NBSK
Encyclopedia
NBSK is an acronym for Northern bleached softwood kraft, the paper industry's benchmark grade of pulp
. Market NBSK is produced mainly in Canada
and the Nordic
countries. Some NBSK is also produced in north-western USA and in Russia
. NBSK futures
are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
grade is very diverse. All NBSK pulps have long fibres and is often used as reinforcement pulp.
NBSK from British Colombia is from Cedar, douglas fir, hemlock
, larch
and spruce
have longer fibre lengths and larger fibre diameteres than anywhere else in the world due to very long growing season and mild climate.
NBSK from Sibiria
is made from Pine
, spruce and european larch
and tend to be shorter and thinner than other NBSK pulps due to the short growing season. The larch makes up about 15 % of the wood furnish and gives a rather coarce fibre that makes Sibirian NBSK less desirable as reinforcement pulp.
The only single species NBSK is of plantation Radiata pine from New Zealand
, Brazil
and Chile
. It has good brightness and cleanliness that is appreciated in printing and writing papers.
NBSK from Scandinavia
is only from scots pine
and norway spruce
in the normal mix 7:3. The mix might vary much with the season as norway spruce grows on wetter lands that is easier accessed in the winter when the ground is frozen.
or as raw material for kraft paper
. It is also used in tissue paper
.
Wood pulp
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
. Market NBSK is produced mainly in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the Nordic
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
countries. Some NBSK is also produced in north-western USA and in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. NBSK futures
Futures
-Finance:*Futures contract, a tradable financial contract*Futures exchange, a financial market where futures contracts are traded*Futures , an American finance magazine-Music:*Futures , a 2004 release by Jimmy Eat World...
are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
The Chicago Mercantile Exchange is an American financial and commodity derivative exchange based in Chicago. The CME was founded in 1898 as the Chicago Butter and Egg Board. Originally, the exchange was a non-profit organization...
Properties
This pulpPulp (paper)
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
grade is very diverse. All NBSK pulps have long fibres and is often used as reinforcement pulp.
NBSK from British Colombia is from Cedar, douglas fir, hemlock
Hemlock
The word hemlock may refer to:*Hemlock, several poisonous plants in the Apiaceae family :**Hemlock , two species, one formerly used as a method of execution**Water Hemlock...
, larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
and spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
have longer fibre lengths and larger fibre diameteres than anywhere else in the world due to very long growing season and mild climate.
NBSK from Sibiria
Sibiria
Sibiria is a Swedish indie pop band from Östersund, signed by the record label Hybris. Founded in 2003 by guitarist Martin Abrahamsson , singer Martin Hanberg and guitarist Erik Laquist...
is made from Pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, spruce and european larch
European Larch
Larix decidua, common name European larch, is a species of larch native to the mountains of central Europe, in the Alps and Carpathians, with disjunct lowland populations in northern Poland and southern Lithuania.-Description:...
and tend to be shorter and thinner than other NBSK pulps due to the short growing season. The larch makes up about 15 % of the wood furnish and gives a rather coarce fibre that makes Sibirian NBSK less desirable as reinforcement pulp.
The only single species NBSK is of plantation Radiata pine from New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
. It has good brightness and cleanliness that is appreciated in printing and writing papers.
NBSK from Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
is only from scots pine
Scots Pine
Pinus sylvestris, commonly known as the Scots Pine, is a species of pine native to Europe and Asia, ranging from Scotland, Ireland and Portugal in the west, east to eastern Siberia, south to the Caucasus Mountains, and as far north as well inside the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia...
and norway spruce
Norway Spruce
Norway Spruce is a species of spruce native to Europe. It is also commonly referred to as the European Spruce.- Description :...
in the normal mix 7:3. The mix might vary much with the season as norway spruce grows on wetter lands that is easier accessed in the winter when the ground is frozen.
Applications
The most common use of NBSK is as reinforcement fibres when making paperPaper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
or as raw material for kraft paper
Kraft paper
Kraft paper or kraft is paper or paperboard produced from chemical pulp produced in the kraft process.Pulp produced by the kraft process is stronger than that made by other pulping processes; acidic sulfite processes degrade cellulose more, leading to weaker fibers, and mechanical pulping...
. It is also used in tissue paper
Tissue paper
Tissue paper is a lightweight paper or, light crêpe paper. Tissue can be made both from virgin and recycled paper pulp.-Properties:Key properties are: strength, absorbency, basis weight, thickness , brightness, stretch, appearance and comfort....
.