Frequently Asked Questions

Corrugated adhesive (also called cardboard adhesive or corrugated glue) is a starch-based glue used to bond paper layers in corrugated cardboard production. It bonds the fluting medium to the liner papers, creating the strong, lightweight structure of corrugated boxes. The most common type is starch adhesive made from corn starch or wheat starch.

Traditional starch glue uses caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) to lower the gelatinization temperature. Alkali-free adhesive eliminates caustic soda entirely, making it safer for workers (no chemical burns), less corrosive to equipment, more environmentally friendly, and easier to prepare. Alkali-free adhesive provides similar bonding performance with improved safety.

A boiler-free corrugating line is a corrugated board production system that operates without a steam boiler. Traditional corrugating lines require steam at 150-180°C for adhesive gelatinization. Boiler-free technology uses specially formulated instant-dry adhesives that work at room temperature or low temperature (below 100°C). This eliminates boiler investment, reduces energy consumption by up to 60%, improves safety, and simplifies environmental compliance.

Modern high-speed corrugating lines can achieve speeds of 250-400 meters per minute. Xuegong's boiler-free corrugating line achieved 300 m/min single facer speed in 2017, which is internationally leading performance. Speed depends on board type, paper quality, and adhesive formulation.

Corn starch glue is an adhesive made from corn starch, used primarily in corrugated box manufacturing. Industrial corn starch glue is made by cooking starch with water and additives to create a paste with specific viscosity and gel temperature. Modern adhesive powders (like Xuegong's Easy Glue) simplify preparation - just add starch and water, mix, and use.

Powder adhesive offers advantages for storage, shipping, and shelf life (18+ months). It's prepared on-site by mixing with water. Liquid adhesive is ready-to-use but has shorter shelf life and higher transport costs. For most corrugated factories, powder adhesive is more economical and practical, especially when shipping from overseas suppliers.

Delamination (layers separating) is caused by: insufficient adhesive application, wrong adhesive viscosity, inadequate heat/pressure, paper moisture problems, or incorrect machine settings. Solutions include: checking glue roll gaps, verifying adhesive viscosity (30-60 seconds Stein-Hall cup), ensuring proper temperatures, and matching adhesive formula to paper types.

Xuegong (Anhui Xuegong New Materials Group) is a Chinese pioneer in starch adhesive technology, established in 1987. Key differentiators: 38 years of R&D experience, creator of China's first national starch adhesive standard, patented boiler-free corrugating line technology (300 m/min speed), alkali-free adhesive series, and 'Easy Glue' powder requiring no additives. They offer integrated solutions combining equipment and adhesives.