DEVELOPMENT OF METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING CHEMICAL AND MECHANICAL PULPS

A Fibre Analyser developed previously to characterize radiata kraft pine pulps has been used to investigate the effect of beating. market kraft pulps and various mechanical pulps. Typical data are presented for percentage fibre retained on the screen in the Analyser for various fibre and paper properties obtained from never dried kraft pulps and market kraft pulps. Graphical correlations are also presented for average fibre length and percent fibre retained in a Bauer McNett fibre classifier fibre length and preheat temperature for TMP and CTMP pulps. A new Pulp Compression Tester is described and data are presented for never dried and market kraft pulps to show that this method could also be used to correlate pulp properties with fibre and paper properties. A correlation is also presented relating the results from the pulp Compression Tester to the Fibre Analyser for TMP pulps Both methods may be used to correlate basic woodchip density, fibre coarseness selected fibre properties and specific paper handsheet properties as well as to monitor pulps during beating and refining.