EFFECTS OF MULTIPLE DRYING TREATMENTS ON KRAFT FIBER WALLS

A key factor in the marketing of pulps is their response to multiple d rying, rewetting and refining cycles. Studies have Shown that unrefine d kraft fibres decrease in size and progressively lose their ability t o swell with increasing drying and rewetting cycles. Refining dried an d rewetted fibres causes them to change shape rather than size as they become more rounded. Refining restores handsheet strength but with a decrease in freeness. Radiata pine kraft fibres are particularly resis tant to degradation by multiple drying, rewetting and refining treatme nts.