Production of Paper Substrates with Well-Defined Pore Structure and Unidirectionally oriented Fibers

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Samuel Schabel
• Subject Area: Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 405469627

Today, paper can be characterized very well regarding macroscopic properties like tensile strength or for properties relevant for the typical applications in printing and packaging. But this existing knowledge is widely based on empiric data. Existing theories for the derivation of strength properties of paper from properties of fibres have limited ranges of validity. This lack of fundamental knowledge has different reasons: paper is a material with high complexity based on fibres with a broad spectrum of distributed properties (f.i. morphological properties). Additionally additives and pigments added during the papermaking process and the manufacturing process parameters (f.i. mechanical treatment like refining) strongly effect paper properties.In project A1 within the joint projects Paketverbund the relations between macroscopic paper properties and process parameters will be researched as well as those microscopic properties relevant for other projects in PAK 962 with the focus on functionalized papers. Therefore two core areas are addressed: properties of paper relevant for fluid transport in different spatial directions and how to design those parameters and the mechanical properties of paper in contact with fluids. It is expected that geometry and orientation of fibres play a significant role for both properties.In the second funding period the effects of dewatering for highly oriented papers, of different drying methods and of the jet-wire speed difference will be in focus. Additionally the effect of fines on the fluid thransport in paper will be researched by comparison with synthetic fibers from regenrated cellulose with smooth surfaces. Another focus area will be the mechanical stability of papers with highly oriented fibres.The knowledge of manufacturing such papers with defined fibre composition and orientation will be trransferred to multilayered, three dimesional structures.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants