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Improved barrier performance with microfibrillated cellulose, TAPPI Journal March 2025

ABSTRACT: In this work, the impact of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) on the properties of water-based barrier coatings intended for food packaging have been explored. Commercially available MFC was used for improving the rheology and water retention of three different commercially available dispersion coatings (acrylic, styrene acrylic, and polylactic acid). Coatings were applied by rod to paper, and barrier properties were tested by measuring air permeability and water barrier properties. Results clearly showed that addition of MFC to water-based dispersion coatings improved the barrier performance of the final coatings.

Using multi-method analysis to identify challenging paper machine deposits and defects, TAPPI Journal March 2025

ABSTRACT: Based on its speed and versatility, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is the industry’s common starting point for analysis of a paper machine deposit or defect sample. However, certain contaminants and papermaking process additives cannot be precisely identified solely by infrared spectral interpretation. This lack of specificity could lead to a misinterpretation of the composition of the deposit or defect. A multi-method analysis uses data from two or more analytical techniques, including FTIR spectroscopy, microbiological staining/phase contrast microscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Pyro-GC/MS), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), to produce a more specific assessment of a sample’s composition. This paper discusses the use of a multi-method analysis in deposit and defect analysis and presents several case studies that demonstrate how this comprehensive approach can often produce an interpretation result of greater conviction and value to the papermaker.

Application of AI-based approach to control the papermaking process, TAPPI Journal March 2025

ABSTRACT: This paper explores AI’s role in revolutionizing the pulp and paper industry, and specifically in predicting wet tensile strength (WTS) for specialty-grade papers. Leveraging eLIXA technology, a 90-day study achieved a 15% reduction in chemical dosage and an 80% decrease in wet tensile standard deviation. The real-time dosage prediction led to optimizing the wet strength resin (WSR) consumption and improved process reliability. The self-learning models exhibited adaptability to changing variables, ensuring their robustness. Overall, this study highlights AI’s transformative impact on efficiency, cost savings, and product quality within the dynamic landscape of papermaking. The approach used for wet strength optimization has been used to optimize other aspects of pulp and paper production.

Choosing the Right Strapping Materials for Your Product, Paper360º March/April 2025

Improving Printing Sustainability with Digital Technology, Paper360º March/April 2025

emtec Strengthens Market Presence in North America, Paper360º March/April 2025

Don’t Be a Fox: Short-term Savings vs. Long-term Results, Paper360º March/April 2025

ASPI News, Paper360º March/April 2025

Valmet and Kruger Products celebrate the successful start-up of an Advantage DCT 200 TS Tissue Machine at the Sherbrooke Plant, Quebec, Canada, Paper360º March/April 2025

Pilot-made, highly extensible paper for dry 3D forming, TAPPI Journal May 2025

Cellulose fiber-based packaging materials must perform well in demanding three dimensional (3D) forming process conditions. On the other hand, the development of manufacturing concepts is required for improved competitiveness of bio-based materials. This study covers some key factors that influence the extensibility of cellulose fiber-based structures and presents a pilot-scale development study of a 3D formable material concept. Bleached softwood kraft (BSK) pulp from a Nordic pulp mill was used in the pilot trials. Cellulose-based webs were formed using water-laid and foam-laid web forming using a pilot paper machine. For the water-laid forming, the BSK pulp was refined by applying a high consistency (HC) phase at over 40% consistency, followed by a low consistency (LC) refining at 4% consistency. The BSK pulp was refined for the foam-laid forming by only applying lowconsistency refining. In the foam-laid web forming, anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), two foamable latexes, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) were used as foaming agents. The pilot rolls were dried at a separate steam cylinder dryer pilot and compacted in-plane in the machine direction (MD) at a separate pilot machine. Tensile properties of the treated paper webs were measured and evaluated with respect to achieved web shrinkage. The same dimensional contraction brought by shrinkage was almost strained out in tensile testing. The results indicated that the shrinkage that occurred by drying and in-plane compaction depended on the pulp furnish. The water-laid material achieved about 30% elongation, whereas the foam-laid material achieved significantly above 50% elongation. The 3D forming performance of the dry materials was tested using fixed and sliding blank methods. The dry paper sheets performed well enough in 3D forming for application to many consumer package applications according to their extensibility.