Evolving with the Times
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A lot has changed over the last year. At TAPPI, this includes a reintroduction of the Engineering Division’s former Fluid Mechanics Committee as the new Papermaking Fundamentals Committee, a new group within the Paper and Board Division.
“It’s never good to stand still,” noted new Committee Chair John Xu, Research Scientist, AstenJohnson Inc., “and as we revaluated our mission and goals it became clear that our primary interest areas were more aligned with papermaking, rather than on pulping and the wet end side of the industry.”
The idea of reconfiguring the Committee actually began several months ago and grew organically as more members became involved. Their ultimate mission: to provide a technical forum for disseminating fundamental research and knowledge related to the scientific discipline of papermaking and its associated processes.
Officers of the new Committee include Chair John Xu, Research Scientist, AstenJohnson Inc.; Vice Chair Dewei Qi, Professor, Western Michigan University; and Secretary Paul Krochak, RISE Research Institute.
Based on input from Committee members, former Chair Paul Krochak summarized the Committee’s goals:
- Promoting high quality, fundamental research related to papermaking processes
- Connecting academics, universities and research institutes with industry (and vice versa)
- Attracting and engaging young researchers in the field of Pulp and Papermaking
- Publishing high quality proceedings from TAPPI conferences
- Collaborating with the Paper Physics Committee at TAPPICon and PEERS
Initially, the Committee is focusing on the areas such as structure and chemistry of fibers (process/product performance); fluid-fiber interactions at low and high solids content; dynamics of approach flow, forming and pressing; pulp rheology, flow through porous media and surface chemistry affects; and development of new functionalities in wood and nonwood fiber-based products.
Get involved! To learn more about how you can contribute knowledge to, or join this committee, please contact: Tyler Mast at tmast@tappi.org.
