Technical Blog

Coaterex technical articles on water-based barriers, recyclability, Cobb testing, and sustainable packaging conversion.

The Cobb test: how to measure your paper's water resistance, step by step

Guides

February 12, 2025

8 min read

The Cobb test: how to measure your paper's water resistance, step by step

The complete Cobb test procedure per TAPPI T 441: the equipment you need, the mistakes that skew results, and how to read the numbers you get.

Migrating your corrugator to water-based barriers without stopping production: the methodology

How to replace waxes and laminates on a running corrugator: stages, pre-production checklist, quality protocols, and the mistakes that cost the most.

Why plastic laminates are running out of road (and what's replacing them)

PE laminate solved the moisture problem for 40 years. Today it blocks recycling, exposes brands to the PPWR and EPR schemes, and already has a mature technical replacement.

HydraBan®: the water barrier that wins on cost, not on overkill

Cobb 22-28, up to 90% dilution at the plant, and application on the corrugator you already have. What HydraBan® is for, what it isn't, and how it changes the cost model.

From field to supermarket: why fruit boxes collapse (and how to prevent it)

High humidity plus constant refrigeration is the worst possible environment for a corrugated box. What happens inside the container, which metrics to demand, and how to protect yourself without giving up recyclability.

Water and grease at once, without PFAS or plastic: the myth chemistry already busted

For decades, water barrier and grease barrier were incompatible chemistries: wax or PE for one, fluorochemicals for the other. How today's dual-barrier coatings work.

Do you know your Cobb value? You're probably paying for the wrong one

Choosing the right target Cobb value is the most important cost decision in barrier packaging: don't over-specify, don't fall short. A practical guide with real-world ranges.

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Technical Blog

The Cobb test: how to measure your paper's water resistance, step by step

Migrating your corrugator to water-based barriers without stopping production: the methodology

Why plastic laminates are running out of road (and what's replacing them)

HydraBan®: the water barrier that wins on cost, not on overkill

From field to supermarket: why fruit boxes collapse (and how to prevent it)

Water and grease at once, without PFAS or plastic: the myth chemistry already busted

Do you know your Cobb value? You're probably paying for the wrong one