Fines quantity and quality in controlling pulp and paper quality

The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different types of mechanical pulp fines on the properties of paper and to assess their potential in controlling pulp and paper quality. According to the study., the papermaking properties of mechanical pulp fines can be varied over a wide range and both the quantity and quality of fines are important in determining the properties of paper. The quality of fines was shown to be largely determined by the ratio of fibrillar to flake-like material. This ratio can be unambiguously measured by the image analysis method and applied to characterize papermaking properties of fines in a meaningful way. It was also found that the bonding and light scattering ability of mechanical pulp fines obtained from different process stages of a typical pulping process vary in a wider range and are higher than those of their parent fibres. Hence, it was concluded that the fines are a potential variable in controlling pulp and paper quality.