The main part of disposable paper ice cream cups is made of high-quality wood pulp paper. Wood pulp paper is a kind of paper made of wood as raw material, processed by chemical or mechanical pulping, bleaching, papermaking and other processes. This material itself has a certain heat insulation effect, which can slow down the heat exchange between external heat and ice cream to a certain extent. The porous structure of wood pulp paper helps to absorb and store a small amount of heat, thereby slowing down the heating rate of ice cream to a certain extent.

However, the heat insulation effect of wood pulp paper alone is not enough to meet the needs of ice cream to keep low temperature for a long time. In order to further improve the heat preservation performance, the inner and outer surfaces of paper cups are usually specially coated.

The thin layer of waterproof coating applied to the inner and outer surfaces of disposable paper ice cream cups is the key to keeping ice cream cool for a long time. These coating materials are mainly polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA).

Polyethylene is a widely used plastic material with good waterproof performance and certain heat insulation effect. In ice cream paper cups, PE coating can effectively prevent moisture penetration and keep the inside of the paper cup dry. More importantly, the PE coating can isolate the heat exchange between the outside heat and the ice cream to a certain extent. When the outside temperature is high, the PE coating can slow down the transfer of heat to the ice cream, thereby extending the cooling time of the ice cream.

However, with the improvement of environmental awareness, the use of traditional plastic materials such as polyethylene has been increasingly restricted. In response to the call for environmental protection, disposable paper ice cream cups have begun to use biodegradable materials as a substitute for coating.

Polylactic acid is a bioplastic made from renewable resources (such as corn starch). Compared with polyethylene, PLA has better biodegradability and can be degraded into harmless substances such as water and carbon dioxide under industrial composting conditions. PLA coating also has good waterproof performance and heat insulation effect. In ice cream paper cups, PLA coating can also effectively prevent moisture penetration and heat transfer, thereby keeping the ice cream lasting and cool.

The coating treatment process of disposable paper ice cream cups is crucial to thermal insulation performance. Too thick or too thin a coating may affect the thermal insulation effect. Therefore, during the coating process, the thickness and uniformity of the coating need to be strictly controlled.

Generally speaking, coating treatment includes steps such as coating, drying and curing. During the coating process, the coating material needs to be evenly applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the paper cup. Then, through the drying and curing steps, the coating material forms a dense film on the surface of the paper cup. This film can not only effectively prevent moisture penetration and heat transfer, but also improve the overall strength and durability of the paper cup.

In order to ensure that the thermal insulation performance of disposable paper ice cream cups meets the standard requirements, a series of thermal insulation performance tests are usually required. These tests include thermal conductivity tests, temperature holding time tests, etc.

Thermal conductivity testing is an important method for evaluating the thermal insulation performance of materials. By measuring the heat flow of a material under a certain temperature gradient, the thermal conductivity of the material can be calculated. For disposable paper ice cream cups, the lower the thermal conductivity, the better its thermal insulation performance.

Temperature holding time test is a direct method to evaluate the thermal insulation performance of paper cups. A certain amount of ice cream is placed in a paper cup, and then placed at a certain ambient temperature, and the change of the ice cream temperature over time is recorded. By comparing the temperature holding time of different paper cups under the same conditions, the advantages and disadvantages of their thermal insulation performance can be evaluated.

In addition to its excellent thermal insulation performance, disposable paper ice cream cups also have the dual advantages of environmental protection and practicality. As a recyclable material, paper cups can be naturally degraded or recycled after use, greatly reducing the risk of environmental pollution. The lightness, portability and unbreakability of paper cups also make it an ideal packaging container for cold drinks such as ice cream.

With the increasing awareness of environmental protection, the environmental advantages of disposable paper ice cream cups are particularly prominent. Compared with traditional plastic containers, paper cups are more easily biodegradable after being discarded, causing less pollution to the environment. In addition, the production process of paper cups is relatively simple and environmentally friendly, without requiring a lot of energy consumption and harmful emissions.

When purchasing disposable paper ice cream cups, consumers should pay attention to the following points:
Check product information: Make sure that the paper cups meet the relevant national quality standards and avoid choosing inferior or unqualified products.
Distinguish coating materials: Choose paper cups with PE coating or PLA coating as needed. For consumers who pursue environmental protection, PLA coated paper cups are a better choice.
Check the coating quality: The coating should be uniform and free of defects such as bubbles and cracks. Too thick or too thin a coating may affect the thermal insulation effect.
Pay attention to the size of the paper cup: Choose the appropriate paper cup size according to actual needs. A paper cup that is too large may cause the ice cream to melt too quickly, while a paper cup that is too small may not hold enough ice cream.
Correct storage and use: When storing paper cups, avoid direct sunlight and high temperature environments to avoid affecting their heat preservation performance. When using, the ice cream should be placed in the paper cup quickly and enjoyed as soon as possible to maintain the best taste.