Environmental – economic pressure and associated regulations have led to a significant increase of recycled paper as the main fibrous component of corrugated board the last years. Corrugating packaging industry is facing the challenge to enhance products derived from recycled pulp and to ensure a satisfactory strength of packages. Advanced techniques are highly needed for the evaluation of packaging fiber supply sources as well as for the utilization of the available resources in an optimal manner. As industrial packaging is based on the characteristics of its constituent fibers, information on the fiber composition of the recycled raw materials is of primary importance for a continual control of fiber sources. This paper reports on the usefulness of fiber analysis techniques as diagnostic methods for assessing the potential quality distribution of fibers for sustainable packaging manufacturing.

Environmental and economic issues have led to a significant increase of recycled paper as the main fibrous component of corrugated board the last years. Qualitative data on the different fibre types are needed for the evaluation of packaging fibre supply sources, which are becoming numerous and heterogeneous. Fifteen different packaging grade papers (7 linerboards and 8 corrugating medium) were selected to represent all the variety of papers available on the Spanish market. The origin of virgin and recycled fibres was identified by their morphological characteristics employing light microscopy and standard fibre analysis techniques. The waste-based papers (Waste based-liners and Fluting), Kraft-liners and Test-liner were highly variable containing 9–18 different wood and nonwood components. Semi-chemical, with 5–13 components, was the less variable grade. Hardwoods were identified as the most important fibre component from a quantitative standpoint. All papers contained in their hardwood mix Betula, Eucalyptus and Populus in significant amounts. Fagus sylvatica and Tilia were also frequently observed and in some papers were amongst major hardwood components. Prominent softwood components were found to be Pinus sylvestris, P. pinaster, P. radiata, Picea, Larix and in some papers Pinus nigra. The lower presence of a variety of softwood, hardwood and nonwood (mainly grasses) species and genera was due to the paper recycling process.

This study determined percentages by weight of the fiber components in 15 papers commonly used to produce corrugating packaging in Spain. The papers are manufactured mainly from recycled raw materials. The percentages were determined by means of standard quantitative fiber analysis techniques and use of appropriate weight factors. Hardwoods were the major fiber component in all papers, except kraft liners, varying from 51% to 92% per weight. Kraft liners had greater softwood content (49%-69%)than hardwood, and the most plentiful softwood classes were pines. Douglas-fir was a contaminating fiber component (weight percentage less than 2%) in almost in every paper. Nonwood fibers, entering the papers through the recycling process, were a significant fiber component (2%-9%) in most of the papers, especially the waste-based papers (liners and flutings). Quantitative fiber composition reflects the differences in quality between the papers. Its usefulness could be further explored in the quality control of paper manufacturing for packaging.

Application: Packaging grade papers incorporate a variety of wood and nonwood fiber types. Manufacturing of papers of consistent and acceptable quality requires knowledge concerning the quantity of each fiber used.

The difficulty of predicting the properties of paper products produced from heterogeneous sources puts several limitations, which therefore lead to severe economic losses and only a comprehensive characterization will enable their better utilization. The project “RF-CORRUG –Quality control of raw materials from recovered fibres for the production of corrugated board”under the NationalStrategic Reference Framework 2007–2013 ARCHIMEDES IIIdeals with this common technical problem of the corrugated board industry. Specifically, the mainobjective of the project is to supportthe competitiveness of the corrugated board companies (mainly SMEs)by creatinga software tool based on practical models that can predict packaging grade paper properties from fibre data (qualitative, quantitative, morphological) used in their production. This paper presents information on the physical and mechanical properties of recovered packaging papers used in corrugated packaging. A number of different category papers (liners, flutings) used for corrugated board production in Greece were examined. The required paper properties included grammage, porosity, bursting strength, SCT, tensile strength and tearing resistance, and were measured by internationally recognized testersand standards. The data will be used to develop predictive models based on advanced statistical methods for the properties and performance of packagingaccording to information of their recovered raw paper materials.

The difficulty in predicting the properties and behaviour of paper products produced using heterogeneous raw materials with high percentages of recovered fibres poses restrictions on their efficient and effective use as corrugated packaging materials. This work presents predictive models for the mechanical properties of corrugated base papers (liner and fluting-medium) from fibre and physical property data using multiple linear regression and artificial neural networks. The most significant results were obtained for the prediction of the tensile strength of liners in the cross direction from the origin (wood type, pulp method) of the fibres using linear regression, and the prediction of the compressive strength of fluting-medium in the longitudinal (machine) direction, according to the short-span test, using a neural network with one hidden layer with 6 neurons, with coefficients of determination at 95.14% and 99.28%, respectively

The restrictions in availability of forest-based raw materials along with favourable environmental policies towards alternative sources of raw materials have forced corrugated packaging industry to shift towards recycled paper and other fibre sources such as non-wood and agro-residues. The variability in raw pulp materials with increasing percentages of recycled fibres is a very common technical problem for the corrugated packaging industry worldwide. Corrugating packaging production is facing the challenge to ensure a satisfactory strength of packages despite the increase of recycled paper as the main fibrous component. Sustainable manufacturing of papers of consistent and acceptable quality requests comprehensive characterization of the fibrous components, which are becoming more heterogeneous. Understanding the influence that heterogeneous recycled raw materials have on packaging grade paper properties offers great potential value to the corrugated board and packaging industry.

57 linerboards and corrugating medium were selected to represent all the variety of paper grades available on the market at the moment for the production of corrugated board in Spain. The papers were analyzed for their fibre morphology (fibre length, fibre width, lumen diameter, cell wall width and flexibility) and fibre composition (softwood to hardwood and nonwood fibre count and weight) and their strength (compression, bursting and crushing resistance) was evaluated. All the determinations were in accordance with the relevant TAPPI Test Methods. The significant differences found in most of the anatomical characteristics, fibre composition and strength properties among the paper grades reflected the diverse raw materials used for their production as well as their qualitative differences. By means of simple correlation the influence of fibre characteristics and composition on the strength of the papers was determined under two different conditions, at 23 o C and 50% RH and at 20 o C and 90% RH.

The results demonstrate that besides the physical-mechanical characterization of packaging grade papers, fibre anatomy and composition can be used successfully as a complementary practical test to predict the performance of papers. The application of the predicting correlations is proposed for the evaluation of the fibre supplies for the packaging industry. An enormous potential for cost reduction can be created by the selection of the most appropriate and inexpensive combination of grade papers for a specific packaging use

A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the fiber components of 15 representative papers that are used for the production of corrugated board was carried out by the Graff "C" staining test. The method of processing of softwood, hardwood, and nonwood fibers was determined under a light microscope by their color reactions with the stain. All papers, due to the use of recycled pulp raw materials in their manufacturing, were found to incorporate in their furnish fibers that had been produced with a variety of pulping processes: chemical, mechanical, and semi-mechanical. The recycled-based papers (recycled-liner and recycled-medium) were proved to be the most variable comprising 12-15 different fiber components, while in some of the semi-chemicals only up to 7 components were identified. The weight percentages of the fiber components calculated by the application of weight factors showed that in almost all papers the most important fiber component from a quantitative standpoint was hardwood unbleached kraft followed by softwood unbleached kraft. Besides hardwood unbleached semi-chemical pulp and mechanical softwood pulp that were also plentiful in the papers, there was a smaller number of other components which sum, however, accounted for a significant fraction in the total furnish weight. The results taken on the total softwood, hardwood, and nonwood fibers content of the papers demonstrate that Graff "C" staining test is adequate to analyze both the structure and quality of packaging grade papers in practical industrial testing.

Understanding the influence that heterogeneous recycled raw materials have on packaging-grade paper performance offers great potential value to the corrugated board and packaging industry. Fifty-seven linerboards and corrugating medium were selected to represent all the variety of paper grades available on the Spanish market at the moment for the production of corrugated board. The origin of softwood, hardwood, and nonwood fibers and their percentages by weight were determined with light microscopy and standard fiber analysis techniques.

The manufacture of corrugated board containers (boxes, trays, etc.) involves a productionchain integrated by paper manufacturers, semi-elaborates (corrugated board) manufacturers andcontainer manufacturers, the majority of which in Europe are SMEs. Nowadays, corrugated boardcontainers are mostly manufactured with recovered paper. The greatest threat faced by thementioned production chain is related to the lack of quality and availability of recovered paper asraw material. Specifically, one of the most important properties of packaging paper is itsmechanical strength, which depends mostly on the length of the fibres of which paper iscomposed. These fibres are longer in virgin pulps (those coming from papers obtained fromwood, i.e. not yet recycled). However, the high pressure on the demand - as well as the currenteconomic and ecological restrictions in the use of forest based materials - has led to a situation inwhich very little quantity of virgin fibre enters the recycling chain. This means that the strengthquality of recycled fibres - and by extension of the papers - is constantly decreasing with the ongoingrecycling cycles. In addition, recovered paper presents a very high variability, whatconstitutes an obstacle when it comes to manufacturing containers having homogeneousproperties fixed by the customers at fixed costs. The difficulty of predicting the properties ofpaper products produced from heterogeneous sources puts several limitations, which thereforelead to severe economic losses and only a comprehensive characterization will enable their betterutilization. The project “RF-CORRUG – Quality control of raw materials from recovered fibresfor the production of corrugated board” under the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007–2013 ARCHIMEDES III deals with this common technical problem of the corrugated boardindustry. Specifically, the main objective of the project is to support the competitiveness of thecorrugated board companies (mainly SMEs) by creating a software tool based on practical modelsthat can predict packaging grade paper properties from fibre data (qualitative, quantitative, morphological) used in their production. This papers presents information on fibres (qualitativeand quantitative analysis, morphology) and packaging papers (physical and mechanicalproperties) used in corrugated packaging. A number of different category papers (liners, flutings) used for corrugated board production in Greece were examined. The main fibre characterizingtechniques, employed were fibre furnish analysis, morphological analysis of fibre, lightmicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, zero span tensile test was done tomeasure the average fibre strength of fibre. The required paper properties were measured byinternationally recognized testers and standards. The data will be used to develop predictivemodels based on advanced statistical methods for the properties and performance of packagingpapers according to information of their fibres.

Change of relative humidity (RH) in surrounding environment can greatly affect the physical and mechanical properties of wood-based panels. Commercially produced acetylated medium density fiberboard (MDF), Medite Tricoya®, was used in this study to predict strength and stiffness under varying humid conditions by separating samples in parallel (//) and perpendicular (⊥) to the sanding directions. Thickness swelling, static moduli of elasticity (MOEstat) and rupture (MORstat), and internal bond (IB) strength were measured at three different humid conditions, i.e., dry (35% RH), standard (65% RH) and wet (85% RH). Internal bond (IB) strength was also measured after accelerated aging test. A resonance method was used to determine dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOEdyn) at the aforementioned humid conditions. Linear regression and finite element (FE) analyses were used to predict the MDF’s static bending behavior. Results showed that dimensional stability, MOEstat, MORstat and IB strength decreased significantly with an increase in RH. No reduction of IB strength was observed after 426 h of accelerated aging test. A multiple regression model was established using MOEdyn and RH values to predict MOEstat and MORstat. In both directions (// and ⊥), highly significant relationships were observed. The predicted and the measured values of MOEstat and MORstat were satisfactorily related to each other, which indicated that the developed model can be effectively used for evaluating the strength and stiffness of Medite Tricoya® MDF samples at any humid condition. Percent errors of two different simulation techniques (standard and extended FE method) showed highly efficient way of simulating the MDF structures with low fidelity.

Non-destructive testing of wood panels by either resonance or time-of-flight (TOF) methods provides possibilities for predicting their static bending properties. In the present study, three non-destructive devices (BING - Beam Identification by Non-destructive Grading by CIRAD, Montpellier, France, Fakopp Ultrasonic Timer and Sylvatest TRIO) were used for measuring the dynamic stiffness of different particleboard types. Fakopp Ultrasonic Timer and Sylvatest TRIO produce ultrasonic pulses to measure the sound velocity while BING uses resonance frequencies. Commercially produced particleboards with different thickness and densities were used to measure the dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE_dyn) in two directions (parallel and perpendicular to the production line) and at three different humidity levels (dry - 35%, standard - 65% and wet - 85% RH in constant temperature of 20°C ). MOE_dyn of particleboards were correlated with the static moduli of elasticity (MOE_stat) and rupture (MOR_stat). It was found that the non-destructive methods gave higher MOE_dyn values in both production directions than that of MOE_stat values. MOE_dyn was found to decrease from dry to wet conditions. A very strong and statistically significant correlation existed between MOE_dyn and static bending properties. MOE_dyn correlated stronger to MOE_stat than MOR_stat. At different humidity level, all three methods- Fakopp Ultrasonic Timer, BING and Sylvatest TRIO analyses showed good predicting capabilities to estimate MOE_stat and MOR_stat of different particleboard types with high level of accuracy.

Approximately, 13.5 % of the standing volume of productive forest land in Sweden is covered by birch and aspen, which provides the vast potential to produce value-added products such as densified wood. This study shows whether it is possible to densify those species with a thermo-hygro-mechanical (THM) process using heat, steam, and pressure. In this process, transverse compression on thin European aspen (Populus tremula) and downy birch (Betula pubescens) boards was performed at 200 °C with a maximum steam pressure of 550 kPa. To obtain a theoretical 50 % compression set, the press’s maximum hydraulic pressure ranged from 1.5 to 7.3 MPa. Preliminary tests showed that ~75 % of the birch boards produced defects (blisters/blows) while only 25 % of the aspen boards did. Mainly, radial delamination associated with internal checks in intrawall and transwall fractures caused small cracks (termed blisters) while blows are characterized by relatively larger areas of delamination visible as a bumpy surface on the panel. Anatomical investigations revealed that birch was more prone to those defects than aspen. However, those defects could be minimized by increasing the pre-treatment time during the THM processing.

The purpose of this study was to develop fast, simple and robust solid wood mould testing methods for the use in small-scale laboratory tests. The objective was to investigate mould susceptibility of different wood materials within the batches. The proposed method is based on natural contamination of non-sterile surfaces in climates conducive to mould growth. For this purpose, a climate chamber with regulated temperature and relative humidity was used. The conditioning chamber was divided into upper and lower chamber by a thin layer of stainless steel placed horizontally above the fan to minimise air circulation to the sample in the upper compartment. Mould-infected samples from outdoor tests were used as a source of mould inocula, and test trials were conducted on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) sapwood. Samples were suspended from the top of the upper chamber, and the chamber was exposed to different temperature and humidity levels. Severe mould infestation was observed after 12–14 days of incubation. Visual mould rating was then performed. Regardless of some constraints, this test method was very simple, fast, and effective. More importantly, unlike other test methods, it closely models mould infestation as it would occur under natural condition.

The development of mould on wood surfaces depends on several factors. Although mould does not affect the mechanical properties of wood, it greatly reduces the aesthetic value of wood such as the sapwood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), which is very prone to mould. In addition, adverse health effects of mould on humans are a great concern. Different types of dried and treated wood were used to observe whether they had enhanced durability against mould following an accelerated laboratory test method in a climate chamber. Samples were green, air-dried, industrially thermally modified, treated with copper-based preservative, and kiln-dried wood, which were tested within a single test run. The test produced the following main results: The thermal modification increased the durability of the wood, and the protective effectiveness of alternative treatments was comparable to that of commercially available copper-based treatment. However, the initial moisture content of the samples during mould exposure had a great influence on the onset of mould growth. The risk of mould susceptibility of industrial kiln-dried lumber can be reduced by drying using the double-layering technique and planing off the nutrient enriched evaporation surfaces.

Fibre+ (2012-2015) is a European project aiming to develop potential treatments for recovered fibre modification capable of improving the recyclability and the properties of recycled papers. This study reports on the results on fibre morphology, paper properties and recyclability of fibres and papers modified with different chemicals and approaches from both laboratory and pilot plant trials. Sixteen modification chemical agents were studied in a set of laboratory trials. The raw material used was 100% recycled paper grade from old corrugated board containers (OCC). The laboratory analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of fibre modifications treatments included FBRM for pre-screening of chemicals, preparation of laboratory control and modified handsheets to a target grammage of 80 g/m², and measurement of the fibre morphology, recyclability and mechanical and physical properties of the modified handsheets. Based on the results of laboratory testing, Fibre+ modifications pilot plant trials were carried out at a FEX paper machine. Furthermore the effect of the better dispersion of the cPAM using an ECOWIRL was studied. The overall laboratory and pilot plant results were promising for further implementation of the Fibre+ modifications at industrial scale and projection of improvements of fibre and paper properties on the performance of packaging products thereof

Knots and the orientation of fibres in timber are decisive for the stiffness and strength of boards. Due to large property variations between members, strength grading is necessary. High resolution information of the orientation of fibres, both on surfaces and within members, would enable development of more accurate grading methods than those available today. A step towards three-dimensional (3D) models of the fibre orientation of the entire board volume is the establishment of 3D knot models based on scanning. The light from a dot laser illuminating the surface of a softwood board will, due to the tracheid effect, spread more along the fibres than across resulting in the dot entering an elliptical shape. In this investigation both the shape of the ellipse and the direction of its major axis were used to estimate the 3D fibre orientation on board surfaces. Knot surfaces were identified where the angle between the estimated 3D fibre direction and an approximated direction of the board’s pith exceeded a threshold value. By means of algorithms based on polar coordinates, knot surfaces which belonged to the same physical knot visible on different sides of the board were identified and as a result the position, orientation and volume of each knot were determined. Based on this information, a more accurate position of the board’s pith along the board was calculated. The established models showed good agreement with physical boards. The models constitute a promising starting point for further development of strength grading methods based on tracheid-effect scanning.

Thermo-hydrolytic disintegration of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is a promising method for recovering fibres. This process, however, may affect the geometry and size distribution of the applied fibres initially obtained by thermomechanical pulping (TMP), and thus, the properties of MDF produced thereof. Optical methods based on image acquisition are increasingly common for geometrical characterisation to assess fibre quality. In this study, we analysed the size distribution of recovered fibres (RF) obtained by thermo-hydrolytic disintegration of urea–formaldehyde-bonded waste MDF and subsequent hammer-milling by using three optical fibre analysers, FibreShape Pro, QICPIC and Valmet FS5, while comparing them to virgin fibres (VF). The analysers use different evaluation methods and therefore gave different absolute values. Thus, size distributions could not be directly compared. Nevertheless, the results provided an indication of the changes that occurred during the manufacturing and recycling process. The RF displayed a similar fibre geometry to the VF, in spite of process-related shortening. Mean fibre length and length-based distribution of the VF were always greater than those of the RF, while fibre width of the hammer-milled RF was slightly greater than that of the VF. The analysers, however, provided substantially different results, especially between FibreShape Pro and QICPIC, although the general tendencies observed for the process-related changes were consistent. It can be concluded that the thermo-hydrolytic disintegration applied to the UF-bonded MDF did not cause any substantial changes in fibre geometry (i.e. fibre shortening). All fibre analysers are capable of detecting these changes, but the absolute values provided can vary widely between the instruments.

This study investigated the feasibility of utilizing paper sludge (PS) as feedstock in the production of composite boards thatare lightweight, durable and environmentally friendly. PS samples were collected from recycled newsprint (RN), corrugatedrecycled (CR) and virgin pulp (VP) pulping mills in South Africa. The PS was dried and mixed with magnesium phosphatecement to produce boards in a central composite design. Three different fillers including fly ash, calcium carbonate and silicafume were also added to the mix as binder replacement. The PS was characterized before use, and the produced compositeboard was evaluated for mechanical and physical properties. The boards produced had medium to high density (0.52—1.12 g/cm3) that could be used for non-structural interior applications. The results showed that boards containing RN had the highestmean value for modulus of elasticity (MOE) of 769 MPa. The mean MOE for boards containing CR- and VP-PS was357 and 411 MPa, respectively. Calcium carbonate had the best effect on the board properties. Techno-economic analysiswas simulated for four different types of feedstock scenarios at different locations including a combined scenario. Sensitivityanalysis revealed that decreased feedstock cost resulted in decreased minimum required selling price. The analysis alsorevealed that the combined scenario proved to be the most cost-effective and profitable option for the future.

Abstract

The wood industries to this day use almost exclusively petroleum derived adhesives that are based mainly on the reaction of formaldehyde with urea, melamine or phenol. These adhesives have low cost and good adjustable properties which makes it hard for bio-based alternatives to compete. Phenol formaldehyde (PF), as an example of a synthetic adhesive, has been in use for over 100 years. In some parts of the world, legislation around formaldehyde is changing, and there is an increasingly voluntary awareness about the toxicity and unsustainability of formaldehyde. Industries realize that raw materials from oil is unstainable. The latter is currently a driving factor behind research on alternatives to amino based adhesives. Also, consumer interest in healthy and sustainable products, such as emitting less formaldehyde indoors, increases the need for bio based adhesives.

Cellulose contained in plant cell walls is a renewable, abundant and nontoxic resource. During the last decades, many innovations have been achieved around cellulose and this trend does not seem to be slowing down. Cellulose shows excellent mechanical properties, high strength, high elastic modulus as well as having a low density.

Research about cellulose reinforced adhesives has been increased the last years. This thesis studied the enhancement of phenol formaldehyde adhesive with Crystalline Nano Cellulose (CNC) at 5wt% and 10wt% loading levels for producing plywood boards. Indecisive results when using CNC higher than 3wt%, especially with PF resin, have been reported by other authors.

In this thesis, European standards were applied. EN 314 was applied to test the panels shear strength. Three (3) treatment classes were selected, indoor room condition as well as pre-treatments 5.1.1 and 5.1.3. Other properties measured were modulus of elasticity, thickness swelling, formaldehyde emissions.

Results showed a shear strength increase for all pre-treatment classes. 10wt% CNC mixture with phenol formaldehyde in water bath, pre-treatment (5.1.1) for 24h showed the highest increase in shear strength (+73,9%). The 10 wt% CNC mixture panels also showed the highest wood fibre failure of all panel types produced. A decrease in MOE has been observed with 10 wt% CNC compared to the 5 wt% CNC panels. Formaldehyde emissions tests were inconclusive, but since less PF was used, there was a general reduction in emissions. The 5 wt% CNC panels were superior in terms of modulus of elasticity and swelling and also showed improved shear strength. 

Recycled polystyrene in combination with paraffin wax, alkyd resin, and gum rosin were used as components in formulations to investigate their water repellency when applied to cellulosic filter paper substrates. Polystyrene was used in concentration of 5, 10, 15 and 20%, alkyd resin and gum rosin of 5% each and paraffin wax of 0.5%. Totally, twenty four water repellent solutions were prepared. Water repellency was evaluated in terms of water absorption of the cellulosic fibrous mats. The relations between retention of solid substances of the formulations and grammage and water absorption of filter paper samples were also determined. The results showed that all the water repellent formulations exhibited a degree of water repellency. Water absorption decreased by increasing the polystyrene concentration in the solution and polystyrene retention by the impregnated filter paper samples. The incorporation of 0.5% paraffin wax improved the hydrophobicity of treated samples. The best of the three water repellent formulations including paraffin wax was found to be the "polystyrene + gum rosin + paraffin wax" solution followed by the "polystyrene + alkyd resin + paraffin wax" and "polystyrene + paraffin wax" solution. The inclusion of 5% gum rosin in polystyrene solutions compared to that of 0.5% paraffin wax was found more effective in almost all cases.

2D materials such as planar fibrous networks exhibit several mechanical peculiarities, which we here decipher through a 3D-to-2D transition in the framework of continuum micromechanics or random mean-field homogenization theory. Network-to-fiber concentration (or “downscaling”) tensors are derived from Eshelby-Laws matrix-inclusion problems, specified for infinitely long, infinitely flat fibers, and for infinitely flat spheroidal pores of vanishing stiffness. Overall material failure is associated with microscopic shear failure orthogonal to the fiber direction. Corresponding structure-property relations between porosity on the one hand, and in-plane stiffness as well as strength on the other hand, appear as linear. This is in good agreement with mechanical experiments carried out on pulp fibers, on pulp fiber-to-pulp fiber bonds, and on corresponding paper sheets.

In order to improve the company's energy efficiency, a international law in 2014 was introduced to carry out energy surveys on companies with more than 250 employees, with annual income of more than 50 million euros, or over 43 million in total assets. Nymölla Bruk are included in this law and must therefore carry out energy mapping every four years and report it to the Swedish energy department. This law is the purpose for this degree project based to carrying out an energy survey on paper machine 2 in Nymölla Bruk.

In the desiccator, 8.89 kg/s of water is evacuated from the paper with a gram weight of 120g/m² and 10.45 kg/s with a gram weight of 80g/m². The likely reason that it can evaporate more water from the paper in the lower grammage is that the paper is driven through the machine at a higher rate. The paper machine can produce 120g/m² paper at a speed of 9.67 m/s and 80g/m² paper at a speed of 12.22 m/s. The evaporating difference between gram weights can also be seen in the aftermath. The mass flow for point 20 which is at the exhaust air fan as shown in Figure 9 on page 25 of the report could not be reported due to the absence of a meter in place, and calculations for producing the mass flow did not work when the fan diagram from the fan manufacturers probably did not match the fan on which the measurements were made.

In order to make an complete energy examination on this machine in regard of steam, condensate and process ventilation, it is necessary that the mass flow for point 20 can be known. The balance of the leakage into the dryer can not be determined without mass flow variable, making the energy consumption required to heat the air with steam impossible to calculate. Therefore, a further study should be done to carry out for making an complete energy examination.

This study was conducted to assess the effect of the pulping by-products crude tall oil (CTO), distilled tall oil (DTO), andtall oil fatty acid (TOFA) on dynamic water vapor sorption behavior, interfiber strength, and thermal stability of cellulosic paper-sheets.The results were compared against those obtained in cellulose papers treated with the conventional petroleum-derived hydrophobicagent hydrowax and in untreated ones. The tall oil treatments caused strong reduction in equilibrium moisture content of the paper-sheets during adsorption and desorption runs. The same trend was noticed for the hydrowax-treated papers, however, it was lesspronounced than the CTO-treated and DTO-treated samples in the relative humidity range of 75–95%. The sorption hysteresis was con-siderably decreased after the treatments. The ultimate dry-tensile strengths of the paper-sheets were significantly reduced by TOFA andhydrowax treatments, while CTO and DTO showed comparable strength as that of untreated control. The ultimate wet-strengths of thepaper-sheets were improved after the treatments. The thermal stability of the specimens was improved by the tall oil treatments, and thehydrowax-treated samples illustrated lower degradation temperature than the untreated control. The results are promising for the use oftall oils as alternative hydrophobic agents of cellulosicfiber-based products, such as wood panels and paper packaging.

A relatively new approach for wood protection against fungal decay is based on hydrophobization of wood and on lowering its moisture content. Water repellence of wood can be increased by polymerization of hydrophobic monomers in wood cell walls. It was found that Norway spruce wood after treatment with octadecyltrichlorosilane exhibited reduced water uptake by the wood cell walls, lowered water vapour sorption, and significantly increased dimensional stability of wood in terms of anti-swelling efficiency. Hydrophobicity and lower equilibrium moisture content were shown to cause increased resistance of the treated samples against brown-rot decay and molds.

Two types of geopolymer-bonded boards were produced using initial wetting of lignocellulosic aggregates followed by dry mixing and hot-pressing. Boards were prepared by incorporating large fractions of lignocellulosic material (up to 50 wt%). Geopolymer particleboards (GP) were produced using wood particles whereas geopolymer sandwich boards (GSB) were produced from wood particles and seagrass fibers, with the latter allocated in the outer layers. Inclusion of seagrass fibers was found to enhance bending strength and toughness of GSB by up to 20 and 40 % respectively. The bending strength tended to increase with the addition of lignocellulosic aggregates, reaching up to 8.9 N mm−2. Fire resistance of GSB was slightly higher compared to GP. Further investigations such as FT-IR, XRD analysis and visual examination by digital microscopy showed an adequate degree of geopolymerization and mixing of the precursor and alkaline activator, indicating the high effectiveness of the mixing technique.

For companies, in order to stay competitive, it is necessary to continuously increase the effectiveness and efficiency of their production processes. Therefore the purpose of this chapter is to discuss the role of maintenance in achieving the competitive advantages using cost-effectiveness aspect of maintenance process. In this regard, the chapter illustrates/discusses the impact of mechanical and electrical failures on company’s business on an example of a paper mill where processes are running 24/7. Thus, this paper presents the role of vibration-based maintenance (VBM) in enhancing the production and maintenance performance continuously and cost-effectively. Using empirical data collected from a paper mill case study, we found that company could avoid the profit losses even to a greater extent if it would improve the effectiveness of the VBM. With respect to the electrical causes of failures, a live working technique for improving the reliability and availability of the paper machine is proposed. Therefore, maintenance solution concerning the paper machine is suggested and discussed as well as potential benefits are highlighted. The results supported the notion that there is a positive association between the reduction of the unplanned stoppages and potential savings. The results have also shown that there is a need for more systematic approach, and a more holistic view of the maintenance function for establishing and running a cost-effective maintenance policy in the paper mill under consideration.

Wood-based panels are indispensable in many areas, such as the construction industry and furniture production. The intensified demand for renewable materials, rising wood prices and increasing protection zones of forest areas make the wood panel industry consider alternative raw materials. The agricultural sector provides, at the same time, large amounts of sustainable and renewable lignocellulosic materials. By-products can arise along the entire agricultural production chain, i.e., during harvesting or further processing into food, but their potential has not yet been fully exploited. This thesis explored the potential of agro-industry feedstocks and side streams as raw materials for wood panel manufacturing. A literature review on the research of agricultural residues as a raw material in wood panels provided an overview of the investigated wood alternatives and their performance in final products. Most of the studies focused on the production of particleboard and its mechanical and physical properties. Often only up to 30% of wood could be replaced by alternative raw materials before the properties decreased remarkably.This thesis focused on an intensive material characterisation of barley husks (BH), oat husks (OH) and wheat bran (WB). Husks are the protective surrounding of their cereal grain and have an anatomical leaf structure. Wheat bran is a side stream of flour production and consists of the grain's outer layers. It was found that BH and OH have at 70% and 66% a slightly lower holocellulose content than wooden materials (poplar, spruce), while their hemicelluloses content exceeding that of cellulose. Additionally, WB had a very high lignin content of 43%. The chemical composition, especially the ash content (5% BH, 6% OH) and the high silicon occurrence on the husks’surfaces, reduced their wettability, as demonstrated by low contact angle measurements. Micromechanical tests showed that OH could resist a higher ultimate stress load than BH and WB, but the modulus of elasticity (MOE) was lower. The MOE was noticeably affected by the microfibril angle, which was three to four-times larger in the husks compared to wooden materials. Furthermore, the results of OH showed larger particle lengths and widths on average, approximately half as much extractive content and slightly higher thermal stability compared to BH. Therefore, OH was suggested as promising raw material and evaluated for particleboard manufacturing. In an experimental investigation, OH was explored as raw material in aspecial particleboard type, i.e., tubular particleboards. Although the boards showed higher insulation properties than wood particle-based ones, the mechanical properties were considerably affected by the reduced wettability, and the manufacturing method led to poor density distribution. In addition, the agricultural feedstock wheat starch, in combination with microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and emulsifiable diphenylmethane diisocyanate (eMDI), was investigated as an adhesive system for fibreboard production. Wheat starch was modified to dialdehyde starch (DAS) and served as the backbone in an adhesive formulation of 99.5% bio-based content using 1% MFC and 4% eMDI based on DAS, which showed excellent mechanical and water resistance performance in fibreboards. Especially, internal bond and MOE values even exceeded those obtained in boards manufactured with commercial formaldehyde-based adhesive. The application process should be optimized in the future since the DAS was applied in powder form, and long press times were necessary because the adhesive system required a high-water content. The DAS-based adhesive was used to bond OH in particleboards, where as challenges in practical implementation were encountered. The severely shortened starch molecule reacted with the proteins of the OH, and from temperatures of 160°C, it led to accelerating degradation and reduced bonding capacity of the adhesive. Finally, this thesis provided a deeper knowledge of husked-based raw materials' properties in the context of panel manufacturing and showed that they are a possible but challenging alternative to wood. Further experimental investigations are necessary to improve the interfacial adhesion of OH and there spective adhesive system in order to produce panels with mechanical and physical properties that meet current requirements. The investigation of a DAS based adhesive opened a promising path for bio-based adhesives and the independence of formaldehyde systems. But subsequent studies must convert the used application method into a sprayable process for industrial integration

Matching timber quality with end-user requirements is a major research issue and lack of straightness in timber is the most frequent complaint worldwide. The final distortion of timber boards is caused mostly by moisture-related deformations and growth stresses that develop during growth of the tree, but how much the growth rate and growth stresses affect the final shape stability is not fully understood. A finite element analysis in which stress development during tree growth was simulated was performed with the aim of better understanding how growth stresses are generated. The tree growth model was formulated in terms of large strain settings (large changes in volume), whereas the material model for stress development was based on the theory of small strains. An earlier three-dimensional distortion model was developed further for studying the influence of growth stresses on final distortion of the board. The results showed that growth stresses clearly vary during tree growth and they also form a large stress gradient from pith to bark. This itself can result in significant bow and crook deformation when the log is sawed into boards.

The chemical properties of four common Malaysian bamboo species locally known as Beting (Gigantochloa levis), Semantan (Gigantochloa scortechinii), Lemang (Schizostachyum brachyladum) and Akar (Bambusa vulgaris) were studied. Chemical analysis shows that the alkaline extractive content for Malaysian bamboo species studied was within 24.4% to 25.6%, ethanol-toluene extractive content for Malaysian bamboo species was within 4.0% to 7.2% and water extractive content was within 10.4% to 12.8%. The average value of holocellulose content for Malaysian bamboo was between 64.5% to 70.67%, Klason lignin within 25.3% to 28.4%, cellulose content was between 28.5% to 33.8% and α-cellulose content for all bamboo species was within the range of 40.7% to 47.9%. The crystallinity of bamboo samples was between 42.0 to 44.4%, indicating their semi-crystalline structure.  Heating value of bamboo ranged between 17.0 MJ/kg to 18.1 MJ/kg with G. scortechinii having the highest heating value.. The Inductive Couple Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-ES) analysis showed that Potassium (K) and Calcium (C) were the major elements in the ash of all bamboo samples. This study demonstrates the potential of native bamboo species as an alternative sustainable raw material to wood for a wide range of applications.

The paper industry accounts for a significant share of the chemicals consumed by the industrial sector. Most of the chemicals used are additives, i.e. chemical substances added during pulp and paper preparation and final product manufacturing (conversion and printing) in order to facilitate the process itself as well as the quality or functionality of the final product. Such additives may be re-introduced to the paper production process once waste paper is recycled, leading to their accumulation and spreading in newly manufactured paper and board products. This study aimed at identification of the critical additives potentially present in paper products and quantification of a selected group of additives (Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons) in waste paper and board source segregated from Danish municipal solid waste.

Wood is a natural renewable material with unique properties helping mankind to build and develop its communities since the genesis of human on the Earth. Moreover, wood/cellulosic composites provide the opportunity to utilize low-density wood species and agricultural materials that are basically not suitable for structural applications. Although wood is considered irreplaceable, it has some disadvantages narrowing its applications and limiting its service life. These disadvantages mainly include its susceptibility to water and water vapor, biological deteriorating fungi, insects, termites, and marine borers. The present chapter tries to summarize some main areas in which nanotechnology is being used to improve wood and lignocellulosic-based composite panels. Moreover, some new applications and capabilities of this precious natural material are also brought into perspective, areas such as transparent wood, self-cleaning coatings, and smart windows. Though some areas have been thoroughly studied, much potential still exists for further studies and commercialization.

The objective of this paper was the estimation of corrugated board mechanical properties based on the fiber characteristics from recovered paper and some physical properties (mainly grammage and thickness). Two kind of papers (liners and flutings) used for corrugated board production in Greece were examined. After the experimental determination of a plenty of variables, linear regressions were developed among those variables. Regressions led to some linear models with significant correlations between mechanical properties and fiber characteristics or physical properties (grammage and thickness). For the recycled paper of the liners category, significant correlations were observed considering tensile strength, tearing strength and zero span strength. For the recycled paper of the flutings category, significant correlations were observed considering compression strength and tearing strength