Papermaking Lab 1
The goal of this first papermaking
lab is to prepare pulp and determine the drainage time as a function of the
beating time of the pulp. You will record observations about the paper you
make, both as you make it and after the paper has dried.
On the first page in your laboratory
record book prepare and maintain a Table of Contents. Number your pages as you
go through the book.
On the first page for this
experiment, a Ôright pageÕ, please put the title, the date, a short statement
of the purpose in your own words, and the names of your
partner(s). You should work in a group of two or three and may choose your own
partners this first week.
Record all
observations as you observe them!
Make a place
to record your data - perhaps on the facing, Ôleft pageÕ.
Record the
mass of dry fiber that we will tear into small pieces and soak.
Make a table something like the
following, leaving room for perhaps 20 rows:
|
Time on
clock |
Beater
Setting |
Drainage
time |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Help charge
the beater with the soaked fiber and record in your data table the time the
beating is started.
While
the beater blade cylinder is being lowered to a setting of 1 (or other value
that the instructor gives you) over about 15-20 minutes, decide in your group
how to measure the drainage time.
The
practice session:
Use
some previously beaten pulp to check out your method. Set up a place in your
lab notebook to keep track of this practice session. You need to record
observations, the procedure you develop, and details about drainage times. I
suggest using about 100 mL of pulp. Pour this pulp into a piece of calibrated
glassware and dilute to some known volume of pulp solution. 350 mL is a good
guide, but please feel free to try larger or smaller volumes. All groups should
use the same diameter can. The idea is to determine how much time it takes for
the water to drain through the pulp and mold. The best method seems to be to
determine how long it takes for a certain amount of water to be collected. This
volume needs to be less than the total amount of water! If you diluted your
pulp to 350 of pulp solution, you might find the time to collect 250 mL. Again,
you might want a larger or smaller volume. Try a couple things and see what
works best for your group. Another method would be to see how long it takes for
all water to stop dripping. This method does not seem to be very reproducible.
Since the practice pulp has already been beaten, you should be able to
reproduce your results as you practice. Check your proposed method with the
instructor before going further. (Looking ahead, you will find that it takes
longer and longer for the water to drain as the pulp is beaten for a longer
time. Why is this?)
After
you determine the drainage time for each sample, couch and press dry the
circular sample as demonstrated. Label the samples as your produce them.
Large
funnels, graduated glassware, and stopwatches are available.
Once the beater blade cylinder has
reached the setting agreed upon, we will assume the ÔrealÕ beating begins. Your
first sample should be taken at this point.
Collect samples over the next 20-60
minutes, being sure to record the time at which you take each sample. Determine
the drainage time by your same method, and record that time in your table.
There are computers available in the
lab to enter your data into an Excel spreadsheet. The instructor or lab
assistant will help your group enter your data. The instructor will then show
you how to prepare a graph of drainage time (y axis) vs. beating time (x axis)
and/or sketch the graph in your laboratory record book.
Write-up
for Papermaking Laboratory
A typed
formal report on your experimentation using the format given below.
A. Title, author, lab partners,
and date
B. Purpose of the experiment
C. Experimental: Description of
the experimental procedure including all of the important parameters which will
permit someone else (a classmate for example) to repeat your work. Observations
(Very important!)
D. Results: Your data in neat
tables (Excel printout would be fine) and graphs.
E. Discussion: A clear complete
and concise discussion of your results.
F. Conclusions: 1-2 sentences
which brings together your work
G. References: for any works
cited in the paper.
H. Acknowledgments: for any
substantial help received.
Part
of what I want you to do is tie together the various things we did - preparing
the pulp, obtaining pulp samples, and testing the pulp for drainage
characteristics.
Please
remember that 35% of your grade in the course is from the regular labs.
Equipment and Supplies needed:
About one pound of dry fiber
funnels
graduated glassware
tin cans with tops and bottoms
removed
wire for molds
felts and Pelons
filled 2-liter soft drink bottles to
be used as rolling pins
drying boards
clock and
stopwatches
Instructions
for making the graph of drainage time (y axis) vs. beating time (x axis)
1.
Obtain the Excel file containing the data for your group.
1)
Log on to Blackboard
2)
Choose the Chemistry and Art class
3)
Choose External Links
4)
Choose Files to download for class
5)
PaperLabData2007
6)
Then the drainage data for your group
2.
The Excel file with the data for your group should now be open. If
not, ask for help and repeat any needed steps above.
3.
To prepare the graph:
1)
Choose the Title tab (it is probably already chosen)
2)
Type in your title. The title should include your name and what
the graph is showing!
3)
Choose a label for the X axis, something like Beating Time
(minutes)
4)
Choose a label for the Y axis, something like Drainage Time
(seconds)
5)
Now choose the Legend tab
6)
Deselect the option to Show Legend (a legend is not appropriate
for this graph)
7)
Click on Next.
1)
Click on the gray part of the graph. The indication Plot
Area should appear. If it doesnÕt, you clicked in the wrong spot. Try
again and/or ask for help.
2)
Pull down the Format menu to Selected Plot AreaÉ
3)
Change the color to white.
4.
To plot the graph and Excel worksheet