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Effect of microfibrillated cellulose and fines on the drainage of kraft pulp suspension and paper strength

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Abstract

Different types of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and fines suspensions were produced, characterized, and then added to a papermaking pulp suspension. High and medium molar mass cationic polyelectrolytes were used as fixatives. The drainage behavior of the pulp suspensions with additives were evaluated against the strength properties of hand sheets made thereof. The effects of salt concentration, pH, fixative type, dosage and type of fibrillar material on drainage were examined. All the MFC and fines samples produced had clearly different properties due to their dissimilar production methods, and they also introduced specific responses on the measured drainage and paper strength. Generally, the addition of MFC decreased the drainage rate of pulp suspension and increased the strength of paper. However, it was shown that by optimum selection of materials and process conditions an enhancement of the strength properties could be achieved without simultaneously deteriorating the drainage.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support from UPM-Kymmene Corporation. The work was a part of the Nanosellu I –project established by the Finnish Centre for Nanocellulosic Technologies. Dr. J. Campbell is thanked for his linguistic support. We also thank the laboratory staff and research colleagues at Aalto University School of Science and Technology and at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland for their skilful assistance, observations and co-operation throughout the work.

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  1. Department of Forest Products Technology, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 16300, 00076, Aalto, Espoo, Finland

    Tero Taipale, Monika Österberg & Janne Laine

  2. Department of Applied Physics, Aalto University School of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 15100, 00076, Aalto, Espoo, Finland

    Antti Nykänen & Janne Ruokolainen

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  1. Tero Taipale
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Correspondence to Tero Taipale.

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Taipale, T., Österberg, M., Nykänen, A. et al. Effect of microfibrillated cellulose and fines on the drainage of kraft pulp suspension and paper strength. Cellulose 17, 1005–1020 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-010-9431-9

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