Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Enhanced, multi-stage, fibre fractionation is an enabling, transformative technology in the development of 'next generation' pulp and paper products. This proposed research program will include an extensive experimental investigation to determine how pulp pressure screen and hydrocyclone design and operation affect the change in fibre property distributions (fibre length, wall thickness and diameter). From the extensive experimental study, a detailed model of the separation process will be developed and implemented into process simulation technology. The model will be based on the fundamental understanding of fibre motion within these unit operations. The resulting simulation will be used to design future multi-stage fractionation systems that will be used throughout the Canadian industry. The second project will use multi-stage fractionation to develop pulps with an extremely broad spectrum of properties. Theoretical models will be developed that links the fibre property distributions to the bulk pulp and paper properties by considering the physics at the fibre level. These fundamental models will also be included in the process simulation and used to design highly effective fractionation systems. Finally, two demonstration projects will be conducted to demonstrate how current industrial fractionation technology can be used to develop 'next-generation' super-reinforcing softwood pulps and high performance hardwood kraft pulps. Enhanced fractionation technology coupled with our diverse Northern fibre has the potential to move the product quality goal-posts of product performance beyond what our southern competitors with their mono-clonal species and uniform growing season can produce. This technology and ability to create 'next-generation' products will provide a lasting, differential advantage to one of Canada's strategically important industries.