Effect of Beating Process on Characteristics of Cotton Pulp and its Papermaking Performance

Abstract

Two kinds of cotton pulp fibers were used as raw materials to explore the relationship between beating process and cotton fiber properties through Hollander beating, Hollander/PFI beating, and enzyme pretreatment/ Hollander beating. The results showed that the medium consistency beating had a strong effect on the fibrillation of cotton pulp fibers, while the effect on the cutting of fibers was weak. However, the low consistency beating process had a strong cutting effect and a weak fibrillating effect on the fibers. With the increase of beating degree, the average length of cotton fiber decreased, the ratio of fibrillation degree and fine fibers increase markedly. In the range of beating degree from 30 to 60 °SR, the tensile index, folding endurance, and bursting index of cotton fiber-based paper generally increased with the beating degree increasing. Paper sheets produced by blending cotton pulp with hardwood pulp had superior tensile index, bursting index, and tearing index compared to those made from pure hardwood pulp. Furthermore, when the beating degree of the cotton pulp was 60°SR and its addition level was 40%, the resulting paper achieved optimal performance in tensile index, bursting index, tearing index, and folding endurance, yielding the best overall paper properties.