Date of Award

12-1997

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Paper Science and Engineering

Abstract

Sodium tetraborate, the most common of the borate minerals, is a salt believed to promote crosslinking among cellulose and hemicellulose fibers. Samples of bleached Burgess hardwood pulp (45% maple, 25% birch, 15% beech, 15% poplar) obtained from Crown Vantage were treated with borax at three different levels: 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0%. The pulp was pre-soaked with borax at 10% consistency, for one hour, prior to refining in a PFI mill. The drying and strength properties of the paper produced from the control and treated pulps were tested according to standard TAPPI procedures and analyzed statistically. The addition of borax resulted in a 10% increase in strength properties. However, the incorporation of borax does result in a slight decrease in brightness.

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