Some pulp mills are not integrated with papermaking operations, so they produce market pulp and sell it to papermaking facilities. Market pulp is dried and then cut into sheets that are stacked into bales so they can be transported. Most market pulp is dried to about 10% moisture, but pulp that will only travel a short distance might be dried to about 50% moisture. The higher moisture pulp is known as "wetlap." Pulp drying machines are similar to paper machines and typically include the following processes: forming, pressing, drying, cutting, and baling. This module describes each of these processes in detail.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- List the processes that produce market pulp bales
- Describe the impact each pulp drying process has on fiber properties/characteristics
- Describe the purpose or goal of the forming section of a pulp dryer
- Explain why pulp is pressed
- Identify the goal of pulp drying
- Describe airborne pulp drying process and equipment
- Identify and describe the key processes or steps for forming pulp bales
- Identify and describe pulp baling equipment
- Identify and describe typical pulp bale labeling and dimensions
- Identify and describe pulp drying and baling safety hazards and guidelines