Quality Developments in Pulp Fibers using Conventional Papermaking Laboratory Beaters and an Industrial Pilot Refiner

Abstract

The research focused on the examination of quality developments of bleached kraft softwood pulp in the papermaking process. The pulp was mechanically treated using conventional papermaking laboratory beaters and an industrial pilot refiner. The conventional laboratory devices studied were a PFI mill and a Valley beater, while a Voith LR 40 industrial pilot refiner was used to represent a mill refiner. The results showed that the pulp fibers developed in different directions depending on the testing devices. The pulp samples treated using the laboratory equipment were found to contain a higher ratio of long fibers, a higher coarseness and a greater internal change of fiber structure, while the pulp samples refined using the industrial pilot refiner consisted of a shorter fiber, a lower level of internal structural changes in the fiber walls and a higher content of fines. The paper made from the pulp manipulated using the laboratory equipment had a superior strength, while the paper made from the pulp treated using the industrial pilot refiner had a poorer strength and a lower density, but had a higher light scattering value. The results of this study indicated that laboratory pulp cannot be used directly to examine fiber actions under industrial operations. Further research should study pulp characteristics and their effects on the papermaking process with regard to the correlation between laboratory work and industrial performance.