Specialist Japanese paper manufacturer Kami Shoji Co., Ltd. has taken delivery of ABB’s automated testing solution L&W Fiber Tester Plus, which offers quick and easy measurement of fiber quality as well as advanced analysis of fiber morphology. Kami Shoji will use L&W Fiber Tester Plus to conduct defibration testing on its cellulose nanofiber (CNF) paper production to find suitable production conditions.
Defibration is the process of separating wood fibers from each other prior to entering the paper machine. Kami Shoji’s production method for CNF paper is known to be more cost-competitive than ordinary chemical defibrated CNF production. The company developed its own special press method which enables faster dewatering time in the production of amorphized CNF paper. It results in a product with the same strength and environmental resistance as chemical CNF paper in oily environments.
Kami Shoji’s CNF paper has good elastic deformation to alter the material’s shape, which is not possible with regular chemical CNF paper. The paper, having unique strength properties, is expected to be used for structure, insulation and soundproofing material.
The process of making mechanical defibration CNF paper is considered challenging and depends on efficient, accurate visual inspection of the fibers to assess the degree of defibration and the optimum refiner conditions. Using ABB’s automated fiber morphology analysis device, ABB L&W Fiber Tester, the customer can observe an average of 20,000 fibers in just ten minutes – something that is impossible with manual inspections using an optical microscope – and produce multiple measurements including the fibril perimeter.
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