Softwood pulp
Also: softwood pulp, long fiber pulp, NBSK, SBSK
Pulp from coniferous trees (pine, spruce, fir) with long fibers (2 to 4 mm) that provide strength and tear resistance.
Softwood pulp provides the tensile and tear strength in paper furnishes. Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK), made in Canada and Scandinavia, is the global benchmark softwood grade and sets pulp market pricing. Southern Bleached Softwood Kraft (SBSK, US) is the southern counterpart.
Softwood is used in kraftliner and sack kraft (virtually 100% softwood), in coated papers (30 to 50% softwood), and in tissue (30 to 40% softwood for strength).
Related
- Kraft pulp. Chemical pulp produced by cooking wood chips with sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. The dominant pulp process globally.
- Hardwood pulp. Pulp from broadleaf trees (eucalyptus, birch, aspen) with short fibers (0.8 to 1.2 mm) that provide smoothness and opacity.