ChemE 472 - Papermaking Processes

Course Description

Credits: 3.  Fiber sources and properties. Secondary fibers. Stock preparation, sheet forming, water removal, finishing. Coating, lamination, and printing. Paper products. Offered: jointly with PSE 477: A.

Designation

Prerequisites

Textbook

Smok, G.A., Handbook for Pulp and Paper Technologists, 3rd ed. Angus Wilde Publications 2002.  Biermann, C.J., Handbook of Pulping and Papermaking, 2nd ed. Academic Press, 1996.

Course Objectives

This course serves as an introduction to modern commercial papermaking processes.  The course covers stock preparation, forming, wet pressing, drying processes and coating.  The basis for discussion are the underlying material and energy balances, fluid dynamics and heat and mass transfer processes.

1. Overview of Papermaking Operations
1. Unique paradoxes in papermaking
2. Overall material and energy balances
3. Papermaking as a filtration operation
2. Stock preparation
1. Refining
2. Screening
3. Cleaning
3. Formation
1. Fundamentals of formation
2. Fourdrinier operations
3. Twin wire operations
4. Hybrid formers
5. Cylinder formers
4. Wet Pressing
1. Fundamentals of wet pressing
2. Roll presses
3. Shoe presses
5. Drying
1. Fundamentals of paper drying
2. Drying section design
3. Energy considerations in drying
6. Size Press and Coating
1. Fundamentals of sizing and coating
2. Process conditions
3. Material and energy balances
7. Configurations for various paper products

Engineering
Chemistry content

(a)   An ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering.

(g) An ability to communicate effectively.

(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context

(k)   An ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice.