Facts, Myths and FAQ
PANEL FORMATION / EUCAFLUFF APPLICATION
The strength of absorbent panels is directly linked to the quality of the defibration performed by the mill: the lower the number of fines (non-defibrated cellulose), the stronger the panel. Another way to improve panel strength is to increase product compression by slightly reducing the gap of the calender/embossing roll. In addition, products with wrapped absorbent panels have better integrity. Finally, adjusting the amount of adhesive can help prevent additional issues. The Eucafluff Technical Support team has extensive experience in improving panel integrity.
Yes. Several hygiene pads and disposable mattress protectors on the market are already made using only Eucafluff in the core. There are also successful cases of using 100% Eucafluff in feminine hygiene and incontinence products. Currently, we do not recommend using Eucafluff as the sole fluff component in baby and adult products without wrapped cores. For these types of products, we recommend combining Eucafluff with long-fiber fluff.
The use of an ADL (acquisition and distribution layer nonwoven) significantly reduces the product’s absorption time. For products that already include this component, the difference in absorption time between a eucalyptus fluff pad and a long-fiber fluff pad may be small, resulting in a variation of only a few seconds, which is not perceived by the end consumer.
Since the converting process and product design strongly influence the application of Eucafluff, several factors must be considered. Eucafluff blended with long-fiber fluff has been applied in upper or lower panels of different products. In addition, other combinations have already been tested, including the use of 100% Eucafluff in upper panels, lower panels, or both. It is essential that the Eucafluff Technical Support team evaluate the process and product design before defining the best application approach.
PRODUCT PERFORMANCE
Because eucalyptus fibers are shorter, fluff panels made with this type of fiber have smaller spaces between fibers, increasing capillarity and allowing liquids to spread further from the point of urine discharge. This leads to reduced rewet, providing a dry-skin feel and enabling more efficient use of the absorbent core. In addition, Eucafluff allows absorbent panels to be compressed even further without loss of flexibility and comfort. This results in thinner, more discreet products, while also reducing the use of primary and secondary packaging. Therefore, by making it possible to load more packages onto a single truck, logistics costs can be reduced.
There are different methods to measure the absorption capacity of fluff. The Scandinavian method (Scan 33:80), developed to measure the absorption capacity of long-fiber fluff, considers the volume of liquid absorbed by the fibers under a fixed load. The most common test for disposable hygiene products is ISO 11948, which measures the maximum absorption capacity of the absorbent material, that is, the total amount of urine a product can absorb. Another important metric for hygiene products is retention capacity, which is measured by centrifuging the saturated product after the ISO test, indicating the product’s ability to retain liquid. Although the Scan 33:80 test has shown that Eucafluff has a lower absorption capacity gram by gram, ISO 11948 tests have demonstrated that final products made with Eucafluff have the same free absorption capacity as products made with long-fiber fluff. In addition, retention results for absorbent panels made with Eucafluff were better than those of products using long fiber, due to the physicochemical properties of eucalyptus fibers. The shorter length of eucalyptus fibers creates narrower spaces between them, allowing less liquid to escape from the core. As a result, eucalyptus fibers not only increase retention but also reduce rewet, providing a dry-skin feel.
Yes. Not only is it possible, it is recommended. Products with wrapped cores maintain good integrity conditions. To avoid issues in 100% Eucafluff applications for incontinence products, it is important to consider a combined adjustment of product compression and adhesive dosage.
Because eucalyptus fibers have smaller width and the spaces between them are reduced, panels made with Eucafluff can be thinner. In addition, Eucafluff panels tolerate higher compression without losing softness. The reduction in thickness depends on the product design, process settings, and the amount of Eucafluff used.
Technical Aspects
Eucafluff sheets are softer than traditional long-fiber sheets. To maximize defibering quality, when both fibers are fed through the same mill inlet, Eucafluff should receive the second impact. Because long fiber absorbs a large portion of the applied energy, the defibering of Eucafluff becomes less aggressive and does not create fiber clumps.
Because eucalyptus fluff has shorter fibers, Eucafluff sheets are thinner than traditional long-fiber fluff sheets. Adjusting the mill anvil position according to the softness and thickness properties of Eucafluff improves defibering quality in 100% Eucafluff applications. In addition, when Eucafluff is fed together with long fiber through the same mill inlet, it may be necessary to adjust the anvil, since the total sheet thickness changes to 1.3 to 1.6 mm.
As with any other type of fluff, the feed speed varies according to the specifications of the final product weight. When using blends with long-fiber fluff, the feed speed should be reduced according to the final product weight.
Sustainability
Biodegradable is a term used to describe products that can be naturally decomposed by microorganisms within up to 180 days, producing organic matter that can be reabsorbed into the natural environment. In internal tests, Eucafluff fully decomposed in approximately 105 days, confirming the biodegradable properties of the fiber.
Yes. Eucafluff is a renewable raw material produced from trees planted in forests managed in a fully sustainable manner. Eucalyptus trees—the raw material used for Eucafluff—not only consume 83% less water than long-fiber trees during the forestry phase (from planting and harvesting to wood transport), but also present a positive CO₂ balance.
Eucafluff is certified by FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council® – FSC-C010014) and PEFC® Cerflor (Brazilian Forest Certification Program), and is produced from reforested wood. In addition, the life cycle assessment of Eucafluff showed that its superior environmental performance is not limited to wood production. When compared to fluff pulp produced in the southeastern United States, Eucafluff presents a significantly lower environmental impact per ton produced across the entire production chain: a 36% reduction in water consumption, a 35% reduction in fossil fuel consumption, and a 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Percentages based on a partial life cycle assessment for greenhouse gas emissions and water consumption, comparing Suzano’s eucalyptus extraction cycle with the American pine wood extraction cycle, considering the same production basis.