Chemithermomechanical pulps (CTMP) were produced from balsam-fir trees
[Abies balsamea (L.) Mill] that were harvested one and three years af
ter they were killed by spruce budworm beetles. Laboratory tests revea
led that the spruce budworm produced significant reductions in wood de
nsity (30%), fiber length (19%), long fiber fraction (36%), brightness
(4%), tensile strength (25%), and burst strength (24%), but most sign
ificantly in the tear strength of paper (51%). However, these negative
effects were accompanied by some positive results, e.g., a 15% decrea
se in the energy of refining, a 73% reduction in pulp rejects, coupled
with a 108% increase in the fine content of the pulp and by a 5% incr
ease in the opacity of paper. In order to profit from the above advant
ages and to prevent any further reduction in the quality of paper, the
dead trees must be harvested within three years of their defoliation
- the sooner, the better.