The role of MFC/NFC swelling in the rheological behavior and dewatering of high consistency furnishes

The influence of swelling on the rheological and dewatering properties of high consistency nanocellulose based furnishes is considered. Different consistencies of suspensions (1–4 %) and furnishes (5–15 %) were prepared made of two distinctly different grades of nanocellulose containing, micro fibrillated (MFC) and nanofibrillated (NFC) cellulose, and systematic comparison between the rheological and dewatering parameters was conducted. The characterization of the rheological and dewatering properties was performed with a stress controlled rheometer combined with an immobilization cell in parallel plate geometry, as well as with an independent gravimetric dewatering device. The surface charge of nanofibrillated cellulose was found to influence the rheological and dewatering properties of the evaluated suspensions and furnishes due to its impact on swelling and effectively bound water. Due to the complex behavior of the novel materials, the immobilization times were difficult to determine from the changes in the damping factor, as often used for coating colors. Instead, we propose a modified method for determination of immobilization times based on a rheological analysis adopting the rate of change in viscoelastic loss factor over time, d(tan δ = G′′/G′)/dt, describing the critical point(s) in the ratio of the viscous to elastic stress response moduli. With this approach we show that it is possible to characterize immobilization of these materials incorporating the concept of the combined physical interactions of the components and the non-removable bound water, without requiring a direct measure of the nanocellulose surface swelling. Based on the results, we hypothesize that fibrillar swelling impacts the dewatering of MFC and NFC suspensions, and furnishes containing them, by an interfiber pore connectivity blocking/sealing mechanism, which effectively defines the immobilization of the material matrix at the end point of free water extraction caused by the physical blocking imposed by the remaining bound water.     

Alkaline steeping of dissolving pulp. Part I: cellulose degradation kinetics

The production of cellulosic man made fibres by the viscose process has been known for more than 120 years now, but still some aspects are not sufficiently understood in detail. The carbohydrates in the pulp are exposed to varying conditions during the manufacturing process. In the first production step of steeping, the strong alkaline treatment leads to undesirable loss reactions of the cellulose. In this study, a comprehensive kinetic model was developed for process simulation of cellulose degradation for the fist time comprising primary and secondary peeling, stopping and alkaline hydrolysis. A total chlorine free bleached beech sulfite pulp was treated with 18 % sodium hydroxide at 40, 50 and 60 °C for time periods up to 80 h. The corresponding reaction rates, activation energies and frequency factors for all reaction steps were calculated. The peeling-off reaction was of great significance for the cellulose yield loss, due to a contribution of the secondary peeling after random chain scission. The moderate decrease of the intrinsic viscosity and the changes in molar mass distribution indicated the validity of the assumption. Further, a reduction of the carbonyl and an increase of the carboxyl groups in the cellulose were observed due to the formation of the stable metasaccharinic acid at the reducing ends of the molecules. The fibre morphology was investigated by SEM measurements. Already short alkaline treatment times favored the dissolution of fibril fragments from the fibre surface leading to a smooth fibre surface.     

On operator norms of submatrices

Both of the following conditions are equivalent to the absoluteness of a norm ν in $\text{C}$ⁿ: (1) for all n×n diagonal matrices D=(d_k), the subordinate operator norm N_ν(D)=max_k|d_k|; (2) for all n×n matrices A, N_ν(A) ?N_ν(|A|). These conditions are modified for partitioned matrices by replacing absolute values with norms of blocks. A generalization of absoluteness is thus obtained.     

Two inequalities for the sum of elements of a matrix

The inequalities su A^t su A^m ≥ su A^p su A^q and A^t+ su A^m≥ su A^p+ su A^q are studied and generalized. Here su A denotes the sum of elements of the square matrix A.     

On the trace and the sum of elements of a matrix

It is demonstrated that in many situations the sum of elements and the trace of a matrix behave similarly.     

Improving eigenvalue bounds using extra bounds

Bounds for various functions of the eigenvalues of a Hermitian matrix A, based on the traces of A and A², are improved. A technique is presented whereby these bounds can be improved by combining them with other bounds. In particular, the diagonal of A, in conjunction with majorization, is used to improve the bounds. These bounds all require O(n²) multiplications.     

Flash photolysis of biacetyl in gas phase. Rate constants of reactions between methyl and acetyl radicals

The flash photolysis of biacetyl produces CO, C₂H₆, and CH₃COCH₃ as main products, and in small amounts CO₂, C₂H₄, and CH₃CHO. The rate constants of reactions (2) and (3) of thermally equilibrated radicals were calculated from the amounts of products: .     

On a lower bound for the perron eigenvalue

A lower boundn ^–1 _i,k a_ik for the Perron eigenvalue of a symmetric non-negative irreducible matrixA=(a _ik) is studied and compared with certain other lower bounds.