The effect of compaction parameters on the properties of high-deformable paper

Purpose and goal

The research carried out within the project has allowed the establishment of a tool for in-depth study of the compaction process of paper and predicting the resulting material properties. The outcome of the project contributes to a more controlled process, furnish optimization for maximizing the extensibility of compacted paper and limiting the fiber damage impairing the strength and bending stiffness.

Expected results and effects

The results of the project explained previously accumulated experimental observations and revealed the new key aspects affecting the compaction from the process side which include indentation pressure, speed, and material properties of the compaction rubber. The detailed micromechanical model revealed the mechanisms of damage accumulation in the fibers and proposed the ways to mitigate it with the preserved level of compaction with selected furnish composition. These results allowed gaining better control over the process and improving the target product characteristics.

Planned approach and implementation

The project was implemented in two main steps. First, we aimed at the understanding of the mechanical process of compaction. We developed a macroscale numerical simulation to highlight the macro parameters influencing the product outcome and extract the loading history acting on the paper sheet. Secondly, we addressed the micromechanics of the paper network, building a parallel numerical framework capable of predicting the paper microscopic behavior. The results will be implemented after a series of pilot trials by BillerudKorsnäs.