LINKING THE FIBER CHARACTERISTICS AND HANDSHEET PROPERTIES OF A HIGH-YIELD PULP

Pulp fibers from 22 pilot-scale pulping runs were examined for many ph ysical and chemical characteristics, including specific surface, flexi bility, Klason lignin, and pentosan index. The measured results were u sed to develop latent vector models that accounted for more than 75% o f the variations in handsheet properties. The models indicate that the most effective way to increase bonded area and promote tensile streng th is to increase fiber flexibility by chemical rather than mechanical treatment. sulfonation alone is not sufficient, however, to increase tensile strength. Some delignification must also occur. Fiber length i s another component of network cohesion that strongly affects teat and wet tensile strength, with a gradual reduction in contribution occurr ing as fibers approach 3 mm in length.