TAPPI Journal Archive
About TAPPI Journal
As of March 2022, TAPPI Journal’s (TJ) publishing model is 100% Open Access (OA) to improve the accessibility of its published articles, increase researcher engagement and make research more visible. This new format helps researchers meet their funding and grant application requirements and potentially increase the number of citations. As in the past, the copyright remains with the author, and unlike other technical journals, TJ does not require a publication fee. Read more.
Benefits of Open Access Publishing
Digital Issue Library
Editorial: Innovation in Paper Science and Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, TAPPI Journal October 2026
October 30, 2026
This is the first in a series of editorial profiles featuring the academic and research portfolios of Forest Products Universities focusing on pulp and paper science and engineering, biorefinery, bioproducts, and other industry-related topics. These profiles include information about faculty, facilities, student success, and future plans. – Arthur J. Ragauskas, Editor-in-Chief, TAPPI Journal
Dynamic modeling, efficiency analysis, and hierarchical control of industrial airborne pulp dryers, TAPPI Journal October 2026
October 30, 2026
ABSTRACT: Industrial airborne pulp drying is governed by strongly coupled moisture transport, heat transfer, psychrometric behavior, airflow distribution, pressure dynamics, and fan operation. A nonlinear multi-zone dynamic model was formulated to represent these interactions through coupled mass and energy balances, pressure-driven deck-to-deck airflow, centrifugal-fan dynamics, and through-thickness moisture and temperature transport. Overall and thermal efficiencies, specific energy consumption, and specific moisture evaporation ratio (SMER) were incorporated for energetic assessment. A hierarchical direct synthesis methodology (DSM), comprising moisture–temperature and airflow–fan speed cascade loops with chamber-pressure regulation, was evaluated against proportionalintegral- derivative (PID) control and model predictive control (MPC) benchmarks. The MATLAB simulations of a six-zone dryer predicted progressive moisture reduction toward 0.120 kg H2O/kg dry pulp, overall efficiency near 0.60, thermal efficiency near 0.61, and SMER of approximately 0.95-0.96 kg H2O/kWh. The DSM provided the lowest accumulated moisture-tracking error and smooth control action, while PID control gave comparable fast loop regulation. The current MPC implementation exhibited poorer moisture–thermal tracking, indicating the need for further predictive model refinement and systematic tuning. The formulation provides a controloriented basis for subsequent parameter identification and industrial validation.
Analysis of wrinkle formation and propagation during paperboard deep drawing, TAPPI Journal October 2026
October 30, 2026
ABSTRACT: Paper-based packaging is becoming increasingly important as a sustainable alternative to plastics. Among forming processes, deep drawing is particularly promising due to its high cost-effectiveness, short processing times, and suitability for large-scale production. A major challenge, however, lies in the formation of wrinkles, which impair the visual quality, functional performance, and dimensional stability of the packaging, thereby affecting subsequent processes such as filling, printing, and sealing. This study focuses on analyzing the occurrence and propagation of wrinkles during the deep drawing of paperbased materials to derive fundamental insights and strategies for prevention. The wrinkles arise from tangential compressive stresses in the flange and the material’s limited thickening, leading to local stability failures once a critical stress threshold is exceeded. A combined approach of experimental investigations, numerical simulations, and analytical considerations was used to examine a rotationally symmetrical part. A transparent die enabled spatial observation of wrinkle initiation and growth. First, wrinkles were found to typically initiate in the cross direction (CD), while most wrinkles develop in the machine direction (MD). By comparing analytically and numerically determined stress distributions, the mechanisms of wrinkle formation can be understood both locally and temporally, thereby enabling the prediction of wrinkle occurrence.
Aqueous polymer dispersions from long chain cellulose fatty acid ester for coating of paperboard, TAPPI Journal October 2026
October 30, 2026
ABSTRACT: Fiber-based substrates are coated with aqueous polymer dispersions to obtain the necessary barrier properties for, e.g., food service, takeaway, and other packaging applications. There is interest to replace non-renewable substances driven by the concerns over the price stability and depletion of fossil resources, environmental and safety issues, and legislative actions. In this study, we demonstrated that stable aqueous polymer dispersions with solids content of at least 35% can be prepared from a long chain cellulose fatty acid ester (cellulose octanoate) using both solvent-based and thermomechanical processes. In the solvent-based process, water and additives were mixed with a polymer dissolved in chloroform followed by solvent removal. In the thermomechanical method, water and stabilizers were added into polymer melt under mixing in a pressurized reactor. Dispersions were tested as coatings on paperboard and assessed for their grease resistance and water and oil barrier. Oil barrier was clearly improved with most of the dispersions. In addition, proper film formation was necessary for achieving improved water barrier. However, the stabilizing system had a clear impact on the dispersion stability and the water barrier performance of these coatings.
Copper-embedded polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)-based antimicrobial and biodegradable coating for food packaging applications, TAPPI Journal October 2026
October 30, 2026
ABSTRACT: The food packaging industry increasingly seeks multifunctional, bio-based materials that ensure product safety while supporting strict municipal environmental sustainability goals. This research addresses functional limitations in compostable packaging by developing a polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH)-based antimicrobial and biodegradable coating through precise incorporation of active copper ions. Copper ions were incorporated into a 20% solids-content PVOH matrix at target concentrations of 100, 500, and 1,000 ppm, then applied to paper and polylactic acid (PLA) bioplastic substrates at a target coating weight of 6 g/m². Antimicrobial testing against Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. using a bacterial overlay agar method demonstrated robust, localized microbial inhibition zones that increased with copper concentration. Biodegradability and industrial compostability were assessed under controlled conditions over 49 days in accordance with ASTM D5338 and ASTM D6400. Uncoated butcher paper controls exhibited 71.90% biodegradation, whereas copper-embedded PVOH-coated paper achieved 83.59%, conclusively demonstrating that integrated metallic ions did not hinder or delay natural macromolecular decomposition. Scanning electron microscopy and elemental analysis verified uniform coating distribution and stable copper dispersion across all treated surfaces. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed minor, predictable modifications to polymer crystallization kinetics without altering macrostructural film integrity. Barrier evaluations (ASTM F1249 and ASTM D3985) confirmed a substantial, highly significant reduction in oxygen transmission rates, whereas the reduction in water vapor transmission rates was not statistically significant due to PVOH’s inherently hydrophilic nature. These findings demonstrate that copper-embedded PVOH coatings provide a highly effective, active antimicrobial defense system while remaining completely compatible with commercial, sustainable industrial composting loops.
