or desorbs moisture, expanding or contracting its cellulose fiber matrix. The laminated synthetic film resists these dimensional shifts, forcing the entire sheet structure to warp into concave or convex curl profiles.
Converters control web tension, thermal drying profiles, and moisture balancing sprays on the reverse side to minimize post-lamination board distortion.
Converting Performance
Flat sheets are essential for maintaining accurate registration across high-speed sheet-fed offset presses and rotary die-cutting platen units. Severely curled board blanks catch on suction feeder belts, trip double-sheet detectors, and skew inside folding carton gluer section rails. Proper tension balancing during single-ply barrier lamination ensures stable carton blanks that stack cleanly in retail distribution packaging.