The Wet End applications lab has several objectives:
Precise targeting, thanks to facilities able to simulate industrial conditions, of Roquette’s product range and sequences most adapted to process and pulp, new or recycled, for every client;
Optimizing the quantities of these products, for each type of paper and paper-making process;
Anticipating clients’ needs during development and orientation when originating new products for paper-making industry;
Evaluating the behaviour of the products during development, at the level of the wet part and the characteristics of the produced paper;
Contributing to perfect the manufacturing processes of the Roquette range, constantly supplying highest quality products.
| For its studies, the Wet End applications lab uses numerous devices: - Jet cooker, comparable to those placed at the clients’ disposal, allows cooking the Roquette range of products at variable temperatures and contact times;
- Different viscosimeters;
- Hand sheet Former to prepare paper or tissue paper hand sheets of varying weight between 30 to 200 g/m2 (Techpap models specially equipped with an agitation system of variable speed, simulating the various shearing occurring during the wet end process);
- Simulator of the wet end process (a Roquette prototype that simulates the wet end part of a paper machine, for controlling the stability of the process over time);
- Emulsion making machine (ASA emulsion);
- Pulping/refining machine and measuring of the Schopper degree (preparation and control of the pulp);
- Measuring equipment for drainage time of the pulp;
- Spectrophotometer (measuring starch binding and COD of white waters process),
- Measuring equipment (PCD) for the ionic charge of products and white waters;
- Measuring equipment (PZ) for the Zêta Potential of the fibrous suspension;
- An air-conditioned room (temperature and humidity controlled) dedicated to measuring physical characteristics of industrial paper and hand sheets (also tissue paper): includes grammage, thickness, bulk, whiteness, gloss, porosity, internal cohesion, Cobb index, burst, resistance to traction when wet and humid, water absorption capacity…)
|
