The effect of fiber dimensions on fiber network activation and tensile strength

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work was to check the fiber network activation parameter developed earlier by the authors for eucalypt pulp fibers to predict technical properties of paper. The fiber size analyses were performed with an optical fiber analyzer that applies 2D image analysis techniques on single fibers. The effects of fiber length, fiber width, fiber wall thickness, and fiber curl distributions on the quality potential of eucalypt fibers were evaluated. Fiber curl and fiber wall thickness based parameters were found to have a high potential for evaluation of eucalypt fiber quality. The variations in technical properties of paper were explained with differences in fiber wall thickness and fiber curl distributions. When the model was tested against industrial long fiber pulps, a further modification for fiber length was needed. The Page tensile strength model and the shear-lag theory were applied for comparison of the results obtained by the network activation model. With the approach presented in this article, the strength characteristics of hardwood and softwood pulps can be easily evaluated based on fiber geometry and water retention value.