The Paper Formation Process

Once the pulp fibres have been refined to the necessary degree, they are then formed into a sheet of paper on the paper machine. The paper formation process itself is essentially a fast filtration process and involves the delivery of a dilute fibre suspension in water on to a woven endless plastic wire belt, through which it drains to form a wet fibre network. The Fourdrinier paper machine is the most well-established system for forming the wet web, but there are now many variations of this basic principle. A schematic diagram of the Fourdrinier formation process is shown in Figure 5.15. 

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