Forest Sciences Commons^™

Mathematical Model Of Paper Discoloration By Ink Particles, Zbigniew W. Slotwinski

Masters Theses

The goal of this experiment is to investigate how changes in the size and number of ink particles will affect the final brightness of the filter pad.

It was assumed that any differences in brightness of the used Millipore filters were due to change in the average particle size, given the same mass of ink solids on each filter. However, such simplified interpretation of image analysis proved to be inadequate to solve this complex problem.

The correlation between the particle area, number of particles, and brightness drop was established using an algorithm based on the particle area and the square …

The Effect Of A Sheet Tension Controller On The Productivity Of A Papermachine, Timothy J. Rummel

Honors Theses

This thesis proposal outlines a project in which the efficiency of a papermachine is increased by controlling the tension through the dryer section. The controlled tension is expected to reduce wet end breaks and to decrease the steam demand of the dryer section. The experiment will be run by placing a laser positioning sensor above the open draw of a papermachine and monitoring the position of the draw until an optimum height of the paper has been determined. Then an automatic drive controller will be connected to the wet end drive to maintain a constant draw height and the machine …

Changes In Small Mammal Community Attributes Associated With Increasing Pine Stand Age In Managed Pine Plantations In Southeastern Virginia, James Douglas Dolan

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Loblolly pine plantations were examined at different ages to identify small mammal community attributes in relation to the succession of the plant community. Forest floor and understory plant communities were characterized. Small mammals were collected by Fitch (live) traps and pitfall traps in four age classes during five seasons of study. Fitch live traps and pitfall traps were used in conjunction with one another to obtain the most accurate depiction of the small mammal community. Fitch traps accounted for 65 % of small mammal captures and 7 of 9 species captured. Small mammal abundance and biomass declined with increasing stand …

Chemically Enhanced Wet Pressing, Timothy Mishark

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The problem of energy consumption is one of the largest confronting the paper industry today. One of the largest areas where this energy consumption occurs is the dryer section on the paper machine. If a legitimate way to reduce the load to the dryer section was developed, it would greatly benefit the paper industries financial situation. Some of the methods that have been used to reduce dryer load include; increasing the pressure in the press section, heating the press rolls in the press section, and applying chemicals to the felts which help inhibit rewetting. The latter item is what this …

Pest Management Strategies For Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant And An Assessment Of Aerial Radiography For Hazard Rating Pine Stands For Southern Pine Beetle Infestation, James Matthews

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Currently, sampling or hazard rating insects at military installations is limited. The use of aerial videography is a relatively new technology and is currently used for aerial surveys and is being developed for hazard rating for southern pine beetle. The purpose of this study was to apply existing sampling methods for various insects and disease at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant in Karnak, Texas and to test the effectiveness of aerial videography for hazard rating pine stands for southern pine beetle. Based on field data, stands were generally rated as moderate for southern pine beetle; moderate to high infestations of …

Grassroots Of The Desert: An Analysis Of The Roles Of The Utah Wilderness Association And The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance In The Debate Over Wilderness Designation Of Bureau Of Land Management Lands In Southern Utah, Amy E. Brennan

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The battle over federal Wilderness designation of Bureau of Land Management lands in southern Utah has entered its third decade. Throughout this lengthy debate numerous stakeholders have maintained involvement, including members of Utah's conservation community. Two of the most prominent wilderness advocacy groups in Utah are notable not only for their sustained involvement with the issue, but also for their divergent positions on how to resolve this public land dispute. This research examines those two organizations, the Utah Wilderness Association and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, through an analysis of their respective structural, organizational, philosophical, and tactical perspectives.

Ultimately, the …

Fuels Inventory And Appraisal In Intermountain Quaking Aspen (Populus Tremuloides) Communities, Janet A. Beales

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Field research was conducted in quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx., communities. Fifty-one plots were established in seven major locations in the Bear River Range of northern Utah. The locations inventoried were divided into two age classes: young aspen (under 70 yr) and old aspen (over 70 yr). Custom fuel models were developed for each age class and the data were analyzed for relationships between fuel loads and other measurable factors, including: basal area, average diameter at breast height (d.b.h.), fuel depth, litter loads, tree regeneration, shrub loads, herbaceous loads, slope, tree height, aspect, percent aspen in the plot, grazing intensity, …

A Geographic Information System Assessment Method For Fire Management: Identifying Fire Danger Areas, Richard D. Stratton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands, a geographic information system (GIS) was used to create a wildland fire assessment methodology. GIS layers (or themes) include topography, infrastructure, vegetation, climate, "sensitive" natural values, and fire history. Two phases of assessment are presented: a preliminary analysis designed for planning use at the landscape level, and a detailed analysis for site-specific use.

Results of the phase 1 assessment are density grids delineating areas of high fire occurrence and suggesting to managers where a phase 2 assessment is needed. By using the environmental, …

Development And Validation Of Forest Habitat Models In The Uinta Mountains, Utah, Tracey S. Frescino

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A significant question currently facing environmental managers is how to accurately and efficiently quantify forest diversity and resources. Numerous studies have demonstrated the use of modern spatial analytical tools, such as geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing devices, and statistical models for predicting the distribution of dominant vegetation cover types. This study examines the ability of generalized additive models (GAMs) to delineate structural diversity in forested ecosystems (specifically the Uinta Mountain Range in Utah) using GIS tools and satellite spectral data, and analyzes the effect of including different forms of satellite data in model construction (i.e., Landsat thematic mapper (TM), …

Aspen Regeneration And Response To Fire In The Intermountain West, Kelly J. Mccloskey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The history of Populus tremuloides regeneration in the Intermountain West, particularly western Wyoming, is one of prolific vegetative reproduction following wildland fire. The reproductive physiology of aspen and its disturbance-response characteristics are explored through a review of previous studies. The combination of fire suppression and increased herbivory on aspen by wild and domestic ungulates is likely facilitating conifer invasion of areas historically dominated by aspen as has been observed in parts of Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado over the past 100 years. A case study of the regenerative response of aspen to wildland fire in western Wyoming demonstrates how physiology, life …

Relationship Between Teton Science School Programs And Teachers' Ability To Teach About The Environment, Jennifer A. Levy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This thesis presents an analysis of 1996/97 survey research data regarding the relationship between three types of Teton Science School (TSS) programs and classroom teachers ' ability to teach about the environment. Based on observations by resident instructors and faculty at TSS, three research questions were developed. The primary objective of the research questions was to consider the relationship between TSS residential education programs and participating teachers' ability to teach about the environment.

Analyses are based on comparing descriptive statistics of teachers who have participated in one of the three types of TSS programs or a combination of the three …

The Effects Of Using Silicate And Borate In The Peroxide Bleaching Of Mechanical Pulp, Corey A. Bishop

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

In the peroxide bleaching process, sodium silicate is currently being used to control metal ions present in the pulp; these metal ions catalyze the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, reducing the efficiency of the process. However, the addition of sodium silicate can cause scaling the fouling of equipment, wires, and felts. This, in turn, causes expensive downtime for scale removal. This experimental work involved replacing sodium silicate with a non-scale forming borate. This study determined if borate can replace silicate as a stabilizer in the peroxide bleaching process with equivalent bleach response. Rates of bleaching reactions were also determined in various …

The Use Of Borax To Inhibit The Brightness Reversion Of Bleached Ctmp, Chad J. Longcore

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

This thesis evaluated the ability of Borax to inhibit the yellowing process of paper that was made from bleached chemithermomechanical pulp (BCTMP). Paper made from BCTMP has a tendency to lose brightness (photoyellow) when exposed to ultra violet (UV) light. The light initiates a series of chemical reactions to take place that results in the formation of yellow ketone and quinone products. A combination of boric acid and borax was applied to the surface of the paper to interfere with these chemical reactions and prevent the formation of the yellow products that cause photoyellowing. The effectiveness of these additives was …

The Recycling Of Vacuum Formed Products And The Effect On Use Characteristics, Robert J. Miles

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Vacuum formed products, commonly called molded pulp, are a superb alternative to expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) in many current packaging applications. This movement from the petroleum based products of the past to innovative new wood fiber based packaging is due to many reasons including economic benefit, environmental stigma, and/or legislative intervention. The current dilemma is dealing with the inherent fiber characteristics, contaminants, and product composition of molded pulp products. As more of these products appear in secondary waste streams, there is a need for information pertaining these parameters. Unfortunately, very little technical information is available due to the high level of …

The Effects Of Cationic Additives On Ink-Jet Coating Formulations, Sean Frank

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The recent popularity of ink jet printers has led to the invention of an entire new line of paper coatings. These formulations often require cationic additives to achieve proper print quality. The effect of these cationic additives and their interaction with latexes is studied. This project investigated whether a high solids ink jet coating applied via blade coating can give satisfactory print quality, and the extent of interactions among latex and cationic additives (delete). The experimental design consisted of two different base formulations that were varied by addition levels of polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP), silica, latex, and cationic polymer. These formulations were …

An Evaluation Of Never-Dried Pulp At Multiple Freeness Levels, Timothy Clifford Liverance

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Recycled paper is a viable and economical source of useful wood fiber for paper manufacture. Two of the largest contributors to today's paper waste stream are Mixed-Office Waste (Softwood Kraft Pulp) and Newsprint (Stone Groundwood Pulp). When paper is recycled the fibers are unavoidably, and irreversibly damaged. This damage is caused by Hornification (irreversible effect of re-drying fibers) and from the morphological changes on the fiber surface and structure from repeated re-slurring. The combination of these effects will affect the actual strength of the fiber, the bonding potential of the fiber and the freeness of the pulp (drainage rate equivalent). …

Eliminating Coating Flakes With Ultrasound, Ryan Zarbaugh

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

As paper mills took to reuse as much internal waste as possible, problems in the system can be introduced. The buildup of deposits or fluctuations of chemicals can occur when more broke is introduced. In mills that add a layer of coating to the paper problems associated with the coating can be introduced. At Champion International in Hamilton, Ohio, a heavy layer of coating added to the sheet introduces the problem of coating flakes to the system.

It was hypothesized that the use of the ultrasonic cavitation mechanism should be able to break the flakes apart and reduce the overall …

The Effects Of Directional Drying On Binder Migration, Bruce Johnston

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Binder migration or the nonuniform distribution of binder is a coating problem for many printing grades of coated paper. Binder migration causes mottle, dusting, non-porous coating and other problems in printing paper. Also, many coating dryers have extra capacity that cannot be utilized. The extra capacity goes wasted because at higher drying rates unacceptable binder migration would result.

If binder migration could be controlled, coated paper with better printing characteristics could be produced at higher speeds. This would result in a better product operating at higher speeds and a more satisfactory product to the printers.

The objective of this thesis …

The Effects Of Multiple Recycles On Wheat Straw Fibers, Jeffrey S. Greaves

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

Ever since the late 1960' s, the concern for finding suitable replacements to wood fibers within a paper making medium has been one of the focuses for the industry. At the current time, there are only a limited amount of mills that actually utilize non-wood fibers in order to satisfy the demand for paper within developing countries. Much of the use of non-wood fibers stems from the fact that there are only limited amounts of suitable woody raw materials available to sustain their paper industry. Also, areas that dispose of their agricultural resdiues by burning the remaining stalks is starting …

Effect Of Precalendering On Surface And Printing Properties Of Coated Sheets, Hariharan Venkata-Chinnaswamy

Masters Theses

This study focuses on the effect of different types of precalendering on coated woodfree paper for surface and printing properties as well as coat weight distribution and binder migration.

Precalendering enhanced the gloss and reduced the roughness of the coated paper at all coat weights. In the case of post-calendered papers, any differential effect achieved through various types of precalendering was recovered during post calendering. The final porosity values of precalendered and uncalendered sheets were more dependent on the coat weight at the high coat weights (10-18 g/m² ). At low coat weights the type of precalendering influences the …

A Comparison Between Two Phase System And Single Phase System In Stiff Beveled Blade Coating By Measuring The Blade Forces, Ravi Mohan

Masters Theses

The effect of pigment particle interactions in a two-phase system on blade force is investigated. Three coating colors of 0%, 40% , and 55% solids, of the same high shear viscosity and density, were tested for blade force, blade run-in relationship. The Cylindrical Laboratory Coater was used to blade coat the coating on a polyester film. Blade deflection was measured by placing a probe in direct contact with the back side of the blade. A calibration plot between blade force and blade deflection was then used to determine the actual blade forces. A statistical analysis of the data reveals that …

The Effect Of Ink Jet Coating Rheology On Screening, Burak Aksoy

Masters Theses

Ink jet coating formulations are becoming of increasing importance due to rapid expansion in digital printing. These coatings have very specific ink absorption requirements, which are fulfilled by using polyvinyl alcohol and silica as binder and pigment, respectively. These coatings have unique rheological behavior and often have problems in industry during the filtering process. In this work, an attempt was made to relate filter blocking to the rheological behavior of the coating. A series of coatings were prepared and their rheological properties characterized. The solids content and pigment selection of the coating were altered in order to adjust the coating …

Direct Measurement Of The Water Retention Of Coatings Under Shear, Mohana Sundaram Thiagarajan

Masters Theses

Coating water loss is one of the most critical concerns in coated paper production. The objective of this study was to determine directly the water retention value under dynamic conditions. The effect of shear rate on water transfer was documented for a delaminated clay coating color. The results showed a small change in water transfer at low shear rates, compared to the static condition. But at higher shear rate, the water transfer increased significantly. The water transfer increased with time, reaching an asymptotic limit at 300 seconds. This indicates that at higher retention time, the water transfer rate is reduced …

The Effects Of Potato, Corn And Wheat Starch On The Rheological Properties Of Pigmented Paper Coatings, Brian G. Hart

Paper Engineering Senior Theses

The paper industry is one of the largest users of commercial starch in the world. Starch has many uses in the papermaking process, including coating operations. In coating, starch has two main purposes: to work as a binder and to give desired rheological properties to the pigmented paper coating. Research was done examine the effects of three different starches on the rheological properties of pigmented paper coatings. The three starches were com, wheat, and potato. These starches were modified using the enzyme conversion process. The converted starches were added to the coating formulas and then tested for high and low …

Ecology Of The Eastern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon P. Piscivorus) At Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge: A Comparative Study Of Natural And Anthropogenic Marsh Habitats, Chad Lee Cross

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

Mark-recapture sampling and radiotelemetry were used to investigate populations of the eastern cottonmouth, Agkistrodon p. piscivorus, in both natural and anthropogenic marsh habitats at Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge (BBNWR), Virginia Beach, Virginia from autumn 1995 to late spring 1998. Mark-recapture subjects were captured, marked by ventral scale-clipping, and released back into the population. A modified Schnabel Census estimator was used to estimate population sizes and corresponding densities in both marsh systems based on a total of 244 captures of 222 individuals. Most snakes were found >0.05 in from water, but it was apparent that proximity to water played …