One of the primary objectives of this thesis was to design fiber/filler/polymer structures for newsprint and in the process develop a greater understanding of fiber/filler/ polymer structures. Five different designed structures were created for study. The designed structures were composed of virgin, hydrosulfite bleached, TMP southern pine, Georgian kaolin clay and various polymers. Five filler levels from 0% to 20% were employed with each of these different structures. Numerous physical tests were used to gather data which would help to develop an understanding for the macroscopic properties of the structures. Paper structures were created and data from bulk physical tests and particle based SEM image analyses were compared. Comparisons were made using a statistical method called Principal Component Analysis (PCA) where the data is grouped and reduced to find data correlations not readily apparent in the raw data.

Flexographic printing is a common printing method in the packaging field. The printing method is characterized primarily by the flexible printing plate and the low viscosity inks which make it suitable for use on almost any substrate. The object of this study was to obtain further knowledge of the some important mechanisms of flexographic printing and how they influence the print quality. The thesis deals with printing primarily on board and liner but also on newsprint with water-borne ink using a full-scale flexographic central impression (CI) printing press. Several printing trials have been performed with a focus on the chemical interaction between the ink and substrate and the physical contact between the ink-covered printing plate and the substrate. Multicolour printing exposes the substrate to water from the water-containing ink. The emphasis was to investigate the relation between print quality and water-uptake of the paper surface with heat and water. Printing trials was carried out on substrates possessing a hydrophobic, and also a rather hydrophilic surface using a regular commercial water-borne ink. The favorable effect which water or surfactant solution had on the hydrophobic substrate with regard to print mottle could depend on its surface compressibility in combination with the hydrophobic nature of its surface that could affect the wetting properties. Conventional printing involves physical contact between plate and ink and between ink and substrate. A method for measuring the dynamic nip pressure using thin load cells is presented. Print quality was influenced by the plate material. A correction procedure taking into account the size of the sensor was developed in order to estimate the maximum dynamic pressure in the printing nip. An attempt was made to identify essential mechanical and chemical parameters, and also geometrical properties of the plate that affected print quality. Laboratory printing trials were carried out and a multivariate analysis was applied for evaluation of print quality data. The impact of the plate properties on print quality was evident. The essential properties of the plate that influence print quality were the small-scale roughness and long-scale roughness.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

A indústria de papel e celulose passa por constantes desafios para solucionar problemas relacionados ao alto consumo de água industrial. Uma alternativa é utilizar ferramentas como a Integração de Processos, onde é possível aplicar técnicas gráficas como o \"Water Pinch\" ou técnicas com programação matemática para otimizar o circuito de água. Para contribuir com o setor, as técnicas foram aplicadas no presente trabalho utilizando-se dados reais coletados em uma unidade produtora de polpa termomecânica e papel imprensa. Com os dados, um caso base em um simulador foi desenvolvido para iniciar a análise por Integração de Processos. A análise é baseada no aproveitamento das correntes de águas residuais em outras etapas do processo sob restrições na concentração limite de contaminantes, especificamente finos e sólidos dissolvidos. Diferentemente dos trabalhos apresentados na literatura que alegam que a solução encontrada trata-se de valores otimizados, os resultados mostram que os valores encontrados através da programação matemática e do método Pinch são teoricamente corretos, porém, quando novamente simuladas sob estas novas condições obtidas por Integração de Processos, as condições operacionais da unidade industrial mostram-se inadequadas. As concentrações limites de contaminantes previamente estabelecidos pelas técnicas utilizadas são frequentemente ultrapassadas nos resultados de recálculo por simulação, e portanto, as soluções de Integração de Processos devem ser corrigidas antes de implantação. Por isso, os valores previstos, por exemplo, de redução de consumo de até 38% no projeto realístico atinge o valor de 23%, o que ainda é um bom resultado. O trabalho ainda mostra que a programação matemática é eficaz e rápida para encontrar soluções com múltiplos contaminantes, enquanto o método Pinch é mais voltado para casos com contaminante simples. / The Pulp and Paper industry has constantly struggled to solve problems related to high water consumption. One alternative is to use tools like Process Integration, where graphical methods and mathematical programming can be applied to optimize the water circuit. To contribute to the Pulp and Paper sector, the methods were applied in the present work using real process data that have been collected in an integrated thermomechanical and newsprint mill. With these data, a base case simulation was developed to initiate the analysis by Process Integration. The analysis is based on residual water reuse in other process stages under propriety constraints like contaminants concentration limits, specifically the dissolved solids and fine fibers. Differently from works presented in the references that claim that solutions found are optimized values, the results of this work show that values found by mathematical programming and pinch method are theoretically correct, however, the operational conditions of the mill become inadequate when simulated under new conditions achieved by Process Integration. The concentration limits of contaminants previously established for the methods have their values frequently exceed after recalculation by simulation, and thus, the solutions by Process Integration must be corrected before using them. So, if the predicted value for reduction of fresh water consumption is, for example, 38%, in the realistic project this value will reach only 23%, which is still a good result. The work also shows that mathematical programming is efficient to find solutions when there are multiple contaminants, while pinch method is more adequate for those cases with single contaminant.

This thesis is focused on the novel wood chip refining process called AdvancedThermomechanical Pulp (ATMP) refining. ATMP consists of mechanical pretreatmentof chips in Impressafiner and Fiberizer prior to first stage refining atincreased intensity. Process chemicals (this study was concentrated on hydrogenperoxide and magnesium hydroxide) are introduced into the first stage refiner.It is known that the use of chemicals in TMP process and first stage refining atelevated intensity can reduce the energy demands of refining. The downside is thatthey also alter the character of the produced pulp. Reductions in fibre length andtear index are usually the consequences of refining at elevated intensity. Additionof chemicals usually leads to reduction of the light scattering coefficient. Usingstatistical methods it was shown that it is possible to maintain the TMP character ofthe pulp using the ATMP process. This is explained by a separation of thedefibration and the fibre development phases in refining. This separation allowsdefibration of chips to fibres and fibre bundles without addition of chemicals orincrease in refining intensity. Chemicals are applied in the fibre developmentphase only (first stage refiner). The energy demand in refining to reach tensileindex of 25 Nm/g was reduced by up to 1.1 MWh/odt (42 %) using the ATMPprocess on Loblolly pine. The energy demand in refining of White spruce, requiredto reach tensile index of 30 Nm/g, was reduced by 0.65 MWh/odt (37%).Characterizations of individual fibre properties, properties of sheets made fromlong fibre fractions and model fibre sheets with different fines fractions werecarried out. It was established that both the process equipment configuration (i.e.the mechanical pre‐treatment and the elevated refining intensity) and the additionof process chemicals in the ATMP process influence fibre properties such as external and internal fibrillation as well as the amount of split fibres. Improvementof these properties translated into improved properties of sheets, made from thelong fibre fractions of the studied pulps. The quality of the fines fraction alsoimproved. However, the mechanisms of improvement in the fines quality seem tobe different for fines, generated using improved process configuration andaddition of process chemicals. The first type of fines contributed to better bondingof model long fibre sheets through the densification of the structure. Fines whichhave been influenced by the addition of the process chemicals seemed in additionto improve bonding between long fibres by enhancing the specific bond strength.The improved fibre and fines properties also translated into better airpermeability and surface roughness of paper sheets, properties which areespecially important for supercalendered (SC) printing paper. The magnitude offibre roughening after moistening was mainly influenced by the processequipment configuration while the addition of process chemicals yielded lowestfinal surface roughness due to the lowest initial surface roughness. There was nodifference in how fines fractions from the studied processes influenced the fibreroughening. However, fines with better bonding yielded model fibre sheets withhigher PPS, probably due to their consolidation around fibre joints. Hence, thedecrease in PPS can probably be attributed to the improvements in the long fibrefraction properties while the improvement of fines quality contributed to thereduction of air permeability.The process chemicals, utilized in the ATMP process (Mg(OH)2 and H2O2) alsoproved to be an effective bleaching system. Comparable increases in brightnesscould be reached using the ATMP process and conventional tower bleaching.Maximum brightness of the pulp was reached after approximately 10 minutes ofhigh‐consistency storage after refining or 40 minutes of conventional bleaching.This study was conducted using a pilot scale refiner system operated as a batchprocess. Most of the experiments were performed using White spruce (Piceaglauca). In Paper I, Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) was used. It is believed that theresults presented in this thesis are valid for other softwood raw materials as well,but this limitation should be considered.

There has been considerable interest in finding and explaining the basic elements that can drive product quality up. In the literature this is largely done by modelling the effects of investing in learning and process improvement, and of cost reduction. In the first essay, demand is modelled as a function of price and quality. With this demand function, the firm should produce output of higher quality, the increase in quality being dependent on consumers’ sensitivity to quality and to price, and the effect of technological improvement on product price and quality are very different from those when the demand is a function of price alone. Some twenty states in the U.S. have passed recycling laws which mandate consumption of old newspaper by the newsprint industry. To study the effect of regulation, a model is used in which two firms compete under the regulatory constraint—one firm producing the recycled product, the other the virgin product. Assuming the regulatory constraint is binding, and the demand for the recycled product is derived solely from the legislation, interesting results such as the two firms share equal profits, and consumers pay higher average price in competitive equilibrium than the cartel price, are obtained in the second essay. The two firm model is generalized to include n firms which compete under the same kind of regulatory constraint in the third essay. Results similar to the two firm case are obtained. When the recycled product and the virgin product are partially substitutable, regulation that mandates consumption of the recycled product results in infinitely many equilibria. A dominating equilibrium exists if the demand parameters satisfy a certain condition, otherwise it is not clear how to select an equilibrium. On the other hand, a suitable tax on the virgin product, or its producer, serves to induce compliance with the recycling policy and equilibrium selection. The equilibrium prices and profits of the two firms under the schemes of production tax, excessive consumption tax and progressive profit tax are examined and compared in the fourth essay. It is interesting to find that the tax rate for excessive consumption is comparatively low and, in equilibrium, this tax scheme collects no tax payment.

A indústria de papel e celulose passa por constantes desafios para solucionar problemas relacionados ao alto consumo de água industrial. Uma alternativa é utilizar ferramentas como a Integração de Processos, onde é possível aplicar técnicas gráficas como o \"Water Pinch\" ou técnicas com programação matemática para otimizar o circuito de água. Para contribuir com o setor, as técnicas foram aplicadas no presente trabalho utilizando-se dados reais coletados em uma unidade produtora de polpa termomecânica e papel imprensa. Com os dados, um caso base em um simulador foi desenvolvido para iniciar a análise por Integração de Processos. A análise é baseada no aproveitamento das correntes de águas residuais em outras etapas do processo sob restrições na concentração limite de contaminantes, especificamente finos e sólidos dissolvidos. Diferentemente dos trabalhos apresentados na literatura que alegam que a solução encontrada trata-se de valores otimizados, os resultados mostram que os valores encontrados através da programação matemática e do método Pinch são teoricamente corretos, porém, quando novamente simuladas sob estas novas condições obtidas por Integração de Processos, as condições operacionais da unidade industrial mostram-se inadequadas. As concentrações limites de contaminantes previamente estabelecidos pelas técnicas utilizadas são frequentemente ultrapassadas nos resultados de recálculo por simulação, e portanto, as soluções de Integração de Processos devem ser corrigidas antes de implantação. Por isso, os valores previstos, por exemplo, de redução de consumo de até 38% no projeto realístico atinge o valor de 23%, o que ainda é um bom resultado. O trabalho ainda mostra que a programação matemática é eficaz e rápida para encontrar soluções com múltiplos contaminantes, enquanto o método Pinch é mais voltado para casos com contaminante simples. / The Pulp and Paper industry has constantly struggled to solve problems related to high water consumption. One alternative is to use tools like Process Integration, where graphical methods and mathematical programming can be applied to optimize the water circuit. To contribute to the Pulp and Paper sector, the methods were applied in the present work using real process data that have been collected in an integrated thermomechanical and newsprint mill. With these data, a base case simulation was developed to initiate the analysis by Process Integration. The analysis is based on residual water reuse in other process stages under propriety constraints like contaminants concentration limits, specifically the dissolved solids and fine fibers. Differently from works presented in the references that claim that solutions found are optimized values, the results of this work show that values found by mathematical programming and pinch method are theoretically correct, however, the operational conditions of the mill become inadequate when simulated under new conditions achieved by Process Integration. The concentration limits of contaminants previously established for the methods have their values frequently exceed after recalculation by simulation, and thus, the solutions by Process Integration must be corrected before using them. So, if the predicted value for reduction of fresh water consumption is, for example, 38%, in the realistic project this value will reach only 23%, which is still a good result. The work also shows that mathematical programming is efficient to find solutions when there are multiple contaminants, while pinch method is more adequate for those cases with single contaminant.

There has been considerable interest in finding and explaining the basic elements that can drive product quality up. In the literature this is largely done by modelling the effects of investing in learning and process improvement, and of cost reduction. In the first essay, demand is modelled as a function of price and quality. With this demand function, the firm should produce output of higher quality, the increase in quality being dependent on consumers’ sensitivity to quality and to price, and the effect of technological improvement on product price and quality are very different from those when the demand is a function of price alone. Some twenty states in the U.S. have passed recycling laws which mandate consumption of old newspaper by the newsprint industry. To study the effect of regulation, a model is used in which two firms compete under the regulatory constraint—one firm producing the recycled product, the other the virgin product. Assuming the regulatory constraint is binding, and the demand for the recycled product is derived solely from the legislation, interesting results such as the two firms share equal profits, and consumers pay higher average price in competitive equilibrium than the cartel price, are obtained in the second essay. The two firm model is generalized to include n firms which compete under the same kind of regulatory constraint in the third essay. Results similar to the two firm case are obtained. When the recycled product and the virgin product are partially substitutable, regulation that mandates consumption of the recycled product results in infinitely many equilibria. A dominating equilibrium exists if the demand parameters satisfy a certain condition, otherwise it is not clear how to select an equilibrium. On the other hand, a suitable tax on the virgin product, or its producer, serves to induce compliance with the recycling policy and equilibrium selection. The equilibrium prices and profits of the two firms under the schemes of production tax, excessive consumption tax and progressive profit tax are examined and compared in the fourth essay. It is interesting to find that the tax rate for excessive consumption is comparatively low and, in equilibrium, this tax scheme collects no tax payment. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

På uppdrag av Tidningsutgivarna har en studie utförts angående olika möjligheter att införa tryck av variabeldata med tryckmetoden inkjet i svensk dagspress. Målet var att undersöka tekniska möjligheter och begränsningar samt att utreda om det fanns något intresse på marknaden som skulle kunna ge någon avkastning. Studien utfördes med hjälp av noggranna källstudier och ett fortlöpande samarbete med olika företag med intresse för dagspress. Rapporten beskriver också företag som arbetar med den här typen av innovationer idag och diverse tidigare projekt med variabeltryckta tidningar. Nya teknologier som eventuellt kan vara av intresse för framtida utveckling har också beskrivits och hur tidningens framtid kommer att se ut ur ett kortare och ett längre perspektiv. Studien visar att inkjetpressar inte klarar av den hastighet som de moderna tidningspressarna håller idag. Men i takt med minskade upplagor och utvecklad teknologi, samt ett stort marknadsmässigt intresse så tyder det på att det kommer att finnas möjlighet att tillverka anpassade digitaltryckta tidningsupplagor inom en överskådlig framtid. Inkjet kan fungera som ett bra komplement till offset. Inlinepressar ger möjligheten att införa variabeltryck i stora tidningsupplagor medan separata inkjetpressar passar bra för tryck av mindre lokala upplagor. / By an assignment from the Swedish Media Publishers’ Association a study has been carried out about various opportunities to introduce printing of variable data with inkjet in Swedish newspapers. The aim was to investigate the technical possibilities and limitations, and if there was any interest in the market that would give any return of investment. The study was conducted by accurate studying of sources and a continuous cooperation with different companies with interest in the newspapers. The study shows that inkjet presses can’t handle the speed of the modern newspaper presses yet today. But it could work as a good complement to offset printing and the technique will continue to develop. It will be launched more printing presses with hybrid solutions in the near future.