Effect of Beating Degree on the Fiber Morphologies and Substrate Physical Characteristics of Paper-process Reconstituted Tobacco

Purpose In order to optimize the beating degree control in the pulping process of paper-process reconstituted tobacco and to make the tobacco substrate meet the expected quality requirements.

Method The effects of different beating degree on the morphology of the pulp fiber (microscopic image, length distribution, width distribution and crimpness distribution), the physical characteristics (tensile index, shaping rate, air permeability and bulk) of the substrate and the microstructure of the substrate were studied.

Result With the increase of beating degree, the fiber length gradually decreased and the fiber width and fiber crimpness did not change significantly, when the beating degree in the range of 35°SR-75°SR. There was negative correlation linear relationship between beating degree and shaping rate and bulk of the substrate, which could be expressed by the linear relationship of y=−1.026x+6.756 and y=−0.038 4x+5.550 6; there was positive correlation linear relationship between beating degree and tensile index, which could be expressed by the linear relationship of y=4.624 1x+635.8; there was exponential function correlation linear relationship between beating degree and air permeability, which could be expressed by the linear relationship of y=6 519.5e^−0.096x. The linear regression analysis result showed that the linear correlation coefficient in the fitting formula were 0.940 7, 0.964 3, 0.878 1 and 0.912 7. The beating degree also had an obvious effect on the microstructure of the substrate. The higher the beating degree was, the smaller the gaps of the substrate became; the more compact the fiber was, the higher the density of the substrate became.

Conclusion This study provides a basis and foundation for determination and optimization of the beating degree in the pulping process of paper-process reconstituted tobacco.