Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

Domtar is the largest integrated marketer and manufacturer of uncoated freesheet paper and among the most cost-competitive papermakers in North America. Domtar is working on the development of new low basis weight and low thickness papers for specialty applications. Trials will be done in the laboratory to make a media containing experimentally determined amounts of different types of fibres including surface enhanced pulp fibres (SEPF) on which Innofibre has worked on the development. Trials also need to be performed on a pilot paper machine to determine more specific functionalities and optimal performance parameters for the manufacture of these papers for specialty applications. Innofibre has the expertise and the equipment to perform these trials and evaluations. A number of fibre property combinations are theoretically possible, as well as the range of bioproducts that could be made with them. This represents a significant economic opportunity for Canada, given the abundance of the nation's forest biomass and forest sector commitment to transformation. Domtar must have innovative processes to produce high-quality products. This is very important to keep mills running and the associated jobs for many years to come.