Spruce Wood Flour for Paper Applications – A Handsheet Study

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate if spruce wood flour can be an alternative cellulosic-based wood additive for papermaking.
 Place and Duration of the Study: This study was conducted at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Spring 2018.
 Materials and Methods: This study used unbleached wood flour with a particle size distribution between 200 μm to 500 μm and bleached and unbleached wood flour with particle size distribution between 70 μm to 150 μm. Wood flour was added at levels of 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 15% based on oven dry fiber content for the first part of the study. For the second part of the study, starch at a level of 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, 1.25%, and 1.50% based on OD fiber content is added to the suspension. The basis weight of the handsheet manufactured was 75 g/m².
 Results: Bulk increased from 2.20 cm³/g to a maximum of 2.80 cm³/g for 15% wood flour addition. Maximum tensile index achieved was 24.75 Nm/g based on a base sheet value of 20.05 Nm/g. Addition of starch has a positive influence on the tensile index, with a maximum value of 41.41 Nm/g at 1% addition. Brightness value of the manufactured handsheets decreased gradually for the unbleached wood flour. Bleached wood flour showed a 1%-point increase above the base sheet brightness of 88.51%. Addition of starch increased the brightness value from 88.51% of the base sheet by up to 4.5%. An opacity increase was achieved for all wood flour additions with the highest opacity value of 95.68% at an addition of 15% wood flour.
 Conclusion: Addition of starch decreases the opacity value of up 1.5% points. Addition of wood flour resulted in a decrease in smoothness by increasing the airflow from the base sheet value of 2564 ml/min by 385 ml/min. at 8% wood flour addition. Adding a line pressure of 1.673 kN/m to simulate calendering resulted in an improved smoothness by reducing the airflow of up to 447 ml/min. Addition of starch showed an overall increase of smoothness by reducing the airflow number by up to 600 ml/min for sheets with and without line pressure.

Application of Cationic Tapioca to Unmodified Pearl Corn Starch – A Papermaking Handsheet Study

“…Renewable hardwood and softwood materials including recycled paper materials are today common materials used to manufacture paper [1]. Recycling paper products have improved the environmental footprint of the paper industry in the past decades [2].…”

“…Tensile index (N*m/g) of handsheets with no starch, unmodified pearl starch and Canadian standard freenessDölle et al; JERR, 9(4):[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] 2019; Article no 5. …”

Spruce Woodmeal for Newsprint Applications: A Handsheet Study

“…The paper industry worldwide is increasing their efforts in making paper more sustainable, biodegradable and eco-efficient [1]. In the past decade, the cost for manufacturing paper, board and newsprint paper products has increased dramatically.…”

“…The application of woodmeal, a byproduct from the timber industry, in technical processes is known since the early 1920's when a patent was granted for the use of woodmeal in the production process of phonographic records and other articles [1,7,8]. Woodmeal is produced by grinding sawdust particles to a particle size between 20μm to 500μm with a size ratio of 1:1 [1,9,10]. Today commercial applications of woodmeal in the area of paper manufacturing are not recorded.…”

“…Today commercial applications of woodmeal in the area of paper manufacturing are not recorded. Woodmeal is used in the area of Wood Plastic Composites (WPC) and moulding technology applications for articles such as furniture parts, dishes and toys [11,1].…”