Paper Machine Clothing and Recycled Fiber Usage, 1993 Recycling Symposium Proceedings

John M. Hawes, William M. McCarthy

The increased use of secondary fiber as a papermaking furnish demands special consideration when designing paper machine clothing (PMC). There are well documented differences seen in refining behavior, web formation, and strength development with recycled fiber. However&e principal clothing design considerations focus on contamination resistance, in order to maintain consistent performance throughout the life of the clothing. Today’s clothing is designed to be compatible with the practice of combining mechanical and chemical agents to prevent adhesion of sticky contaminants to the PMC. Emphasis is placed on those application considerations which are affected by the presence of recycled fiber. Effective contamination resistance is accomplished through a system-wide approach in solving the problem. This includes an examination of stock additives, process water, chemical additives, cleaning and conditioning concepts, and fabric design.