1) Tissue products in the USA and Canada are manufacturedusing few sources of fiber. Major fibers sources used for browntissue manufacturing are OCC and SOP. The majority of whitetissue is manufactured with SOP, eucalyptus and northernsoftwood.

2) Fiber price has increased above inflation during the last 5years.

3) In this context where 4 sources of fiber represents 65% of thetotal raw material used for tissue manufacturing, and where fiberprices are increasing during the last 5 years, there is enoughopportunity to do research with focus on fiber development,including new fiber alternatives or enhancement of existingfibers.

Fiber Development to Meet Market ChallengesTiago de Assis1

Ronalds Gonzalez1, Joel Pawlak1

1 Department of Forest Biomaterials, College of Natural Resources, NC State University, Raleigh, NC

Objective

Introduction

Non-Wood Fibers

Effect of Refining on Water Absorption and Softness

Highlights

Market Pulps Strength - No Refining

Market Pulps Morphology

87% - OCC and SOP

64% - SOP, Eucalyptus, Northern Softwood

3% annual price increase above inflation

OCC and DLK6.5% annual price increase above inflation

1) Present a literature overview about fibers used in tissueproduction with focus on properties (softness, absorbency andstrength).

2) Indicate some possible research opportunities aboutdevelopment of fibers for tissue products.

Market Pulps Strength - Refining

1) The use of non-wood fibers in tissue products may havesome advantages:a)Reduce price volatility of market pulpsb)Develop local markets (ex: China and India)c)Reduce Impact of forest managementd)Easy to Pulpe)Wide range of fiber lengthf)Potential source for different properties (lack of data on tissue)

2) However, there are some challenges to be overcome:a)Bulky materialb)Stability during storagec)High content of fines and non-fibrous elementsd)Mineral Impurities (ex: silica)

1) Major sources of fibers used for tissue manufacturing in theUSA and Canada.SOPEucalyptusNorthern SoftwoodOCC

2) Fiber price has increased above inflation during last 5 years.SOP - 1.9%BEK + 2.5%NBSK + 3.4%OCC + 5.7%

3) There are few publications about the effect of fibers in tissueproperties and there is an opportunity for research with focus onfiber development.

5) Some research opportunitiesStandards for tissue making and testing in lab scale Impact of bulk on tissue propertiesUse of recycled fibers and non-wood fibersModification of pulping / bleaching processes

65% of Total Fiber Consumption

Fiber Development to Meet Market Challenges

Tiago De Assis1, Ronalds Gonzalez1, Joel Pawlak1

1 Department of Forest Biomaaterials, NC State University

1

Source - Fisher Solve

Raw Material ConsumptionBrown Tissue

2

87% - OCC and SOP

Source - Fisher Solve

Raw Material ConsumptionWhite Tissue

3

64% - SOP, Eucalyptus, Northern Softwood

Source - RISI

Raw Material PriceMarket Pulp

4

3% annual price increase above inflation

Source - RISI

Raw Material PriceRecycled Paper

5

OCC and DLK6.5% annual price increase above inflation

• Major sources of fibers – USA and Canada SOP Eucalyptus Northern Softwood OCC

• Average annual price increase above inflation (last 5 years) SOP - 1.9% BEK + 2.5% NBSK + 3.4% OCC + 5.7%

• There is an opportunity for research with focus on fiber development: Develop new fiber alternatives to:

a) Reduce the impact of price volatilityb) Potentially develop products with enhanced properties

Improve properties of existing fibers

• Objective: Literature review about fibers for tissue production with focus onproperties (softness, absorbency and strength).

Objectives6

65% of Total Raw Material

Source – Nanko et. Al (2005), The World of Market Pulp

TBHK = Tropical Bleached Hardwood Kraft (Acacia)SABRPK, SAURPK = South American Bleached and Unbleached Radiata Pine Kraft

Market Pulps Morphology7

Source – Nanko et. Al (2005), The World of Market Pulp

TBHK = Tropical Bleached Hardwood Kraft (Acacia)SABRPK, SAURPK = South American Bleached and Unbleached Radiata Pine Kraft

Market Pulps Properties8

No Refining

Softwood Pulps Properties9

Source - Nanko et. Al (2005), The World of Market Pulp

SABRPK, SAURPK = South American Bleached and Unbleached Radiata Pine Kraft

Source - Nanko et. Al (2005), The World of Market Pulp

TBHK = Tropical Bleached Hardwood Kraft (Acacia)

Hardwood Pulps Properties10

Top: Kullander et. Al (2012). Bottom: Gigac, Fišerová (2009)

Impact of Refining on Water Absorbency and Softness

11

• Non-wood Pulps(6.5% of world pulp)

• Non-wood PulpChallenges

Non-wood Fibers in Tissue Products

12

Reduce pulp price volatility

Develop local markets (China / India - 78% of market)

Reduce impacts of forest management

Easy to Pulp

Wide range of fiber length

Source of different properties (lack of public data on tissue)

Bulky raw material

Stability during storage

High content of fines / non-fibrous fibers

Mineral impurities (silica)

• Major Sources of Fibers and Annual Price Increase (last 5 years) - USA and Canada

Virgin

Recycled

• There is an opportunity for research with focus on fiber development Develop new fiber alternatives Improve properties of existing fibers

• Few publications about the impact of fibers in tissue properties

• Some Research Opportunities Standards for tissue making and testing in lab scale Impact of bulk on tissue properties Use of recycled fibers and non-wood fibers

HighlightsFibers in Tissue Products

13

Eucalyptus (softness) → BEK + 2.5%Northern Softwood (strength) → NBSK + 3.4%

SOP (white) - 1.9% OCC (brown) + 5.7%

Thank you!

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