This disclosure includes ice packs that comprise paper and absorbent material, and also includes various methods of making, adding liquid to, freezing, shipping, and/or using such ice packs. This disclosure also includes assemblies that include one or more such ice packs, such as, for example, a container of a plurality of such ice packs in dry, wet, and/or frozen states, or a container that includes an ice pack in a hydrated, frozen state and one or more perishable items.

An absorbent pad has: a first, outer layer comprising a permeable or non-permeable film; a second, outer layer comprising a permeable or non-permeable film, placed on a side of the pad opposite the first, outer layer; a third layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer, and comprising a tissue laminate comprising at least a first ply and a second ply, with at least one chemical agent or system fixed in the third layer and being either activated by contact with or soluble in an aqueous liquid, the at least one chemical agent or system being in a predetermined amount distributed substantially uniformly per unit area of the surface area between the at least first ply and second ply: and a fourth layer disposed between the first layer and the second layer and comprising fluff, with or without a chemical agent or system, the third layer being joined to the fourth layer to serve as a substrate for the fourth layer.

Starch-based packaging material and methods for making the material are described. The starch-based packaging material can comprise layers of expanded starch with a cellulosic web disposed between the layers. The expanded starch can be formed by extruding starch with water which acts as an expanding agent and causes the starch to expand resulting in an extrudate having a density of no more than about 5 lbs/ft.sup.3. An apparatus and methods for post-processing the expanded starch are described wherein the expanded starch is extruded as a tube that enters a funnel and is advanced forward by forced air. The tube passes over a blade where the tube is slit and subsequently opened up into a sheet by a second supply of forced air. The sheet then exits the funnel and can be calendered as well as stacked with subsequent lamination.

The embossing-laminating device comprises a first embossing roller provided with embossing protrusions defining a first embossing pattern and comprising first embossing protrusions and second embossing protrusions, of a height greater than the first embossing protrusions. The device further comprises a first pressure roller defining, with the first embossing roller, a first embossing nip; wherein a first path for a first ply extends through the first embossing nip. A second embossing roller, provided with embossing protrusions defining a second embossing pattern, coacts with a second pressure roller defining, with the second embossing roller, a second embossing nip. The second embossing pattern of the second embossing roller comprises third embossing protrusions and fourth embossing protrusions, of a height greater than the third embossing protrusions.

Gypsum boards formed from synthetic gypsum and other gypsum sources having high chloride salt concentrations. Gypsum boards may include a board core including set gypsum between a front cover sheet and a back cover sheet. A total concentration of the chloride anion in the board core ranges from about 150 to 4000 parts by weight (pbw) chloride, typically about 300 to about 3000 pbw, more typically from about 400 to about 2000 pbw, further typically from about 1000 to about 2000 pbw, and further typically from about 600 to about 1000 pbw, per 1,000,000 pbw calcium sulfate dihydrate. A polymer layer contacts an inner surface of the back cover sheet. A densified gypsum layer contacts an inner surface of the front cover sheet. Methods of making the gypsum board, and a wall system for employing the gypsum boards, are also provided.

Container insulation including a batt comprised of large paper particles, at least 90% of which by weight are greater than 10 mm in diameter. Less than 5% by weight binder fibers are used, which have a length of at least 20 mm. Most preferably, no binder fibers are used. Where the batts are faced with paper, the paper is coated with a biodegradable coating. The resulting product is repulpable and recyclable in accordance with Fiber Box Association (FBA) testing protocols.

A differential density absorbent towel paper product comprising at least one absorbent towel paper web is disclosed. The absorbent towel paper web has: (a) from about 20% to about 90% by weight of the dry fiber basis of the absorbent towel paper web of a refined soft wood pulp fiber mixture, (b) pulp fibers selected from the group consisting of hard wood fibers, non-wood fibers, recycled fibers, synthetic polymer fibers, bleached eucalyptus kraft fibers, and combinations thereof and, (c) not more than about 10% by weight moisture. The refined soft wood pulp fiber mixture has: i) from about 18.5% to about 88.5% by weight of soft wood pulp fiber; ii) from about 0.25% to about 5.0% by of cationic strengthening polymer; and, iii) from about 0.05% to about 20% by weight of cellulose nano-filaments.

A system and method for producing a board product characterized by having two corrugated mediums and at least one embossed medium in the board product. The board product may further include one or more facings that are adhesively coupled to either the corrugated medium, the embossed medium, or both. Generally speaking, a corrugated medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a cross-corrugating process such that the induced flutes are perpendicular (or at least not congruent) with the machine direction of the paper product. An embossed medium may be characterized as a paper product that exhibits flutes induced by a linear-embossing process such that the induced flutes are aligned with the machine direction of the paper product. A resultant board product is stronger and more efficiently produced because of the linearly-embossed medium harnessing the natural strength of the paper in the machine direction.

A non-foil packaging laminate for liquid food packaging comprises a layer of paper or other cellulose-based material, outermost liquid tight, heat sealable layers of polyolefin-based polymers and, vapour-deposition coated onto the inner side of the layer of paper or cellulose-based material, an induction heat susceptible metal coating. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing of the packaging laminate, a packaging container that is made from the packaging laminate and a method of induction heat sealing the packaging laminate into packaging containers.

The adhesive composition comprising emulsion polymers and microspheres and articles made therefrom are provided. The adhesive is particularly suitable for packages for consumer products that provide sufficient strength and thermal insulation while reducing the overall basis weight of the substrates.