Sulfaattiselluloosakuitu

Sulfaattiselluloosakuitu, often referred to as kraft fiber or sulfate fiber in English, is a type of cellulose fiber produced through the kraft process. This process is a chemical pulping method used primarily in the pulp and paper industry to convert wood into wood pulp. The kraft process involves cooking wood chips with a solution of sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide, known as white liquor. This alkaline solution breaks down the lignin, a complex polymer that binds cellulose fibers together in wood, allowing the cellulose fibers to be separated.

The resulting pulp fibers are strong and durable, making them ideal for a wide range of paper products, including packaging, cardboard, and specialty papers. The kraft process is known for its efficiency and its ability to recover and reuse many of the pulping chemicals, contributing to its widespread adoption. Sulfaattiselluloosakuitu is characterized by its high tensile strength and resistance to tearing, which are crucial properties for many industrial applications. The color of the unbleached fiber is typically brown due to the residual lignin, but it can be bleached to a white color for printing and writing papers. The production of sulfaattiselluloosakuitu is a significant part of the global forest products industry.