Mercerised pulp

Mercerised pulp is a bleached pulp that is treated with hot dilluted alkali to get extra high bulk and high porosity^[1]. The pulp feels and looks similar to a cotton ball.

Manufacture

Mercerising of pulp is a post treatment of fully bleaced pulp normally of SBSK. The pulp is steeped in hot dillute caustic soda. The fibres of the pulp swells and the hydroxyl groups of the cellulose is crosslinked. The remaining hemicellulose is washed out and the pulp will therefore no longer respond to refining.

Applications

• Filter paper
• Non-wovens

See also

• Mercerised cotton

References

1. ^ Nanko, Hirko; Button, Allan; Hillman, Dave (2005). The World of Market Pulp. Appleton, WI, USA: WOMP, LLC. p. 16. ISBN 0-615-13013-5.