Testing Facilities

Pulping and Bleaching

Two M/K Systems digesters are capable of pulping 800-900g OD wood chips each, producing ample pulp for a refiner and handsheet study. Laboratory-scale bleaching can be performed at low to medium consistencies. Two flat-bed vibratory screens with variable slots or holes are available for pulp screening. Testing capabilities include lignin content, pulp viscosity, and chemical analysis of pulping and bleaching liquors.

Refining and Handsheet Making

Laboratory refining can be done using standard equipment such as a PFI mill, Mead plate refiner, or one of several Valley beaters. Handsheets can be formed by either the TAPPI Standard British sheet method or the Noble and Wood handsheet procedure.

Recycling

Laboratory flotation deinking is possible with an Adirondack Flotation Cell. The Artek OMNICON 3600 image analyzer aids in the analysis of deinking efficiency.

Fiber and Paper Evaluation

Fiber-classification equipment consists of a Clark and a Bauer-McNett Fiber Classifier. Fiber length can be determined using a Kajaani FS 100 Optical Fiber Length Analyzer. Fiber microscopy equipment includes light microscopes and an ISI SX 30 scanning electron microscope with a magnification range of 28x to 28,000x. A video-camera attachment to a Reichert microscope allows for the videotaping of slides. All standard mechanical, optical, and surface properties of paper can be determined, including basis weight, caliper, tear, tensile, mullen, fold, stiffness, brightness, color, fluorescence, opacity, gloss, smoothness, porosity, and sizing. Specialized equipment includes Scott bond, Zero Span tensile, and Neenah expansimeter. These tests are performed in conditioned rooms meeting TAPPI standards.

Paper Coating

Visit the Coating Plant Website. Cowels mixers and kneaders are capable of producing small amounts of paper coatings for evaluation. The rheological properties of coatings can be characterized using a Rheometrics DSR 2000 stress rheometer, a Hercules Hi-Shear viscometer, a Brookfield viscometer, and Eklund capillary viscometer. The water holding properties of coatings can be evaluated using a Kaltec AAGWR water retention tester. A laboratory dual-nip supercalender and a hot-soft nip calender is used for individual sheets. Specialized testing equipment for evaluation of coated paper includes an IGT pick test with Helioprint capabilities and Parker Print-Surf. WMU also has a CLC Laboratory Coater.

Download a printable listing of available tests.