Investigation on imported aspen admixture with two hardwoods native forest species for CMP pulping

Importing of wood is a solution to supplying raw material in the Iranian paper industry because of wood shortage. Therefore, the effect of mixing the imported aspen roundwood with the two hardwood native forest species including hornbeam and beech were perused on the optical and mechanical properties of CMP pulp. Cooking constant conditions consist of maximum temperature were 170 °C with a liquor-to-wood ratio (L/W) of 7, and chemical content of 20% based on the oven-dry weight of the wood chips. CMP pulps were prepared at different cooking times of 30 to 120 minutes using 20, 30, 40, 60, and 100% aspen wood in combination with the two species to achieve the yield of nearly 85%. Standard laboratory handsheets were made after pulp refining by 300 ml CSF, and then the strengths and optical properties were measured. Statistical analysis of result showed that there were significant differences among of the properties of CMP pulps by increasing the aspen wood ratio. All the properties have been improved except opacity paper. The required strength of newsprint and printing/writing paper made in Mazandaran wood and paper industries (MWPI) could be achieved by mixing of 20 and 30% imported aspen wood to the native species used in currently, respectively.