The link between the fiber contact zone and the physical properties of paper : A way to control paper properties

• Paper is a composite of fibers, air and additives where the fiber/fiber joints keep the network structure together. A study was undertaken to establish the link between the properties of the contact zone between fibers and paper performance under mechanical loading. The contact zone between fibers was investigated using light microscopy. A staining technique was developed for evaluating the influence of surface charge on fiber/fiber joint strength. The joint strength was linearly correlated with paper tensile strength and with the average amplitude of the acoustic events measured by acoustic emission testing. The fiber surface conformability was improved by changing the surface charge. This resulted in increased fiber/fiber joint strength as the relative contact area became larger. Increasing the molecular adhesion in the contact zone with the aid of strength additives also improved the fiber/fiber joint strength.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Materialteknik -- Pappers-, massa- och fiberteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Materials Engineering -- Paper, Pulp and Fiber Technology (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

acoustic emission

wood fibers

bonded area

bonding strength

chemical bonds

paper strength

regenerated cellulose

kraft pulps

strength

joint

Cellulose and paper engineering

Cellulosa- och pappersteknik

Chemical engineering

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)