New uses for wood pulp fiber

Two new uses for wood pulp fibers are presented based on the unique behaviour of fibers to entangle or flocculate in a fluid and to damp turbulence in suspension flow. First, flocculated fiber suspensions are an ideal carrier medium for the hydraulic transport of solid objects. Wood chips, coal, minerals, and large or dense particles, or capsules containing any form of solid materials can be transported in a stable condition, and the friction loss falls below that for water only. Second, waste wood pulp defibered and dispersed in air can be used to trap dust and solid particles in a flocculated structure. The resultant mixture may be compressed, extruded, and wrapped or just briquetted or pelletized. Coal dust can be recovered and combined with recycled fiber to produce a fuel. Fertilizer dust can be reconstituted with fiber as a slow-release fertilizer pellet. 11 references.