How fibre dimensions influence refining response and paper properties - susing acacia and eucalypt as examples, 2006 Engineering, Pulping, and Environmental Conference

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Three market hardwood pulps; one acacia of Indonesian origin (Acacia mangium) and two eucalyptuses of Iberian and Brazilian origin were refined in an industrial conical refiner. In addition an 80/20 mixture of acacia and Scandinavian softwood was refined using two different fillings.

Fibre properties were evaluated using image analysis and microscopy and the drainage characteristics and handsheet properties were related to the differences in fibre properties. The main distringuishing difference between the acacia and the eucalpytus was that the acacia had thinner fibre walls at about the same perimeter. This resulted in a lower coarseness and a higher degree of fibre collapse. The acacia fibres also had fewer defects.