Abstract
Suitability of corrugating medium for microflute shape formation was analyzed in terms of fiber bonding strength and paper stiffness. Cationic starch and oxidized starch were applied to corrugating medium's surface by bar coater in order to compare the relative importance of stiffness and fiber bonding on microflute formation. It was found that cationic starch was beneficial for better stiffness and oxidized starch was beneficial for better fiber bonding. The results of the decreasing ratio of length by flute formation, the calculated conditioning effect, and the flute height before and after conditioning treatment were obtained. For better microflute shape formation and its preservation it was found that fiber bonding strength should be increased, proper stiffness was required, and resistance to water absorption from surroundings should be increased.