Model approximation of thermo-fluidic diffusion processes in spatially interconnected structures

This work develops a graph-theoretic framework to model thermo-fluidic diffusion processes as a network of distributed parameter systems. A three-step procedure has been proposed to reduce such a network to a finite dimensional system while preserving the boundary conditions. The viability of the developed procedure is illustrated through simulation results under physically realistic scenario

Effects of cationic starch addition and pulp beating on strength properties of softwood kraft pulp

In this study, cationic starch (CS) was added to softwood kraft pulps at different degrees of beating in order to evaluate their effects on the strength properties of the pulp. Handsheets were prepared by using three levels of CS addition (0.75, 1.5, and 2.25% CS with respect to oven-dry pulp) to kraft pulps at different beating degrees (15, 20, 25, and 30° SR). It was found that the tensile and burst indices improved with beating, CS addition, and a combination of these two applications, while the tear index decreased. Remarkable increases in burst and tensile indices were achieved with a 0.75% addition of CS to 15° SR and 20° SR pulps, while notable decreases in tear index was obtained at the same conditions. A gradual tendency was observed in higher beating degrees (25° SR and 30° SR) and higher CS additions (1.50 and 2.25%). © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim