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Development of paper quality parameter measurement in China, TAPPI Journal May 2022
ABSTRACT: Paper quality parameters are important indicators of paper production, such as paper moisture, basis weight, ash content, strength, and so on. This study focuses on the online measurement methods and development of paper basis weight, moisture, and ash measuring. First, the measurable paper parameters and quality control system products in China are analyzed. Then, the basis weight measurement methods, accuracy, and development are given in the range of 10~1000 g/m2. Third, the distinction between infrared and microwave methods for moisture measurement is discussed. Finally, the ash measurement is introduced. Production and consumption of tissue paper in China have continually increased during the past decade. Near-infrared light technology is mature for the measurement of paper parameters in the range of 10~200 g/m2 basis weight. However, the near-infrared online measurement of tissue paper is not widely used, and few tissue paper lines are equipped with this type of quality control system in China. Therefore, technology for near-infrared measurement of basis weight has a great potential market in the field of tissue paper production. This article analyzes the future development trend of near-infrared light in tissue paper basis weight measurement and summarizes the difficulties in near-infrared light measurement of tissue paper basis weight.
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The Effect of Component Removal Upon the Porous Structure of the Cell Wall of Wood. II. Swelling in Water and the Fiber Saturation Point, TAPPI Journal May 2022
ABSTRACT: The word "swelling" applied to an assemblage of fibers such as wood or wood pul p is very vague.
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Recycling performance of softwood and hardwood unbleached kraft pulps for packaging papers, TAPPI Journal February 2023
ABSTRACT: The scope of this work is to evaluate the recyclability potential of hardwood and softwood unbleached kraft pulps, leading to a sound basis for comparison and even to support a decision about fibers accord-ing to the performance achieved. The influence of successive recycling cycles (up to 10 cycles) on the fiber morphol-ogy, pulp suspension drainability, water retention capacity, and handsheet mechanical properties were studied for Eucalyptus globulus and Pinus sylvestris unbleached kraft pulps. The performance of these pulps as linerboard and corrugating medium for packaging was also evaluated. The requirements for brown kraftliner and for high perfor-mance recycled fluting grades is preserved for E. globulus pulp during all 10 recycling cycles, evidenced by the mod-erate decrease of burst index and crush resistance index and by the short-span compression index, whereas the P. sylvestris pulp loses this rating after the second cycle. These results strongly support the higher performance of E. globulus pulp for recycling as compared with softwood kraft pulp from the perspective of packaging papers.
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A fast and non-destructive alternative to the burnout method for paperboard quality inspections using phase-contrast X-ray imaging, TAPPI Journal February 2023
ABSTRACT: An X-ray based quality inspection method for paperboard was implemented and tested as a fast and non-destructive alternative to the burnout method. An argument against X-ray imaging for inspection of paper and paperboard has been that X-ray absorption is low in paper. To overcome this limitation, we used phase-contrast X-ray imaging (PCXI), which gives higher contrast than conventional attenuation-based imaging for low-absorbing materials such as paper. The suggested PCXI method was applied to previously prepared and quality rated samples using the burnout method. A strong similarity between the burnout images and the PCXI images was observed. In conclusion, further development of the phase-contrast X-ray method would provide an interesting option for replacing or complementing the standard burnout method.
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Using novel DNA methods to achieve higher process efficiency and performance, TAPPI Journal January 2023
ABSTRACT: Uncontrolled microbiological activity is a challenge for recycled fiber (RCF) mills as it can have negative effects on production and end-product quality. The microbes that exist in these systems have been largely unknown, and the strategies employed to control microbiology have been non-specific. Understanding the specific microbial groups present in RCF mills, their properties, and where they exist, as well as having the ability to accurately measure the true troublemakers, are key to targeted control of the bad actors. In this study, we present the results of a global survey of over 40 RCF paper machines. The same RCF-specific problem-causing bacterial groups were found on different continents, including large densities of newly identified bacteria in paper processes. Those can degrade cellulose and starch, produce acids and odorous substances, and have a significant impact on fiber strength and additive consumption. We also demonstrate how modern DNA tools can quantify the impact of biocidal countermeasures against the actual troublemakers, including bacteria found to degrade cellulose during RCF pulp storage, which may be linked to a negative impact on end-product strength. These novel DNA tools give producers updated biocide program key performance indicators (KPIs) and actionable information to more effectively design and adjust microbiological control to achieve higher process efficiency and performance.
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Advanced real-time digital microscopy of foaming processes, TAPPI Journal January 2023
ABSTRACT: The properties of aqueous foams play a major role in foam forming and foam coating. Inline real-time foam measurements provide highly desired opportunities for optimization and control of foaming processes. This paper presents inline digital microscopy measurements of aqueous foams in foaming processes. It presents methods for providing detailed information on foam quality parameters, such as foam density and foam homogeneity in real time from the process. In addition, this study evaluates the performance of transillumination and front-light illumination in imaging of foams. The tests show very good results for the transillumination approach. Limitations of the image-based optical technique are discussed, and the precision of bubble size distribution measurement is assessed with a certificated reference substance. The measured foam densities are compared against the reference foam densities in the range 100•300 g/L, providing a linear correlation with R2 value of 0.99. In the case of heterogenous foams with a wide bubble size distribution, the bubble size-dependent dimensionless depth of field must be taken into account to obtain accurate estimates of foam density. Bubble-scale foam homogeneity is described by the standard deviation of bubble size distribution in foam.
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Chemical addition to wet webs using foam application, TAPPI Journal January 2023
ABSTRACT: In papermaking, the conventional way to add chemicals to the web is to dose them into the fiber stock and form the paper afterwards. However, in many cases, adding chemicals directly to the stock is challenging. For example, strength aids tend to increase flocculation in the stock, which limits the addition amounts of those aids. The need for better performance of paper (and paperboard) products has given rise to the need for functionalization of paper. Adding such functional chemicals to the stock is usually rather inefficient. Hence, novel methods are needed to add chemicals to the paper bulk. One such method is dosing chemicals to the wet web via foam application. In this study, we built a laboratory-scale sheetfed dynamic foam application device and utilized it to study addition of starch to wet bleached chemithermomechanical pulp (BCTMP) paper handsheets. The impact of parameters such as vacuum level, the amount of added chemical, and the viscosity of the foaming liquid on the penetration of starch into the wet web was explored. Starch penetration into wet webs was measured via iodine-potassium iodide staining, followed by image analysis. According to our results, controlling the viscosity of the foaming liquid gives the best possibility to control the penetration.
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Z-direction chemical analysis for new application methods, TAPPI Journal January 2023
ABSTRACT: In conventional wet-end chemical addition during paper production, chemical distribution through the z-direction of the sheet is usually not considered an important characteristic. With a nontraditional chemical dosing approach, such as foam-assisted additive addition, the chemistry can appear at different concentrations throughout the sheet, typically in a z-direction gradient. To fully understand the strength properties of the sheet, it is helpful to view or quantify the chemical distribution through the sheet in the z-direction. One qualitative method uses a dye technique along with confocal laser scanning microscopy to generate an image where the relative chemical concentration can be observed. A quantitative method involves compiling nitrogen analyses of layered subsections of the sheet into a composite graph of relative chemical concentration vs. the z-direction of the sheet. Chemical distribution analysis can be paired with traditional z-direction strength tests, such as Scott bond and z-direction tensile, to help one understand and improve the chemical addition process and its effects.
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Numerical analysis of the impact of rotor and screen hole plate design on the performance of a vertical pulper, TAPPI Journal April 2025
ABSTRACT: The dissolving of mechanical pulp is one of the most important process steps in stock preparation, since pulping occurs at the very beginning of the papermaking process. Efficient mixing of the pulp in a short amount of time is essential to achieve high furnish volume flow rates. The design of the rotor, as well as the pulper vat and inserts, significantly affects the overall performance of the pulper, such as mixing efficiency and power demand. Using advanced numerical methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can accelerate the development process. The CFD simulations allow for detailed analysis of flow phenomena, making it possible to study a real-size machine numerically. This approach is particularly advantageous because it can reduce the need for timeconsuming and costly experiments associated with scaling up test rigs. In this study, we compared two different rotor designs utilized in a vertical pulper and evaluated the numerical results with experimental data. Rotor A is designed for low turbulence and low power demand, while rotor B is designed for high turbulence with high power demand. The CFD results showed good agreement with the experimental measurements. We investigated how the rotor design influences the free fluid surface and the mixing efficiency. Our study also highlights the differences in results depending on whether water or furnish is simulated, which exhibit Newtonian or, respectively, non-Newtonian fluid behavior. Additionally, a detailed numerical investigation of various screen hole plate designs revealed that the newly developed hole design significantly reduces pressure loss compared to a standard drilled hole. This outcome was consistent for both types of fluids investigated: water and furnish.
Journal articles
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Editorial: Research, conferences, and COVID-19, TAPPI Journal May 2021
ABSTRACT: While medical science in fields like virology blazed a path in 2020 in developing vaccines, diagnostic tests, and treatments to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, other scientific research slowed significantly.