Tailoring the Wet Strength of Linerboard Via Dielectric Barrier Discharge

Abstract

Atmospheric dielectric‐barrier discharge treatments were shown to be a facile and direct means of enhancing the wet‐strength tensile properties of softwood kraft linerboard furnish. The improvements in wet‐tensile strength were shown to vary between 10–190% depending on the charge of cold plasma applied. These benefits were accompanied with a minor increase in dry tensile strength and slight decrease dry tear strength and negligible changes in creep properties. AFM analysis of the treated sheets demonstrated that this treatment results in surface smoothing of the fibers.

Keywords:

• Linerboard softwood kraft pulp
• dielectric barrier discharge
• wet‐strength
• AFM

The Gunnar and Lillian Nicholson Fellowship Program financed this project, which is sincerely acknowledged.