Mixture Design for Enhancing Softness Components of Hygiene Paper

Abstract

Softness of hygiene paper encompasses bulk softness and surface softness components. Bulk softness is determined by bulk flexibility, which is the inverse of tensile stiffness, while surface softness is determined by surface roughness and friction. Although refining is essential for modifying fiber properties to achieve the desired tissue web characteristics, it increases tissue web density after drying, resulting in diminished bulk softness. This study explored methods to minimize strength loss while enhancing bulk softness by using pulps refined separately. The objective was to develop optimal pulp mixtures that maintain bulk softness and high tensile strength with improved surface softness. The results highlight the potential to optimize pulp mixtures for enhanced bulk softness and tensile strength and suggest that customizing the pulp conditions can effectively manage properties such as surface roughness and friction. The heterogeneity of pulps originating from separate refining systems is crucial for achieving targeted bulk and surface softness components.