Analyze Fillers in Cellulose Products

Fillers in Paper and Packaging

Fillers are typically minerals or chemical compounds added to the pulp during the manufacturing process.

Here are some common types of fillers used in paper production:

- Calcium carbonate (limestone): This is the most common filler and is used to increase the paper's basis weight, improve its surface strength, and enhance its opacity. Calcium carbonate is usually added to the pulp in the form of a fine powder.
 
- Kaolin (clay): Kaolin is a fine and white clay used to improve the paper's printability, surface strength, and opacity. It is often used in coated papers and art papers.
 
- Talc: Talc is a soft mineral used to improve the paper's surface, increase its opacity, and provide a smoother finish. Talc is often used in specialty papers, such as coated paper.
 
- Aluminum hydroxide: This filler is used to improve the paper's opacity and surface strength. It is also known for its excellent lightfastness, making it useful for papers intended for long-term use.
 
- Titanium dioxide: Titanium dioxide is a white pigment used to increase the paper's opacity and give it a whiter color. It is primarily used in high-quality printing papers.

Fillers are typically added to the pulp at various stages of the manufacturing process, depending on the desired paper properties. During the blending stage, the filler is mixed with the cellulose fibers to ensure even dispersion. The mixture then goes through the paper machine, where it is pressed, dried, and treated to form the final paper.

The use of fillers in papermaking not only improves paper properties but can also help reduce costs by reducing the amount of expensive fibres used. It is important to strike a balance between achieving desired properties and keeping production costs reasonable. At the same time, it is essential to be aware of the environmental consequences of using different fillers and strive to minimize negative impacts on the environment.

RISE can evaluate fillers in paper products based on several important parameters. Brightness, pH, dry content, and viscosity are some of the crucial properties that can be analyzed to assess the quality and suitability of fillers in paper products.

Methods

Brightness: Measure of how much light a material reflects and is an important property for assessing the optical quality of paper. By measuring brightness, one can assess how white and bright the paper is, which is crucial for various applications such as printing and image reproduction.

pH: pH value is an indicator of the acidity level of paper and can affect its durability and stability over time. A correct pH value is important to ensure that the paper does not become brittle or yellow over time, especially if it comes into contact with archival materials or artistic works.

Dry content: Dry content is the amount of solid substances in relation to the total weight of a material and is an important parameter for assessing the concentration of fillers in paper products. By measuring dry content, one can ensure that the correct amount of filler has been added to achieve the desired properties of the paper.

Viscosity: Viscosity is a measure of how thick or thin a liquid or suspension is and can be used to assess the smoothness and consistency of the paper pulp with fillers. It is particularly important to control viscosity during the manufacturing process to ensure an even distribution of fillers in the paper pulp.

RISE offers an analysis package that includes measurements and evaluation of these parameters to help manufacturers and users of paper products ensure high quality and performance. By using advanced analytical methods and instrumentation, RISE can contribute to optimizing the composition of fillers in paper products to meet specific market requirements and needs.

Delivery

RISE offers a report that includes data in Excel format and relevant images and diagrams. It is carefully compiled using standard methods for the conducted analyses. The report also includes an assessment of measurement uncertainty to ensure the reliability of the presented results. All relevant parameters significant to the specific analysis are included to provide a comprehensive picture of the situation. Additionally, detailed comments and explanations are provided to offer further insight and understanding of the presented data.

Mill sampling and fibre line inspection

RISE can perform sampling directly in factory environments to collect representative material samples for analysis. Our experts can visit your factory and conduct precise samplings according to your specific requirements and needs. By collecting samples directly from the production line, we can ensure that the analysis results are relevant and reliable for your process.

In addition to factory sampling, RISE can also offer fiber line inspections focusing on analyzing and evaluating the use of fillers in your fiber line. This may include mapping and assessing the distribution, concentration, and properties of the fillers used in your paper production. By thoroughly examining the fiber line, we can identify potential areas for improvement and provide recommendations to optimize the use of fillers to achieve desired paper qualities and performance.

By combining factory sampling with fiber line inspections, RISE can provide a comprehensive and tailored analysis of your paper production. We always strive to deliver high-quality and actionable results that help you improve the efficiency, quality, and sustainability of your products.

RISE maintains a strict confidentiality policy regarding all our client assignments. This means that we handle all information accessed during our work with the utmost discretion and respect for our clients' privacy and business relationships.