CEPROHART EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF FIBRE SUSPENSION FLOW. FUTURE CHALLENGES Petronela Nechita

1. Cost Action FP1005 Fibre suspension flow modelling - a key for innovation and competitiveness in the pulp & paper industry MC and WG Meeting, Nancy 13-14 October 2011 INPL CEPROHART EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF FIBRE SUSPENSION FLOW. FUTURE CHALLENGES Petronela Nechita Pulp and Paper Research and Development Institute – CEPROHART SA Braila,Romania

2. CITY of BrăilaGeographical position on the continent, country and county

3. PULP and PAPER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE – CEPROHART BRĂILA, ROMANIA Has been founded in 1956 Having experience in qualified research and development services for pulp and paper industry. Produces speciality paper grades: filtering composites for alimentary liquids, foods packaging papers, security papers for documents, pre-coated papers and boards, composites with specialty uses.

4. SC CEPROHART SA BRĂILAROMANIA THE MAINS ACTIVITIES • Fundamental and applied research in the field of pulp and paper industry; • Design and Technological Development activity for the pulp and paper industry; • Production (at pilot plant level) of special paper grades (filtering composites for alimentary liquids, security papers for documents, food packaging papers, filter paper, composite materias for the automotive industry and speciality uses)

5. Paper machine - Pilot plant Capacity:1500 t/year Working width:1600 mm Speed: 7 - 10 m/min for composite materials(700 - 1650 g/sqm) 100 m/min for paper grades (from 35 g/sqm )

6. Composite materials Structural composition consists of mixtures of different type of raw materials Multi – phase systems involving at least one material whose flow behaviour is nenewtonian Forming at high consistency

7. OUR Case Study 1. Composites board with application in automotive industry (for sealing materials used in internal combustion engines) • High contents of fillers (until 70% - colloidal graphite and talc) • Mixture of three type of fibrous materials (virgin cellulose fibres, mineral fibres and Polyparafenilen – tereftal – amide) and butadiene - acrylonitrile carboxylate latex

8. Composites board with application in automotive industry • - grammage: 700  1250 g/sqm • forming consistency: 3  4,75 % • pilot plant speed: 8 m/min • consumption of electricity: 2400 kwh/t • heat consumption (steam): 4.5 Gcal/t • High level of foam (air bubbles) leads toadditional problems in pulp stock flow; • The mixing tanks of pulp stock are equipped with recirculation systems to avoid a “flocculation” phenomena • High turbulence

9. 2. Filtering composite based on cellulose fibres intended to separate the disturbing and/or contaminant colloidal components in the alimentary liquids Composition: • Virgin cellulose fibres : 50% • Filler: 50% Forming parameters: • Consistency: 1.35  2.5 % • Thickness of fibrous suspension layer on forming wire: 2 – 5 cm • Grammage ( 1200 – 1650 g/sqm) • Speed: 1,1 m/min • consumption of electricity: 2650 kwh/t • heat consumption (steam): 4.5 Gcal/t A strict control should be assigned to forming consistency and fibrous suspension flow aiming to assure fibres orientation and obtaining a proper fibrous network with all components of composite matrix

10. 3. Composite materials for seedling manufacturing Composition: • Peat – 70% • Recycled cellulose fibres : 30% Forming: • Formation and dewatering system through die molding Die dewatering Die vacuum formation Upper die dewatering • Formation consistency: 0.8 – 1 %

11. Composite materials for seedling manufacturing Control parameters: • Dewatering rate • Vacuum level • Water viscosity • Forming consistency, level of turbulence and flocculation Disturbances: The peat consists of fibrous structure based long fibres, with high capacity of flocculation during forming process and with lower drainage rate.

12. Flocculation degree and flocs distribution depend on the fibrous suspension consistency and level of turbulence • Regardless of working speed, increasing of fibrous suspensions consistency have a negative influence of fibrous network formation. Increasing of consistency results in flocculation enhancement while increasing of flocks resistance and energy consumption for their re-dispersing.

13. Together with Technical University of Iasi we have some contribution to study concerning electrokinetic's, rheologic, hydrodynamic and physico-mechanical characteristics of some fibre suspensions obtained from cellulose recycled fibres. Also, we completed some doctoral thesis in the field of fibrous pulp and paper rheology

14. FUTURE Challenges • FP 1005 COST Action give us an opportunity to learn and understanding the fibre suspension flow phenomena and solving well defined disturbances that we meet during composite materials manufacturing. • FP 1005 COST Action offers the frame to identify advanced techniques and methods used for fibre suspension analysis and flow modelling

15. Isolation and treatments techniques: Analytical tools and techniques for fibrous suspension preparing and paper materials characterising Characterization tools: Preparative techniques: sheets and mould forming

16. Contact: petronela.nechita@ceprohart.ro Al. I. Cuza Street, no.3, Braila, 810019, ROMANIA Tel: +40239 619 741 Fax: +40239 680 280 www.ceprohart.ro