Flexible cellulosic fiber-based honeycomb material

Abstract

A flexible packaging material including: a core portion having a geometrically patterned structure defining two spaced-apart substantially planar faces and providing air space therebetween, the core portion including cellulosic fiber-based walls having a core grammage; and at least one cellulosic fiber-based liner bonded to a respective one of the planar faces of the core portion and having a liner grammage lower than the core grammage, the material being flexible along a plane defined by the at least one liner.

1 . A flexible packaging material comprising:
 a core having two spaced-apart core surfaces and including a plurality of cellulosic fiber-based walls extending between the two core surfaces, the plurality of cellulosic fiber-based walls defining a plurality of empty cells;   a first liner having a first liner grammage, the first liner extending along a first one of the two core surfaces, substantially normal to the cellulosic fiber-based walls, and secured to the cellulosic fiber-based walls; and   a second liner having a second liner grammage, lower than the first liner grammage, the second liner extending along a second one of the two core surfaces, substantially normal to the cellulosic fiber-based walls, and secured to the cellulosic fiber-based walls; wherein the flexible packaging material is bendable.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of empty cells has a cell diameter and a cell height, and a ratio of the cell height and the cell diameter is below 1.1. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic fiber-based walls have a core grammage ranging between 60 and 200 grams per square meter and at least one of the first liner grammage and the second liner grammage being lower than the core grammage. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the first liner grammage and the second liner grammage are lower than the core grammage. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first liner grammage and the second liner grammage is below 100 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first liner grammage and the second liner grammage is below 60 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the two core surfaces extend substantially parallel to one another. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is flexible along a plane defined by at least one of the first liner and the second liner. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one of the first liner and the second liner comprises an air-laid paper. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the other one of the first liner and the second liner comprises a kraft paper. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the kraft paper comprises an extendable kraft paper. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , having an overall thickness ranging between 0.6 cm and 2.5 cm. 
     
     
         13 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of empty cells has a diameter ranging between 0.6 cm and 3.8 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of empty cells defines a grid of hexagonal empty cells. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cellulosic fiber-based walls of the core and at least one of the first liner and the second liner comprise wood fiber based materials. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material is bendable around a corner area of an object. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material has a packaging material grammage below about 500 grams per square meter. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material is foldable along several non-parallel axes. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material is reshapable following folding. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible packaging material as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible packaging material is foldable simultaneously along at least two non-parallel axes. 
     
     
         21 . An article at least partially protected by the flexible packaging material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         22 . The article as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the material is bended over at least one non-planar element. 
     
     
         23 . The article as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the non-planar element comprises a corner.