Rehydration of once-dried fiber
First Claim
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1. A method for rehydrating and increasing the water retention value of individual once-dried fiber lumens, wherein said method consists of the steps of:
- placing a fibrous furnish prepared from dry broke having individual once-dried fiber lumens within a digester means;
combining a predetermined amount of water with said broke furnish within said digester means wherein said predetermined amount of water and broke furnish is at a water-to-fiber solids ratio of greater than 5;
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gradually elevating a temperature of said digester means to turn said water to steam;
cooking said broke furnish/steam mixture in said digester means at a predetermined cooking temperature for a predetermined time, such that said individual once-dried fiber lumens become substantially rehydrated and a water retention value of said individual fiber lumens is increased;
opening said rehydrated fiber lumens; and
dewatering said rehydrated individual fiber lumens to a predetermined consistency of approximately less than 30% solids.
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Abstract
This invention relates to the rehydration of once-dried fiber for use in a papermaking furnish. Such a rehydration of this type, generally, employs temperature, pressure and refining to make the once-dried fiber behave more like a virgin fiber. Thus, higher levels of once-dried fiber can be used without sacrificing paper formation, surface smoothness, and productivity (drainage).
18 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A method for rehydrating and increasing the water retention value of individual once-dried fiber lumens, wherein said method consists of the steps of:
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placing a fibrous furnish prepared from dry broke having individual once-dried fiber lumens within a digester means; combining a predetermined amount of water with said broke furnish within said digester means wherein said predetermined amount of water and broke furnish is at a water-to-fiber solids ratio of greater than 5;
1;gradually elevating a temperature of said digester means to turn said water to steam; cooking said broke furnish/steam mixture in said digester means at a predetermined cooking temperature for a predetermined time, such that said individual once-dried fiber lumens become substantially rehydrated and a water retention value of said individual fiber lumens is increased; opening said rehydrated fiber lumens; and dewatering said rehydrated individual fiber lumens to a predetermined consistency of approximately less than 30% solids. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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Specification