As helpful as corrugated cardboard is, we usually don’t contemplate it to be a really sturdy materials. The second it’s uncovered to moisture, it begins to crumble, and it’s simply broken even when saved dry. That mentioned, there are methods to make corrugated cardboard a lot extra sturdy, as demonstrated by the [NightHawkInLight]. Gluing a number of panels collectively in order that the corrugation alternates by 90 levels each different panel makes them extra sturdy, with wheat paste (1:5 combination of flour and water) really helpful as adhesive.
Extra after the break…
Different tips are folding over edges assist to guard towards harm, and integrating wooden helps. Regular woodworking instruments like saws can lower these glued-together panels. Including the wheat paste to exterior surfaces may also shield towards harm. By making use of kindergarten papier-mâché abilities, a customized exterior layer might be made that may be sanded and painted for making furnishings, and so forth.
Past these and different suggestions, there stays the difficulty of safety towards water intrusion. The (biodegradable) resolution right here is shellac. Sadly, pure (canned) shellac isn’t ok for long-term publicity to moisture, so the recipe really helpful right here is: 0.5 L of (~91%) IPA, 125 g of shellac flakes, and 15 g of beeswax. After heating and stirring, a paste wax is created that may be brushed on the cardboard to supply water resistance, with out turning mentioned cardboard into chemical waste.
In its place waterproof coating (however not biodegradable) there’s one other recipe: 100 g scorching glue sticks, 25 g paraffine wax or beeswax, and 20 mL of mineral oil (which lowers the melting temperature).
Though these strategies, together with the additionally mentioned UV safety coatings – require a while and supplies funding. Since cardboard is successfully free, there’s one thing to be mentioned for this method, if solely as a enjoyable chemistry or physics venture. For [NightHawkInLight] it’s getting used because the roof on his DIY camper, for which it looks as if a pleasant light-weight, waterproof choice.
Because of [James Newton] for the tip.
