Novel investigation of the water transport in porous cellulose fibre networks using neutron imaging
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Lunds universitet - Avdelningen för Hållfasthetslära, Lunds universitet |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 498 000 |
| Project duration | November 2018 - November 2019 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration |
| Call | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration: Industrial pilot projects for neutron and photon experiments at large scale research infrastructures - 2018 |
| End-of-project report | 2018-04414_BillerudKorsnäs.docx.pdf (pdf, 401 kB) |
Important results from the project
The main aim of this project was to investigate the possibility to use neutron imaging in order to increase the knowledge of water transport in cellulose fibre networks. The goals was also to investigate how hydrophobization of the fibres by internal sizing affects water transport. To achieve this measurements were done at the D50 measure station at Institut Laue-Langevin(ILL) in Grenoble in September 2019. The results showed that neutron imaging has a great potential for increasing the knowledge of water transport in cellulose fibre based networks.
Expected long term effects
Measurement data from the neutron imaging experiment clearly shows how the liquid front propagates into the fibre network under presurized edge wetting. Furthermore, the measurement results also shows how fluid propagation is affected by the degree of sizing and the presence of a crease; paperboard is creased before folding and causes a local shear induced defect. The measurement results will be used in an ongoing research project for the development of physically based material models for liquid transport in paper board.
Approach and implementation
Water distribution in cellulose fibre based board was measured by neutron imaging at the D50 experimental station at Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) in Grenoble. Samples with varying degree of hydrophobization, with and without crease, were used. The measurements were carried out by staff from BillerudKorsnäs and Lund University together with the radiation tube experts at D50, L.Heffen and A. Tengattini. Prior to the measurements in Grenoble, a sample holder was developed for in-situ edge wetting of the paper board samples.