How to rationally select the wall thickness and diameter specifications of packaging paper tubes based on the weight of the contents and stacking height?
Publish Time: 2025-12-08
In the industrial and commercial packaging field, packaging paper tubes, though seemingly simple, are key structural components that support roll materials, protect products, and ensure logistics efficiency. Whether it's textile yarn spools, film mandrels, printing paper cores, or cable winding reels, their load-bearing capacity directly affects transportation safety and user experience. To ensure that packaging paper tubes are neither underpowered nor over-designed in practical applications, their wall thickness and diameter specifications must be scientifically matched based on the weight of the contents and the stacking height in storage. This selection process is essentially a comprehensive balance between mechanical performance, material efficiency, and cost control.First, the weight of the contents determines the static load that the packaging paper tube must withstand. When the roll material is wound onto the packaging paper tube, its total weight is transferred to the tube body through the contact surface, placing the packaging paper tube under radial pressure. If the wall thickness is insufficient, the tube wall may dent due to localized crushing, leading to deformation or even collapse of the roll. This is especially true for high-density materials (such as metal foil and heavy fabrics), where the rigidity of the tube is paramount. Therefore, the greater the weight, the thicker the tube wall or the higher the strength of the base paper is typically required to improve compression and crush resistance. Furthermore, packaging paper tubes are not solid structures; their load-bearing capacity is closely related to their diameter. With the same wall thickness, a smaller diameter results in a greater wall curvature, stronger structural rigidity, and less susceptibility to flattening. Conversely, while large-diameter packaging paper tubes are convenient for accommodating wide materials, they require a corresponding increase in wall thickness to compensate for the loss of rigidity.Secondly, the stacking height during warehousing and transportation introduces additional longitudinal load considerations. When multiple pallets are stacked, the bottom packaging paper tube must support not only its own weight and the weight of its contents but also the pressure of the entire stack of goods above. This axial load can easily cause overall instability or end-face crushing of the packaging paper tube. In this case, simply increasing the wall thickness may not be sufficient; the flatness of the end face and the bearing area of the packaging paper tube must also be considered. In some high-load scenarios, thickened end rings, embedded rigid protective rings, or high-stiffness paper are used to distribute pressure and prevent "mushroom-like" deformation. Furthermore, the higher the stack height, the more stringent the requirements for the uniformity of the packaging paper tube material and the density of the roll—any interlayer gaps or poor bonding can become stress concentration points, accelerating failure.It is worth noting that the selection of diameter and wall thickness is not isolated but a synergistic optimization process. For example, to reduce overall weight or save material, the diameter can be appropriately increased and the wall thickness reduced while meeting minimum rigidity requirements; however, if the unwinding mechanism of the equipment is sensitive to the accuracy of the mandrel, roundness and dimensional stability must be prioritized, potentially sacrificing some lightweight advantages. Similarly, high-speed automated production lines have additional requirements for the dynamic performance of the packaging paper tube (such as vibration resistance and low eccentricity), which will also affect the final determination of structural parameters.The material itself is also a key variable. High-strength kraft paper, recycled pulp paper, or composite paperboard exhibit significantly different performance at the same thickness. High-quality base paper has long fibers and strong bonding, enabling higher strength with thinner walls; while the type of adhesive and coating uniformity determine whether the layers work together to bear the load. Therefore, proper selection is not only about calculating geometric dimensions, but also about a deep understanding of the material system.Finally, the details of the application scenario often determine success or failure. For example, packaging paper tubes used for export by sea need to consider the long-term effects of humidity, potentially sacrificing some strength for moisture protection; while electronic thin-film core tubes used in cleanrooms prioritize dust-free conditions and low ion release, rather than extreme load-bearing capacity. These implicit requirements are often more critical than weight and stacking height.In conclusion, selecting the specifications of packaging paper tubes is a practical art that integrates engineering mechanics, materials science, and judgment of actual working conditions. It requires designers to consider both the explicit parameters of "weight" and "height," as well as the implicit constraints of the environment, equipment, and user experience. Only in this way can a seemingly ordinary packaging paper tube silently and steadily support immense weight, protecting the product every step of its journey from the factory to the end user.
