Optimization of the properties of poplar and willow chemimechanical pulps by a mixture design of juvenile and mature wood

Abstract

Forest plantations of Salicaceae (poplars and willows) in Argentina are mainly used for the manufacture of pulp for newsprint. The rapid growth of these species results in a decrease in rotation age, which increases the proportion of juvenile wood. The aim of this work was to define the proportions of juvenile wood (JW) and mature wood (MW) of these species that can optimize the mechanical and optical properties of chemimechanical pulps for newsprint production. A two-component mixture type experimental design was used with proportions (JW:MW) of 0:100%, 25:75%, 50:50%, 75:25%, and 100:0%. When the mechanical properties were optimized, the highest desirability function was obtained with a JW:MW ratio of 100:0%, and the optimal ratio for optical properties was 0:100%. The pattern of variation of mechanical properties can be attributed to the higher density of MW, whilst that of the optical properties can be attributed to the higher content of extractives in the JW.