Heterogeneity may be a most proper word to describe paper and board. Wood, the raw material to produce mechanical pulps, is almost as heterogeneous a material as the products. Looking in a microscope at a mechanical pulp it is obvious that it consists of a huge amount of small particles, which vary very much in several aspects: length, curl, width, wall thickness, fibrillation etc. In spite of that, we (scientists, mill employees, suppliers, consultants, researchers) commonly describe a pulp in terms of collective properties such as averages of fibre dimensions, hand sheet properties, dewatering ability etc. In other words: we describe mechanical pulp as a continuum. This may be more common than we believe. A review of the variables used in the more than 5,000 graphs in the preprints of the 23 International Mechanical Pulping Conferences (IMPC) between 1973 and 2018 showed that 97% of the variables described mechanical pulp as a continuum. Hence, only 3% of the variables reflected the heterogeneous nature of mechanical pulps.   Many authors point out the benefits of describing the character of a material by as few and as independent properties as possible. In 1957, Steenberg stated: “Any valuable theory must be supposed to include a number of independent factors”. However, within the mechanical pulping area it is common practise to evaluate the character of pulp with respect to a wide range of more or less correlated measured pulp and fibre properties. In the review of the last 23 IMPCs we found that more than 96% of the variables examined in the articles where of that kind. In our efforts to describe a mechanical pulp with respect to its highly heterogeneous nature we have among others been inspired by Forgacs who worked with independent common factors in order to characterize mechanical pulps. He presented a paper in 1963 where he states that at least two independent factors are needed to describe a mechanical pulp. They reflect shape and length of the particles. Also Strand has inspired us with his work in the 80’s where he used factor analysis on a huge database to derive two independent common factors reflecting “bonding” (Factor 1) and “fibre length” (Factor 2). Examining a few independent common factors instead of several conventionally measured properties, which are more or less correlated, makes it easier to get an overview of the status of the processed material. Therefore, it is a little surprising that independent common factors constitute only 4% of the variables presented at the IMPCs since 1973. Strands approach was tested in a long-term evaluation in two mills. It was possible to produce a paper product more uniform in quality, compared to common practise. However, none of the above-mentioned independent factors reflects the heterogeneity of the pulp.   Paper and pulp makers commonly agree that, within certain limits, uniformity is the most important characteristic of both the pulp and the paper. If we know how to perform uniformly, we may also be able to move into other operating areas (or volumes) in a controlled way. However, there is no common agreement on how to define "uniformity". Papermakers are still to a great extent specifying their demands on the pulp in terms of dewatering ability and average length-weighted fibre length although the correlation to product quality is vague and weak and varies over time. Almost since the advent of mechanical pulping processes, the operators have for process control had readings of dewatering ability of a pad consisting of billions of particles expressed as mL of water and average length-weighted fibre length of the pulp, which are far from being independent factors. Variations in any of these two properties may depend on variations in a combination of several more underlying factors. Therefore, it is hard to know what actions the operators should take to avoid running off spec. So far, the main development in the concept with dewatering and length to assist the operators have been firstly, to get time trends of these variables on a DCS screen instead of on a piece of paper in the control room, and secondly to get the readings more frequently with on-line analysers. During the same period, there have been an immense development of refiner concepts, fractionation, process design, modelling, use of raw material, fibre characterization, and new products.   By putting more attention to reality and describing mechanical pulp as a heterogeneous material, which the mechanical pulps truly are, we hope to be able to get a more profound understanding how wood particles are developed along the process all the way to product. We also hope to give the operators in the mechanical pulping plant a more realistic description of the material they are supposed to deliver to the paper and board makers in order to facilitate their possibilities to produce a more uniform product quality at minimum cost.  The aim of our presentation is to share some of our insights and reflections how to describe the heterogeneous nature of mechanical pulps to the mill operators.

We have applied factor analysis on particle level based on measurements in an optical analyser of fibre diameter, fibre wall thickness, fibre length, and fibre fibrillation. Examples will be presented of how the raw material and the process have set characteristic fingerprints in terms of the distribution of an independent common bonding factor on particle level. It is fascinating to see how much that may be hidden behind averages, c.f. Rosling et al. (2018) who warn against comparing averages, which often obstruct a more profound understanding of a subject.   In our presentation, we intend also to discuss how a description of the heterogeneity of the material may be used to get measures of energy efficiency of the process, separation efficiency of fractionation equipment, and how to link fibre characteristics to properties of products. Some reflections will also be shared on what we think is further required to get a more realistic description of the heterogeneous material we call mechanical pulp. Reference:  Rosling H., Rosling Rönnlund A., Rosling O., (2018), ”Factfulness”, Natur & Kultur,  ISBN 978-91-27-14994-6

The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of different ways of calculating the average fibre length based on length measurements of individual particles of mechanical pulps. We have found that the commonly used average length-weighted fibre length, which is based on the assumption that coarseness is constant for all particles, as well as the arithmetic average, may lead to erroneous conclusions in real life as well as in simulations when used as a measure of the amount of long fibres. The average length-length-weighted fibre length or a weighting close to that, which to a larger extent suppresses the influence of shorter particles, is a relevant parameter of the "length" factor, i. e. amount of long fibres. Our findings are based on three studies: refining of different assortments of wood raw material in a mill; data from LC refining in mill of TMP, including Bauer McNett fractionation; mixing of pulps with different fibre length distributions. If the acceptable average fibre length for different products can be lowered, the possibility of reducing the specific energy input in refining will increase. Therefore, we need a reliable and appropriate way to assess the "length" factor.

The aim of this research was to gain a better understanding on whether a novel process based on low-energy thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP) process followed by a chemical treatment with deep eutectic solvents (DESs) could produce fibers suitable for papermaking. In full scale production, these fibers could be produced at a much lower capital and operational costs, especially when utilizing existing TMP plants which are under the threat to be shut down or have already been shut down due to a decreasing demand for newsprint and other wood-containing papers.The efficiency of several DES treatments under various temperatures and times were evaluated by carrying out experiments in standard Teflon-lined autoclaves. A few tests were also performed in a unique nonstandard flow extractor. Pulp samples were characterized for their cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin contents. Moreover, tensile index was measured both before and after pulp refining. Depending on the solvent, the response of mechanical pulp varied, especially in terms of hemicellulose dissolution. Lactic acid, oxalic acid and urea, all in combination with choline chloride ([Ch]Cl) as the hydrogen bond acceptor, dissolved about 50% of the lignin of the low-energy TMP fibers under the tested conditions. The mixture of malic acid and [Ch]Cl was less effective in lignin dissolution. The mixture of urea and [Ch]Cl exhibited only a minor loss in hemicellulose content, when compared to the other tested DESs. Although 50% of the lignin was dissolved with minor loss in hemicellulose no improvement in tensile strength was observed, as it was rather the opposite. Another benefit with the mixture of urea and [Ch]Cl was that this DES did not appear to be corrosive to stainless steel. All other tested DESs—which were also quite acidic—were observed to be corrosive. Moreover, this DES-related corrosion was found to intensify at elevated temperatures.When chips were used as starting material with otherwise the same conditions almost no lignin was dissolved. This suggests that low-energy mechanical pulp is likely to be a good starting material for extracting lignin using DESs.

Paper and wood are highly inhomogeneous materials. When describing the mechanical pulp itself, we allcommonly ignore that it is an inhomogeneous material. We have realized that just a very small fraction of stifffibres are enough to impair the printability of the product. In this paper we share some of our reflections andattempts how to describe the inhomogeneous nature of mechanical pulps. A method denoted BIN is underdevelopment based on independent common factors and paying attention to the inhomogeneity of the material.The method may give the possibility to describe the nature of TMP/CTMP/SGW in a more relevant way comparedto todays practice. Hence the paper and board makers may be able to deliver more uniform products at “goodenough” level at lower costs. We have realized that because a method or opinion is well spread (sometimes usedby almost everybody) it does not necessarily mean that it is relevant. A couple of myths have been reflected uponand in our opinion they remain just myths. By putting more attention to reality and describing mechanical pulp asan inhomogeneous material we hope to be able to rid ourselves and the mechanical pulping community of someother myths circulating (some still to be discovered).

This paper is part two of a study on a CD 82 TMP chip refiner where relations between changes in the process conditions and changes in the properties of the produced pulp are investigated. Focus is on the ratio between tensile index and specific energy consumption when results from five tests are compared. Pulp properties were measured for composite pulp samples taken from the refiner blow line. Residence times and pulp consistencies were estimated by use of the extended entropy model. Clearly, an increase in specific energy does not necessarily implicate an increase in strength properties of the pulp produced. It is of high importance to have access to information about the refining zone conditions when searching for an optimal operation point in terms of the ratio between tensile index and specific energy. In these tests, this ratio had a maximum at about 55 % measured blow line consistency. Unfavourable operating conditions were identified at high pulp consistencies, especially after the FZ, where pulp consistencies well above 70 % were observed. The estimated residence time for each refining zone responded differently when applying changes in production rate, plate gaps and dilution water flow rates. In conclusion, the results associated with estimated pulp consistencies where easier to interpret compared with results for residence times, implying that additional tests are required for the latter variable. In addition to tensile index, pulp properties like freeness, Somerville shives and light scattering coefficient were included in the analysis. 

The study explores how changes in process variables, residence time and pulp consistency in refining influence the pulp properties. The equipment utilized in this study was a conical disc chip refiner (RGP82CD) producing thermomechanical pulp (TMP). The focus was on the ratio between tensile index and specific energy consumption. Pulp properties were measured for composite pulp samples taken from the refiner blow line. Residence times and pulp consistencies were estimated by use of the extended entropy model. This showed that the CD-refiner, with the flat and conical refining zone, has a process performance similar to that of a two-stage refiner set-up, and that the consistency in both refining zones is of high importance. Comparing different periods revealed that even if the values of measured blow line consistency are similar, significant differences in the estimated consistency in the flat zone can prevail. Therefore, only monitoring blow line consistency is not enough. Specifically, it was found that the pulp consistency after the flat zone could be very high, considerably higher than in the blow line, and this could have negative effects on tensile index and fibre length. 

As a vital component in the strive towards improved energy efficiency in the operation of TMP refining processes, this work highlights the importance of well- designed procedures when collecting and analysing pulp properties with respect to process conditions. Process data and pulp from a CD82 chip refiner have been used to show that tensile index has strong covariance with fibre residence time calculated by the extended entropy model. A combination of theoretical and practical analysis methods has shown that, in order to assure representative, reliable results, pulp sampling procedures should comprise composite pulp samples collected during a sampling period of about three minutes. In addition, at least four subsequently collected composite pulp samples should be included in the analysis to effectively dampen effects from fast process variations as well as from slow process drift. An in-depth study on tensile index measurements clarifies that 40-60 strips should be used in the case we studied regardless if machine made paper or handsheets are considered.

The purpose of this case study was to explore the potential for reduced energy consumption by improved process control. The application was HC post-refining of TMP in double-disc refiners. Based on data from both continuous production and from step-response tests, a thorough analysis of process performance was conducted. It was found that a significant proportion of the process disturbances, as reflected in the refiner motor load, could be successfully dampened through stabilizing measures on the basic control level. The remaining disturbances was found to be generated inside the refiner itself. In order for these disturbances to be dampened, measurements that can characterize the conditions inside the refining zone are necessary. Given the present design and instrumentation of the process, dynamic modelling of refiner motor load was performed and for fiber properties, muhivariate modeling methods were used to derive expressions for the independent variables Fl and F2. Taken together, evaluation of the models gave directions on how to further improve the process stability and indicated a potential for reduced energy consumption.