A method for alteration of the morphology of cellulose fibers, particularlysoftwood fibers, by (a) subjecting the fibers to a metal ion-activatedperoxide treatment carried out at a pH of between about 1 and about 9,preferably between 3 and 7, and (b) subjecting the treated fibers to arefining treatment thereby converts SW fibers to HW-like fibers in manyrespects. The metal ion-activated peroxide treatment has been noted to act onpulp cellulose and hemi-cellulose, causing oxidation and oxidative degradationof cellulose fibers. The chemical treatment of the pulp, taken alone, is notsufficient to attain the desired modification of the morphology of the fibers,however, subsequent refining or like mechanical treatment of the chemically-treated fibers to achieve a given degree of refinement of the fibers requiresdramatically less refining energy to achieve a desired end point of refinementand to impart other desirable properties to the pulp. A pulp of modified SWfibers and a mixture of HW fibers and modified HW fibers are disclosed.
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