Abstract: The present invention relates to a sizing or coating composition that, when applied to paper substrate, creates a substrate having improved waterfastness, surface strength, and surface strength as measured by resistance to abrasion. In addition, the present invention relates to paper substrates containing the composition, as well as methods of using and making the paper substrate and composition.

Abstract: A paper web formation measurement system provides on-line measurement and control of visual properties of a moving web of paper. The measurement system includes an image acquisition system for capturing images of the moving web, and an image analysis system for analyzing captured images. The image acquisition system includes a strobe lighting system for backlighting the moving web and a charge injection device (CID) camera for capturing light transmitted through the web to form an image of the web in non-standard (non-RS-170), full frame format. Captured images are digitized by the image analysis system to 256 graylevel and analyzed to produce a mathematical formation index representing visual properties of the web. The mathematical formation index, which is derived from a graylevel distribution histogram, is presented to paper production personnel to enable on-line adjustment of process variables to maximize paper quality.

Abstract: A system for determining characteristics of objects in wood pulp includes a pulp sampling and dilution system for diluting and dispersing samples of pulp, and an imaging/analysis system for capturing images of pulp objects, including fibers, and analyzing the captured images. Samples of pulp are provided to a dispersion tank where pulp is dispersed within a liquid to form a wood pulp slurry having a consistency in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.001 percent. The dispersed pulp is conducted to a transparent flow cell for imaging and analysis of pulp objects. Light radiating from a light source is reflected off surfaces of objects within the dispersed pulp, producing scattered light. One or more cameras capture scattered light from objects as the objects pass through a camera's field of view. The output of the cameras are digitized and filtered to eliminate motion blur, and the filtered visual image displayed on a monitor.