Mid Sweden University

In this paper, experiences are reported from our work of developing a method for characterizing fibers with respect to their distribution in fiber bonding ability. As a first step to develop a method, fibers from two commercial TMPs have been fractionated in a four stage hydrocyclone system. The feed pulp was separated into five streams. The fiber bonding ability of R16, P16/R30 and P30/R50 Bauer McNett fractions collected from each stream were analyzed. Five different ways of evaluating fiber bonding ability showed that the fibers were separated in the hydrocyclones according to bonding ability. It was found that both fibrillation and collapse resistance index (CRI) of the fibers are required in order to well predict tensile strength of handsheets made from fiber fractions. CRI was calculated from optical measurements of cell wall thickness and fiber width. We also propose how to describe the distribution in fiber bonding ability for mechanical pulps. A method to calculate fracture toughness of handsheets based on acoustic emission is also illustrated. A more rapid method for characterizing fibers in mechanical pulps with respect to their bonding ability distribution needs to be developed in the future.