Refinability of mercerized softwood kraft pulp

Antti Koistinen*, Huaicheng Wang, Eero Hiltunen, Tapani Vuorinen, Thaddeus Maloney

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

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Abstract

In this study, the impact of mercerization and PFI refining on the properties of softwood kraft pulp was investigated. Never-dried softwood kraft pulp was treated with 15 wt% NaOH to generate highly hydrated fibers, followed by PFI refining to increase pulp fibrillation and porosity. The original and modified pulp properties were assessed for morphological and chemical composition. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests and water retention value (WRV) measurements were conducted to evaluate pulp swelling behavior and porosity. Fiber bonding potential and strength properties were evaluated from handsheets of mercerized and unmercerized pulp. Mercerization with 15 wt% NaOH successfully converted cellulose I to cellulose II, leading to slightly increased pulp swelling and micropore volume. However, the mercerization reduced handsheet strength properties. Furthermore, PFI refining resulted in a negligible enhancement of bonding in mercerized pulp, in stark contrast to its significant effect on unmercerized kraft pulp.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6471-6484
Number of pages14
JournalCellulose
Volume31
Issue number10
Early online date8 Jun 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2024
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Keywords

  • Kraft pulp
  • Mercerization
  • Porosity
  • Swelling
  • Tensile properties

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