Improving linerboard properties with enzymatic treatment of the kraft component of the base sheet

摘要

Enzymatically treating kraft fibres with a crude cellulase, prior to mixing with the other fibre components of a linerboard furnish, may serve as a means to increase the freeness of the overall furnish. This treatment can also marginally improve short span compression strength of the resultant linerboard at 50 and 95% rh (relative humidity), although small decreases in burst and tear indices can occur. When the cellulase treated furnish is refined back to the freeness of the control furnish, substantially higher short span compression strength can be achieved. The benefits are generally not attained by treatments with xylanase alone. The successful industrial use of cellulase will, however, require the achievement of the benefits at much lower enzyme doses.