Utilization potential for pulp and paper of southern pine harvested from beetle infested forests

Abstract

From the results of this study, the following conclusions may be drawn: (1) Pulp yield is not affected significantly by allowing the dead trees to remain on the stump for extended periods of time (three years). (2) Canadian Standard Freeness increases significantly at high beating times as wood deteriorates (up to 24 months) until a large amount of fines exist in the pulp because of the refining of extremely decayed fibers (after 24 months). These fines effectively reduce the freeness of the pulp by clogging the apparatus screen. (3) Tensile strength of paper is reduced significantly (after an initial increase) as the wood deteriorates on the stump beyond 24 months. (4) Tear strength of paper is reduced significantly after the initial attack of wood destroying fungi which follows closely the death and drying out of the tree. (5) A thorough summary relating the gross external characteristics of southern pines infested by bark beetles to various periods of time since death would be a valuable supplement to this investigation for the practicing forester. (6) Whenever the tear resistance of paper made from the kraft process is a critical determinate for the utility of that paper, the usefulness of deteriorated southern pine should be carefully evaluated by the pulpmill operator.