Some Aspects on Strength Properties in Paper Composed of Different Pulps
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Faculty of Technology and Science Chemical Engineering Hanna Karlsson Some aspects on strength properties in paper composed of different pulps Karlstad University Studies 2007:38 Hanna Karlsson Some aspects on strength properties in paper composed of different pulps Karlstad University Studies 2007:38 Hanna Karlsson. Some aspects on strength properties in paper composed of different pulps Licentiate thesis Karlstad University Studies 2007:38 ISSN 1403-8099 ISBN 978-91-7063-141-2 © The author Distribution: Karlstad University Faculty of Technology and Science Chemical Engineering SE-651 88 Karlstad SWEDEN Phone +46 54 700 10 00 www.kau.se Printed at: Universitetstryckeriet, Karlstad 2007 Abstract For paper producers, an understanding of the development of strength properties in the paper is of uttermost importance. Strong papers are important operators both in the traditional paper industry as well as in new fields of application, such as fibre-based packaging and light-weight building material. In this study, two approaches of enhancing paper strength, reinforcement and multilayering, were addressed. In specific, the effects of adding abaca ( Musa Textilis ) as a reinforcement fibre for softwood pulp were investigated. Moreover, a handsheet former for the production of stratified sheets, the LB Multilayer Handsheet Former, was evaluated. The LB Multilayer Handsheet Former was then used to study the effects of placing selected fibres in separate layers, rather than by making homogeneous sheets from a mixture of the pulps. Handsheets of a softwood sulphate pulp with the addition of abaca fibres were made in a conventional sheet former. It was seen that the addition of abaca fibres increased the tearing resistance, fracture toughness, folding endurance and air permeance. Tensile strength, tensile stiffness and tensile energy absorption, however, decreased somewhat. Still it was possible to add up to about 60% abaca without any great loss in tensile strength. As an example, with the addition of 30% abaca, the tear index was increased by 36%, while the tensile index was decreased by 8%. It was shown that the LB Multilayer Handsheet Former is suitable for studying the effects of stratification of paper. The sheet former produces sheets with good formation and the uniformity of the sheets, evaluated as the variation of paper properties, is retained at a fairly constant level when the number of layers in the stratified sheets is increased. The uniformity of the sheets produced in the LB Multilayer Handsheet Former are generally at the same level as of those produced in conventional sheet formers. Homogeneous and stratified sheets were produced in the LB Multilayer Handsheet Former and it was found that by stratifying a sheet, so that a pulp with a high tear index and a pulp with a high tensile index are placed in separate layers, it was possible to increase the tear index by approximately 25%, while the tensile index was decreased by 10-20%. i List of papers The thesis is based on the following papers, which are referred to by their Roman numerals in the thesis: I Karlsson, H., Beghello, L., Nilsson, L., Stolpe, L. Abaca as a reinforcement fibre for softwood pulp. Accepted for publication in Tappi Journal. II Karlsson, H., Nilsson, L., Beghello, L., Stolpe, L. Handsheet former for the production of stratified sheets. To be submitted to Appita Journal. III Karlsson, H., Stolpe, L., Beghello, L. Paper strength evaluation both in homogeneous and in stratified sheets with selected fibres. To be submitted to Journal of Pulp and Paper Science. Reprint of paper I has been made with permission from the publisher. The author’s contribution to the papers: I Main author of the manuscript, major part of the experiments and analyses. II Main author of the manuscript, experiments and analyses in part. III Main author of the manuscript, major part of the experiments and analyses. ii List of symbols and abbreviations Symbols, Latin A Crack area, for the calculation of energy release rate d Diameter of a circle circumscribing a fibre, for the calculation of the shape factor of the fibre G Energy release rate J Calculated value of the J-integral lf Fibre length log 10 Common logarithm m1 Weight of a centrifuged pulp sample, for the measurement of water retention value m2 Weight of a centrifuged and dried pulp sample, for the measurement of water retention value n Number of pulp components, for the calculation of properties of pulp mixtures PCD Value of any property measured in the cross machine direction of a sheet PGeo Geometrical mean value of any property of an anisotropic sheet Pi Value of any property of pulp component i, for the calculation of properties for pulp mixtures PMD Value of any property measured in the machine direction of a sheet PMix Value of any property for a pulp mixture s Arc length of the integration path round a crack, for the calculation of the J-integral T Tensile strength Ti Traction vector, for the calculation of the J-integral U Potential energy, for the calculation of energy release rate ui Displacement vector, for the calculation of the J-integral wf Fibre width wi Mass fraction of pulp component i, for the calculation of properties for pulp mixtures w1,2 Mass fractions of the pulp components, for the calculation of RBA of a binary pulp mixture Z Zero-span tensile strength, for the calculation of tensile strength iii Symbols, Greek α1,2 Factors calculated from the RBA, the collapsed fibre thickness and the collapsed fibre width of the components, for the calculation of RBA of a binary pulp mixture Γ Integration path round a crack, for the calculation of the J- integral τf Breaking stress of fibre-fibre bonds, for the calculation of tensile strength ϖ Strain energy density, for the calculation of the J-integral Abbreviations BET Method for surface area determination by gas adsorption, named after the originators, Brunauer, Emmet and Teller CD Cross machine direction of a sheet CMC Carboxymethyl cellulose, can be used as dry strength agent in paper Comm 1-4 Commercial papers used in Paper II Geo Geometric mean value, can be calculated for properties of an anisotropic sheet HW Hardwood pulp used in Paper II IR Infra-red radiation, used for drying on a paper machine Iso Isotropic sheets LB Luciano Beghello, originator of the LB Multilayer Handsheet Former LEFM Linear elastic fracture mechanics MD Machine direction of a sheet NLFM Non-linear fracture mechanics PAM Polyacrylamide, can be used as dry strength agent in paper PFI Papir- och fiberinstituttet AS Paper and Fibre Research Institute, Trondheim, Norway PQM Pulp Quality Monitor RBA Relative bonded area rpm Revolutions per minute SR Schopper Riegler, unit for dewatering resistance of a pulp STFI Skogsindustrins Tekniska Forskningsinstitut Swedish Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Current name: STFI-Packforsk SW1,2 Softwood pulps used in Paper II iv TAD Through-air-drying TEA Tensile energy absorption TMP Thermomechanical pulp WFF Wet fibre flexibility WFF i Wet fibre flexibility index WRV Water retention value v Table of contents Abstract……………………………....……………………………………………...…i List of papers……..…………..…..…………………………………………….……..ii List of symbols and abbreviations…..……………………………………………...iii Table of contents……………………………………………………………………..vi 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives of this work .................................................................................. 2 2 Theory .................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Papermaking ................................................................................................... 3 2.1.1 Paper production ....................................................................................... 3 2.1.2 Multilayer forming on the paper machine ................................................... 5 2.2 Fibre network properties ................................................................................ 7 2.2.1 Fibre properties .......................................................................................... 7 2.2.2 Fibre network build-up ............................................................................ 10 2.2.3 Bonded area ........................................................................................... 10 2.2.4 Bond strength .......................................................................................... 12 2.3 Paper properties ............................................................................................ 13 2.3.1 Tensile properties ..................................................................................... 13 2.3.2 Fracture toughness ................................................................................... 15 2.3.3 Tearing resistance .................................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Folding endurance ................................................................................... 18 2.3.5 Internal bond strength .............................................................................. 19 2.3.6 Air permeance ......................................................................................... 21 2.4 Previous studies ...........................................................................................