Comparison of wood and non-wood market pulps for tissue paper application

Abstract

A comparison among ten market pulps at a laboratory scale using uncreped tissue handsheets was performed to study the performance of wood and non-wood pulps for tissue manufacturing, evaluate what fiber features are desired for a specific tissue property, and determine how non-wood pulps can be used to replace or complement wood pulps in tissue products. A characterization of the fiber morphology and handsheet properties (softness, water absorbency, and strength) was performed at different mechanical refining levels. The results showed that the fiber morphology had a major impact on tissue properties. Market pulps with a combination of long fibers, high coarseness, and low fines content can provide superior bulk and water absorbency. Short fibers with thin cell walls and low fines content can impart superior softness. Bleached bamboo soda pulp can replace hardwood and softwood pulps to provide an excellent combination of water absorbency and strength. Bleached bamboo soda pulp can also replace Northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp to impart strength without sacrificing softness. Bleached and semi-bleached wheat straw soda pulps presented a similar combination of softness and strength as Southern bleached hardwood kraft (SBHK) pulp. The wheat straw pulps can be used to replace deinked pulp (DIP) pulp to impart intermediate levels of water absorbency and strength.