Search
Use the search bar or filters below to find any TAPPI product or publication.
Filters
Content Type
Publications
Level of Knowledge
Collections
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Surface modification of TiO2 with MPS and its effects on the wettability and physical properties of Kawayan Kiling (Bambusa vulgaris Schrad ex. Wendl) handsheets, TAPPI Jouranl April 2024
ABSTRACT: The need for hydrophobic papers has steadily increased over past years. These papers are often sought after as packaging materials and have high demand in the food industry and medicine. In this study, various concentrations of surface-modified TiO2-MPS were added to Kawayan Kiling (B. vulgaris) pulp at the wet-end section of handsheet formation. Surface-modified TiO2-MPS was made from nano-titanium (IV) oxide using 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate as a coupling agent. The wettability of handsheets and physical properties were tested using various standard methods. Results reveal that the handsheets without surface-modified TiO2-MPS had the lowest water contact angle (WCA), while the handsheet with 12.34% (w/w) surface-modified TiO2-MPS had the highest WCA. At 17% (w/w) surfacemodified TiO2-MPS, the WCA rapidly declined. Handsheets with surface-modified TiO2-MPS have a rougher surface compared to the handsheets without chemicals and handsheets with unmodified TiO2. This roughness made the handsheet hydrophobic. The handsheet with 12.34% (w/w) unmodified TiO2 has a smoother surface than the control handsheet. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis shows that the handsheet with 12.34% (w/w) unmodified TiO2 contained titanium, while the handsheet with 12.34% (w/w) surface-modified TiO2-MPS contained both titanium and silicon. Generally, the physical properties of handsheets improved with surface-modified TiO2- MPS, especially grammage, bulk thickness, tensile index, and water absorptiveness, which showed statistically significant differences across treatments. The tear index did not differ between treatments.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Convolutional neural networks enhance pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry identification of coated papers, TAPPI Journal August 2024
ABSTRACT: In the evolving paper industry, accurate identification of coated paper components is essential for sustainability and recycling efforts. This study employed pyrolysis-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) to examine six types of coated paper. A key finding was the minimal interference of the paper substrate with the pyrolysis products of the coatings, ensuring reliable analysis. A one-dimensional convolutional neural network (1D-CNN) was employed to process the extracted ion chromatograms directly, simplifying the workflow and achieving a predictive accuracy of 95.2% in identifying different coating compositions. Additionally, the study high-lighted the importance of selecting an optimal pyrolysis temperature for effective feature extraction in machine learning models. Specific markers for coated papers, including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene succinate (PBS), polylactic acid (PLA), and waterborne polyacrylates (WP), were identified. This research demonstrates a novel approach to coated paper identification by combining Py-GCMS with machine learning, offering a foundation for further studies in product quality and environmental impact.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
The role of hornification in the deterioration mechanism of physical properties of unrefined eucalyptus fibers during paper recycling, TAPPI Journal February 2024
ABSTRACT: Physical properties of cellulosic paper deteriorate significantly during paper recycling, which hinders the sustainable development of the paper industry. This work investigates the property deterioration mechanism and the role of hornification in the recycling process of unrefined eucalyptus fibers. The results showed that during the recycling process, the hornification gradually deepened, the fiber width gradually decreased, and the physical properties of the paper also gradually decreased. After five cycles of reuse, the relative bonding area decreased by 17.6%, while the relative bonding force decreased by 1.8%. Further results indicated that the physical property deterioration of the paper was closely related to the decrease of fiber bonding area. The fiber bonding area decreased linearly with the reduction of re-swollen fiber width during paper recycling. Re-swollen fiber width was closely related to the hornification. Hornification mainly reduces the bonding area of unrefined eucalyptus fiber rather than the bonding force. The work elucidates the role of hornification in the recycling process of unrefined eucalyptus fibers and the deterioration mechanism of paper physical properties, which will be helpful to control the property deterioration of paper and achieve a longer life cycle.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Next generation dry strength additives: Leveraging on-site synthesis to develop high performance glyoxalated polyacrylamides, TAPPI Journal January 2024
ABSTRACT: Although glyoxalated polyacrylamides (gPAMs) have been described since the 1950s, the freedom to design new materials based on this chemistry has been limited by practical concerns; namely, a balance between solution concentration and material characteristics must be met to make the economics of gPAM strength additives work for the paper industry. For traditional “delivered” gPAMs, only a very narrow range of polyacrylamide molecular weights and compositions could be considered for glyoxalation. However, the development and successful implementation of automated reactor equipment that allows for the synthesis of gPAMs from glyoxal and polyacrylamide copolymers at the mill, known as “on-site” glyoxalation, obviates the shipping and stability concerns that have traditionally held back gPAM development. As such, on-site generators represent a platform that enables the glyoxalation of materials that would otherwise not have been suitable for use in a traditionally delivered gPAM product. These on-site generators therefore open new avenues for polymer design to allow for the creation of the next generation of strength additives. By leveraging the synthetic freedom of the on-site generators, a suite of high performance gPAMs has been designed, yielding materials that provide both exceptional strength and drainage performance in poor quality furnishes.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Improving monochloramine performance with innovative sensor-controlled dosing, TAPPI Journal January 2024
ABSTRACT: Monochloramine (MCA) has become one of the major oxidant chemistries for biological control in the paper industry. Feedback control, such as oxidative-reductive potential (ORP), is often used to provide better control of a dosing scheme. The trademarked Ackumen MCA-i is a chemical-digital solution that uses artificial intelligence with actionable insights to stabilize the wet-end process, providing improved performance and reduction in overall chemical costs. Accurate sensor-controlled dosing can be tied to multiple inputs, such as production rates, grade changes, pH, ORP, chlorine residual, freshwater usage, and more. In this study, a case history will be presented to demonstrate how this technology provided a more consistent MCA molecule throughout the process, resulting in a higher level of efficacy and reduction in chemical costs.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Dielectric spectroscopic studies of biological material evolution and application to paper, TAPPI JOURNAL September 2018
Dielectric spectroscopic studies of biological material evolution and application to paper, TAPPI JOURNAL September 2018
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Polyvinyl alcohol as foaming agent in foam formed paper, TAPPI JOURNAL August 2019
ABSTRACT: The use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH or PVA) as a foaming agent in foam formed paper was investigated. Polyvinyl alcohol is a linear, nonionic water-soluble polymer. It has hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts that give it a surface-active character. PVOH is mainly characterized by degree of hydrolysis and molar mass. Degree of hydrolysis is given as mol-% hydroxyl groups on the polymer. Molar mass is measured indirectly by measuring the viscosity of a 4% PVOH solution. The results show that the degree of hydrolysis of PVOH had a strong effect on the foamability of PVOH. Foamability decreased strongly when the degree of hydrolysis increased from 88 to 98 mol-%. The effect of molar mass on foamability was weaker. We saw an increase in foam stability and bubble size with increasing molar mass, but we did not see any effect on maximum air content. PVOH dosage needed to reach >70% air content (F) varied from 2 g/l up to 10.5 g/l, and the lowest addition levels of PVOH needed were achieved with a low molar mass PVOH with a low degree of hydrolysis. The best strength properties were achieved when using fully hydrolyzed PVOH as the foaming agent. Strength properties (both in- and out-of-plane) of samples made using PVOH were better than those made using an anionic foaming agent (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). By adding PVOH binder fibers to the pulp, we were able to further enhance the strength properties of paper and board.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Real-time monitoring of bubble size distribution in a foam forming process, TAPPI JOURNAL August 2019
ABSTRACT: Foam forming is an intricate option to lessen fiber flocculation and to get better energy and water efficiency when making fiber-based products. Developed during the 1970s, this approach has recently received renewed attention, mainly because it also offers possibilities to widen the fiber-based product portfolios with novel and more valuable products. In addition to air content, bubble size is the most important property of foam. Foam quality control is essential for building real-world foam forming processes. In this work, we show how bubble size can be monitored with direct optical imaging in real time in real process conditions, and how such analysis helps adjust foam quality and discover process faults in foam forming.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Progress in foam forming technology, TAPPI JOURNAL August 2019
ABSTRACT: This paper summarizes recent developments in foam forming that were mainly carried out in pilot scale. In addition to improving the efficiency of existing processes and allowing better uniformity in material, a wide variety of raw materials can be utilized in foam forming. The focus of this paper is thin webs—papers, boards and foam-laid nonwovens, along with the pilot scale results obtained at VTT in Finland. For paper and board grades, the most direct advantage of foam forming is the potential to produce very uniform webs from longer and coarser fibers and obtain material savings through that. Another main point is increased solids content after a wet press, which may lead to significant energy savings in thermal drying. Finally, the potential to introduce “difficult” raw materials like long synthetic or manmade fibers into a papermaking process enables the manufacturing of novel products in an existing production line. This paper also briefly discusses other interesting foam-based applications, including insulation and absorbing materials, foam-laid nonwovens, and materials for replacing plastics.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Slot die coating of nanocellulose on paperboard, TAPPI Journal January 2018
Slot die coating of nanocellulose on paperboard, TAPPI Journal January 2018