Canadian pulp fibre morphology: Superiority and considerations for end use potential

Four physical attributes of fibres confer the end use potential of a pulp, namely fibre length, fibre coarseness, fibre strength and uniformity. Long, slender, fine fibred pulps, which are low in thick-walled summerwood content, provide superior reinforcement strength. The natural species endowment that Canada enjoys can, when accompanied by superior operational performance and technical vision, result in significant advantages for strategically focused companies and their customers. Factor and multivariate analysis of more than 60 industrial pulp samples confirm that on the basis of fundamental morphological differences, Canadian pulps exhibit clear superiority. Canadian northern bleached softwood kraft pulp is the undoubted industry leader, yet unrealized potential still exists, and additional research effort is required, to maintain this market position. Key words: kraft pulp, softwood, fibre morphology, intrinsic properties, length, coarseness, fibre strength, tensile strength, biogeoclimatic zone, fa...