Softwood kraft pulping with polyacrylonitrile fibers

Abstract

This article presents data on the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) effect upon the elastoplastic and mechanical properties of kraft pulp (unbleached softwood sulphate pulp). In the present research the possibility of obtaining in vitro sulphate pulp together with reinforcing agent of polyacrylonitrile was studied. PAN consumption was varied from 0.05 to 0.20 wt % based on the dry weight of the chips. Micrographs of cellulose samples showed that PAN was distributed on the surface of cellulose fibers in the form of fine spherical shape particles and made it possible to increase the strength of kraft pulp by 15?18% (breaking length was increased from 8,480 up to 9,990 m, breaking strength ?from 93.8 up to 109.5 N, energy absorption at break ?from 76.0 up to 92.6 J/m 2 and folding endurance ?from 7 up to 13 double folds).