Paul Kibblewhite

 MBE BSc Auck MS PhD Inst Paper Chem USA FRSNZ

Paul Kibblewhite

Dr Robert Paul Kibblewhite died on 20 August 2015 at the age of 74 years. Dr Kibblewhite was a fibre scientist who was principally concerned with the character of New Zealand’s plantation-grown radiata pine fibre and its kraft pulping behaviour and products. Throughout his career, he worked within the New Zealand Forest Research Institute (NZ FRI) and its various sub-entities - PAPRO, Ensis and Scion. An international authority on wood and pulp fibre and a Fellow of the Royal Society of New Zealand since 1988, Paul Kibblewhite was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 20 April 1941.

His signature contribution was the early, exacting imaging and measure, using newly-available electron microscopy techniques, of the wood fibres in trees and the determination of their potential papermaking properties when pulped. Commercially, this facilitated the establishment of lucrative markets across Asia and elsewhere for selected grades of radiata pine kraft reinforcement pulps produced from New Zealand’s forests. For many in the industry, his photos of fibres and sheet structures gave insightful practical understanding of their raw material and its form in the paper sheet.

Dr Kibblewhite’s breakthrough success in demonstrating to the New Zealand paper industry the crucial impact of fibre quality on paper quality came in the early 1980s.  At that time, the papermakers were extending their capability to make an increasingly-wide range of specialised papers from the radiata pine fibre coming in increased quantities from the central North Island plantations. Before this, the radiata pine tree that had been introduced to New Zealand forests from its native southern California had not been widely used for commercial papermaking. In particular, Caxton Paper Mills, of Kawerau, had invested substantially in a new paper machine to make one-time carbonising paper. On start-up, it proved impossible to meet the market specification for the necessary dense, closed sheet, regardless of the process adjustments made. The company faced serious financial loss. Working from his knowledge developed over the previous decade, Dr Kibblewhite quickly showed that the unacceptable “pinholes” present in the new paper were caused by the presence of the large fibres from the dense outerwood (usually sawmill slabwood residues) part of the tree. If only the smaller, more collapsible and tighter-packing fibres of the low-density corewood (typically thinnings or top log) were used, the problem was eliminated.

This Caxton solution immediately led the New Zealand kraft pulp industry to its understanding of the technical and economic merits of producing radiata pine pulps that were differentiated in their fibres by age and basic wood density. By doing this, they were able to profitably offer to their Pacific markets, pulps that approximated those of their competitors that commanded premium prices i.e. principally the coarse-fibred, southern pine, reinforcement pulp of the US South,  the slender-fibred softwood pulp of the US Pacific-North West,  or some interim mixture of these. 

For the following two decades, through the 1980s and ‘90s, Paul worked in close partnership with New Zealand’s two kraft pulp producers to assist their lucrative development of the Asian radiata pine kraft pulp market. He both extended his database of radiata pine kraft fibre knowledge and widely communicated this to the Asian industry by his participation in many marketing seminars in the region.  His relationship with the Tasman Pulp and Paper Co. was particularly close.

Paul’s most consuming contribution was to the Tasman “Pulp Differentiation Project” that underpinned  product strategies that have run the test of time and continue to be valid today, 35 years later. This project guided capital investments in a chip reclaim system and chip thickness screening made as part of Tasman’s $220 million “Pulp Modernisation Project”. Such activity was typical of the close interaction between industry and Government research routinely achieved through the PAPRO partnership.

The Pulp Differentiation Project was a multi-year study that began with competitor benchmarking and involved the detailed analysis of the range of radiata pine fibres available to the mill. Enhanced understanding of the fibre need of the target paper grades was gained by visiting paper makers in Europe, USA and Japan. Tasman kraft marketing team members Mike Kelly, Mark Badger and Steve Shaw variously travelled with Paul on these trips and subsequently when marketing their pulp.

Paul is most widely remembered by the industry for his enthusiastic, David Bellamy-style lectures. With each new slide, he would identify afresh the big fibres important to the reinforcement pulp grades of his dominant research interest and emphasise the “beneficial, coarser character of New Zealand’s radiata pine relative to the more slender Cadillac softwood fibres” of the northern hemisphere paper industry. To this day, in the eyes of industry, radiata pine retains his stamp as a coarse fibre. The corollary, demonstrated by others, that specific radiata pine trees could provide premium fibres more uniformly slender than those of the northern hemisphere was not recognised by him.

Paul is also remembered by many for his otherwise out-of-character behaviour as his eyesight weakened. By the early 1990s, his eyesight had deteriorated to the extent that he needed to give his presentations from memory, using standardised sets of slides. This corresponded to the time at which the first mobile phones were becoming available and widely adopted by industry audiences, as much as status symbols, as necessary items. It was quite common for these “new toy phones” to shrilly interrupt Paul in mid-sentence, to his considerable annoyance, as they caused him to lose his focus. Certain of his position, as the esteemed authority, he would bellow at the offending owner, wholly in disregard for the maxim that the “customer is always right”, then pick up his thread and continue.

When travelling between seminars in Asia, in planes fitted for passengers of shorter stature, Paul was frequently surprised by the inevitable “front-seat recline”, often seconds after lift-off. The poor offenders would experience an abrupt return to the upright position, and then, upon turning to enquire as to the cause, be greeted with a large, white-haired, scowling face bearing down on them. There was never a second such problem on any flight.

In later years, Paul extended his interest and fibre database to include a range of commercially-interesting eucalyptus species and other hardwoods; and to the potential to selectively breed radiata pine clones with preferred fibre properties.  When available, he additionally characterised specialty-chemical pulps and the several mechanical pulp sets. He widely shared his comprehensive fibre knowledge, as a consultant, with companies in North and South America and the Nordic area. An engaging and enthusiastic speaker, Paul enjoyed taking his specialised information to new audiences.  Additionally, over the years and together with his small loyal team of technicians, he used his knowledge and microscopy skills to identify and resolve many of the New Zealand industry’s practical problems.

That Dr Kibblewhite had the knowledge of radiata pine fibre behaviour necessary to solve the Caxton problem resulted from his painstakingly-detailed study of it, for more than a decade, following his farsighted-guidance into this research area by his Divisional Director, Roy Orman. This study, which began on his return to the FRI in 1969, built on the earlier pioneering work in this field of other FRI scientists, Drs J. Maddern Harris and Mervyn Uprichard. The early methodology that Paul developed to relate wood and kraft pulp fibre dimensions and kraft pulp handsheet performance continued to be used by him, largely unchanged, throughout his career. Pulp by pulp, he extended his characterisation of fibre width, fibre cross-sectional area and fibre collapse as a function of the wood raw material basic density and age; and their impact on potential pulp performance. In the late 1980s, he initiated the automated measure of fibre size and character with PAPRO’s development of a specialised image analysis system, “VIP”s. Paul’s work was renowned throughout the global paper industry for its detail. No other researcher attempted to equal it.

Dr Kibblewhite’s comprehensive fibre database and personal knowledge provided invaluable calibration support for the Australian development of Silviscan through the 1990s. Silviscan allowed the automated bulk analysis of key wood and (individual) fibre properties directly from the wood sample. It was developed by Dr Robert Evans and his CSIRO team. Once it was operating routinely, Paul and his fellow FRI researchers used Silviscan for most of their larger fibre studies.

Dr Kibblewhite’s place in the Australasian pulp and paper industry was recognised by his award of the Appita (Technical Association of the Australian and New Zealand Pulp and Paper Industry) L.R. Benjamin Medal in 1985; an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in 1993; and the Shorland Medal of the New Zealand Association of Scientists in 2000. He was elected Fellow of the International Academy of Wood Science in 2003; and of Appita in 2012.

Paul’s schooling was in Blenheim where he developed a love for the outdoors; its forests and mountains, its trees and botany. These interests led to his recruitment in 1960 for a career with the New Zealand Forest Service, NZFS, which was actively expanding at that time. His first year was spent working in logging crews in North Island native forests. Whilst he enjoyed the physical outdoor life, he quickly realised that he didn’t wish to do such manual work forever.

The NZFS gave him the opportunity to study for his BSc at the University of Auckland, in which he majored in Botany - graduating in 1965. Whilst his true love remained out in the forests, he responded to a need to fill a vacuum of wood chemists at the emerging Forest Research Institute, NZFS’s research division in Rotorua. This decision was understood to have been determined by the problems he was already having with his eyesight. Given the choice to study wood chemistry at either the US Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, or the nearby Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, he chose the latter. After completing his MSc in 1967, he continued to gain his doctorate, which he completed in 1969. For his excellence in his PhD thesis, “Intercellular adhesion in resin canal tissue isolated from slash pine chlorite holocellulose”, he received the IPC’s  Westbrooke Steele Gold medal.

On his return to New Zealand, in late 1969, Paul worked as a Scientist within the Pulp and Paper Group of the FRI’s Forest Product’s Division. After a decade in the research laboratory, he sought wider responsibility and took a half-time role to establish and lead the FRI’s new Technology Transfer Group, from 1980 to 1982. Following this, both the success of the Caxton project and the gathering momentum for the establishment of PAPRO, (the Pulp and Paper Research Organisation of New Zealand, a significant research partnership between the NZ paper industry and Government that operated within the FRI with greatly increased funding than hitherto) brought him back to full-time fibre research. He led the PAPRO Fibre and Paper Group from 1985 to 1997. In 1998, following the dissolution of PAPRO he had the role of Principal Scientist. Following his retirement in 2009, he was the FRI’s inaugural Emeritus Scientist.

Notwithstanding his exposure to the complex pulp and papermaking technologies that he received at Appleton, Paul remained a forester in his perspective throughout his career. At the outset of PAPRO in 1985 and when in the position to give the deciding vote as to whether research should move forward to predominantly support value-added paper product opportunities, or continue the 20 year-long research programme in resource evaluation, he championed the latter.  

It was his fibre database that Paul considered his most substantial professional achievement. In a science context he would have been seen as significant collector and curator of an unique information set. On just two occasions Paul allowed other researchers the opportunity to work with this database in the intent of developing an unified theory of fibre impact on paper performance, but none eventuated.

Paul principally published his work in the journals of the Australian and New Zealand forest industries. Three papers were published in the proceedings of the global paper industry’s eminent Cambridge and Oxford Fundamental (paper) Symposia.

In his later years, Paul increasingly engaged in much amicable and fruitful collaboration with scientists in other disciplines, notably in forest genetics, tree breeding and wood quality.

Paul Kibblewhite’s achievements, both professionally and within his family life, were all the more remarkable for his need to cope with failing eyesight across his adult life. Initially born very short-sighted, he coped with progressively weakening vision in his first years as a microscopist. From 1997, he was technically blind. That he accomplished as much as he did was a tribute to the exceptional support of his second wife, Leonie, his technicians and the wider FRI administration.

Away from his office, in his later years, Paul Kibblewhite enjoyed walking in New Zealand’s rugged backcountry and sailing. With his wife as his guide for every footfall, he walked most of New Zealand’s multi-day Great Walks, amongst other similar walks. On the Rotorua lakes, he was a capable crewman on his 7.5 m yacht and secretary for the Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron. When sailing alone, his positive attitude to life was summed by his statement that all lakes were round and, even if lost, he would come ashore eventually. In his last years, he joined two extensive cruises of the Sub-Antarctic and Antarctic Oceans.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, two stepsons, seven grandchildren and his guide dog.

Written by Dr Stuart Corson FRSNZ who was assisted by his discussions with Professor Hannu Paulapuro and Michael Odell, Finland; and NZ colleagues Drs Allan Kerr and Rowland Burdon, and Steve Shaw

Published papers

1. Kibblewhite, R.P., Suckling, I.D., Evans, R., Grace, J.C. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Lignin and carbohydrate variation with earlywood, latewood, and compression wood content of bent and straight ramets of a radiata pine clone.  Holzforschung. 64(1):101-109 (2010).
2. Kibblewhite, R.P.:  Wood-fibre for future products from pulp.  Proceedings of the 61^st Appita Annual General Conference, Brisbane, May 2007.
3. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R., Grace, J.C., Riddell, M.J.C. and Suckling, I.D.:  Growth-layer-level microfibril angle, lignin and carbohydrate variation with radial direction, earlywood and latewood, and compressionwood content, for bent and straight ramets of a radiata pine clone.  Proceedings of the 61^st Appita Annual General Conference, Brisbane, May 2007.
4. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Mapping potential handsheet properties within Eucalyptus nitens trees.  Proceedings of the 61^st Appita Annual General Conference, Brisbane, May 2007.
5. Batchelor, W.G., Kibblewhite, R.P. and He, J.:  A new method for measuring RBA applied to the Page equation for the tensile strength of paper.  Proceedings of the 61^st Appita Annual General Conference, Brisbane, May 2007. 
6. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Kraft handsheet property prediction from the wood and fibre properties of radiata pine seedling and cloned trees.  Appita J. 60(6):489-495 (2007).
7. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Effect of wood stiffness on radiata pine kraft pulp quality.  Proceedings of the 60^th Appita Annual General Conference, Melbourne, April 2006.
8. Sloane, C.M., Kibblewhite, R.P., Riddell, M.J.C. and Williams, S.C.:  Pressure screen – a tool for the modern fibre alchemist.  Proceedings of the 60^th Appita Annual General Conference, Melbourne, April 2006.
9. Batchelor,W. and Kibblewhite, R.P.:  Calculation of Relative Bonded Area from sheet density and fibre shape.  Holzforschung. 60(3):253-258 (2006).
10. Kibblewhite, R.P.:  Product-driven eucalypt-fibre selection for papermaking. Proceedings of the 2^nd International Eucalyptus  Colloquium, Concepcion, May 2005. 
11. Walmsley, M.R.W., Hodgson, K.T., O'Reilly, T., Kibblewhite, R.P., Lloyd,J.A. and Richardson, J.D.: Physical and chemical properties of earlywood and latewood radiata pine and Douglas fir kraft fibres.  Appita J. 60(3):209-216 (2007).
12. Johnson, B.I., Kibblewhite^, R.P. and Badger, D.M.:  Kraft pulp refining and reinforcement potential in fibre-cement composites. Proceedings of the 58^th Appita Annual General Conference, Canberra, 2004. 
13. Kibblewhite, R.P., Riddell, M.J.C. and Sherman, L.: Fibre length and wood colour radial and circumferential variation in three radiata pine stem cross sections with mild, moderate and severe compressionwood. Appita J. 58(5):386-392 (2005).
14. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R., Grace, J.C. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Fibre length, microfibril angle and wood colour variation and interrelationships for two radiata pine trees with mild and severe compressionwood.  Appita J. 58(4):316-322 (2005).
15. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Contributions of wood density, microfibril angle and wood stiffness to the properties of handsheets from eleven radiata pine clones. Proceedings of the 58^th Appita Annual General Conference, Canberra, 2004. 
16. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R., Riddell, M.J.C. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Changes in density and wood-fibre properties with height position in 15/16-year-old Eucalyptus nitens and E. fastigata.  Appita J. 57(3):240-247 (2004).
17. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Interrelationships between kraft handsheet, and the wood-fibre and chemical properties of the trees and logs of 29 Eucalyptus fastigata and E. nitens. Appita J. 57(4):317-325 (2004).
18. Mansfield, S.D., Kibblewhite, R.P and Riddell M.J.C.:  Characterisation of the reinforcement potential of different softwood market kraft fibre types in softwood/hardwood pulp mixtures.  Wood and Fiber Science. 36(3):344-358 (2004).  
19. Evans, R. and Kibblewhite, R.P.  Controlling wood stiffness in plantation softwoods.  The 13^th International Symposium on Nondestructive Testing of Wood.  University of California, Berkeley Campus, California, USA,  August 2002.
20. Burdon, R.D., Kibblewhite, R.P., Walker, J.C.F., Megraw, R.A., Evans, R. and Cown, D.J.  Juvenile versus mature wood: a new concept, orthogonal to corewood versus outerwood, with special reference to Pinus radiata and P. taeda.  Forest Science. 50(4):399-415 (2004).
21. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Prediction of whole–tree radiata pine kraft tracheid/fibre length from pith-to-bark strips taken 1.4 m from ground.  Appita J. 55(3):213-220 (2002).
22. Riddell, M.J.C., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Clonal variation in wood-, chemical-, and kraft fibre and handsheet properties of slabwood and top-logs in 27-year-old radiata pine.  Appita J. 58(2):149-155 (2005).
23. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Sampling criteria and interrelationships involving tree age and wood and pulp-fibre properties in 50 individual radiata pine trees.  Proceedings of the 56^th Appita Annual General Conference, Rotorua, 2002.
24. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.:  Kraft handsheet, and wood tracheid and chemical property interrelationships for 50 individual radiata pine trees.  Appita J. 56(3):229-233 (2003). 
25. Wahjudi-Winters, U., Duffy G.G., Kibblewhite R.P. and Riddel, M.J.C.:  Effect of grammage and concentration on paper sheet formation of Pinus radiata kraft pulps.  Appita J. 55 (1):35-42 (2002).
26. Evans, R., Booker, R.E. and Kibblewhite, R.P.:  Variation of microfibril angle, density and stiffness in fifty radiata pine trees.  Proceedings of the 55^th Appita Annual General Conference, Hobart, 2001.
27. Riddell, M.J.C. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Kraft fibre and refining influences on the mechanical properties of low grammage kraft/TMP handsheets.  Appita J.(Special pulping supplement) 54(2)174-181 (2001).
28. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Within-tree variation of some wood and kraft fibre properties of Eucalyptus fastigata and E. nitens.  Appita J. 54(2):136-143 (2001).
29. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Evans, R.: Some dimension relationships among wood tracheids, TMP fibres, and kraft and other chemical pulp fibres.  Appita J. 54(3):297-304 (2001).
30. Kibblewhite, R.P., Riddell, M.J.C. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Kraft fibre property variation among 29 trees of Eucalyptus regnans, and comparison with E. nitens and E. fastigata.  NZ Journal Forestry Science.  30(3):458-474 (2000).
31. Kibblewhite, R.P.,  Johnson, B.I. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Kraft pulp qualities of Eucalyptus nitens, E. globulus and E. maidenii, at ages 8 and 11 years.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 30(3):447-457 (2000).
32. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Wood and kraft fibre property variation among the logs of 9 trees of Eucalyptus nitens.  Appita J. 53(3):237-244 (2000).
33. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Stringer, S.: Variation of microfibril angle, density and fibre orientation in twenty-nine E. nitens trees.  Appita J. 53(6):450-458 (2000).
34. Mansfield, S.D. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Reinforcing potential of different softwood:eucalypt blends during separate and co PFI mill refining.  Appita J. 53(5):385-392 (2000).
35. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Evaluating processing potential of the wood of radiata pine trees through microstructure and chemistry.  3^rd Wood Quality Symposium “Emerging technologies for evaluating wood quality”, Rotorua and Melbourne. November 30 and December 2, 1999.
36. Subrahmanyam S.V., Godiyal R.D., Roy T.K. and Kibblewhite R.P. Effect of refining on the cross sectional behaviour of wheat straw fibre. Proceedings of the Indian Pulp and Paper Technical Association Conference, Calcutta, November 1999.
37. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Designer fibres for improved papers through exploiting genetic variation in wood microstructure.  Appita J. 52(6):429-435 (1999).
38. Burdon, R.D., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Wood density and kraft fibre and pulp properties of four radiata pine provenances.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 29(2):214-224 (1999).
39. Hatvani, T.G., Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Parker, I.H.: Relationships between tracheid and kraft pulp fibre transverse dimensions.  Proceedings of the 53^rd Appita General Conference, April 1999.
40. Wong, K.K.Y., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Signal, F.A.:  Effect of xylanase and dosage on the refining properties of unbleached softwood kraft pulp.  Journal ofWood Chemistry and Technology 19(3):203–212(1999).
41. Riddell, M.J.C. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Variation in test results for kraft pulp wood chip evaluations.  Appita J. 52(6):454-459 (1999).
42. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Wong, K.K.Y.: Modification of commercial radiata pine kraft fibres using carbohydrate–degrading enzymes.  Appita J. 52(4):300-304, 311 (1999).
43. Wong, K.K., Anderson, K.B. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of the laccase mediator system on the handsheet properties of two high kappa kraft pulps.  Enzyme and Microbial Technology. 25:125-131 (1999).
44. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P., and Lausberg, M.: Relationships between wood and pulp properties of twenty-five 13-year-old radiata pine trees.  Appita J. 52(2):132 -139 (1999).
45. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Mckenzie, C.J.: Kraft fibre property variation among 29 trees of 15 year old eucalyptus fastigata, and comparison with eucalyptus nitens.  Appita J. 52(3):218 - 225 (1999).
46. Bawden, A.D. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Market kraft refining and influences on three OCC furnishes.    Proceedings of the Appita 52^nd Annual General Conference,  1998.
47. Allison, R.W., Ellis, M.J., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Duffy, G.G.: Effect of mechanical processes on the strength of oxygen delignified kraft pulp.  Proceedings International Pulp Bleaching Conference, Helsinki, Vol. 1, pp.159-166, 1998.
48. Fullerton, T.J., Horgan, G.P. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Maximising the value of New Zealand’s fibre resource.  Japan Tappi Journal. 52(7):12-16 (1998).
49. Wahjudi, U., Duffy, G.G. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: An evaluation of three formation testers using Pinus radiata kraft pulps.  Appita J. 51(6):423-427 (1998).
50. Kibblewhite, R.P., Riddell, M.J.C. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Kraft fibre and pulp qualities of 29 trees of 15-year-old New Zealand-grown Eucalyptus nitens.  Appita J. 51(2):114 - 121(1998).
51. Ellis, M.J., Duffy, G.G., Allison, R.W. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Fibre deformation during medium consistency:  Role of residence time and impellor geometry. Appita J. 51(1):29 - 34 (1998).
52. Bawden, A.D. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of multiple drying treatments on kraft fibre walls. Journal Pulp and Paper Science. 23(7):340 - 345 (1997).
53. Evans, R., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Stringer, S.: Kraft pulp property prediction from wood properties in eleven radiata pine clones.  Appita J. 50(1):25 - 33 (1997).
54. Kibblewhite, R.P., Evans, R. and Riddell, M.J.C.: Handsheet property prediction from kraft fibre, and wood tracheid properties in eleven radiata pine clones.  Appita J. 50(2):131 - 138 (1997).
55. Shelbourne, C.J.A., Evans, R and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Inheritance of tracheid transverse dimensions and wood density in radiata pine. Appita J. 50(1): 46 -50 (1997).
56. Clark, T.A., Allison, R.W. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of enzymatic modification on radiata pine kraft fibre wall chemistry and physical properties.  Appita J. 50(4):329 - 335 (1997).
57. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Shelbourne, C.J.A.: Genetic selection of trees with designer fibres for different paper and pulp grades.Transactions of the 11th Fundamental Research Symposium "Fundamentals of Papermaking Materials", Cambridge, September 1997.
58. Brindley, C.L. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Refining effects on eucalypt, mixed hardwood and softwood market kraft pulps and blends.  Appita J. 49(1):37 -42 (1996).
59. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Uprichard, J.M.: Kraft pulp qualities of 11 radiata pine clones.  Appita J. 49(4): 243 - 250 (1996).
60. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Clark, T.A.: Enzymatic modification of radiata pine kraft fibre and handsheet properties.  Appita J. 49(6):390 - 396 (1996).
61. Kibblewhite, R.P., Bawden, A.D. and Brindley, C.L.:  TMP fibre and fines qualities of 13 radiata pine wood types.  Appita J. 48(5):367 - 377 (1995).
62. Riddell, M.J.C., Brindley, C.L. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Response surface modelling of sheet properties of separate refined hardwood and softwood kraft pulp blends.   Proceedings of the 49^th Appita Annual General Conference, Hobart, 1995.
63. Ellis, M.J., Allison, R.W. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of medium consistency mixing on radiata pine kraft fibres.  Appita J. 48(5): 358 - 362 (1995).
64. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Refining energy demand, freeness and strength of separate and co-refined softwood and eucalypt market kraft pulps. Appita J. 47(5):375 -379 (1994).
65. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Reinforcement and optical properties of separate and co-refined softwood and eucalypt market kraft pulps.  Appita J. 47(2):149-158 (1994).
66. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Radiata pine kraft fibre qualities - toplogs, thinnings, slabwood and a genetic misfit.  NZ Journal Forestry Science. 22(1):96-110 (1993).
67. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of refined softwood/eucalypt pulp mixtures on paper properties.  Transactions of the 10^th Fundamental Research Symposium "Products of Papermaking", Oxford, September 1993.
68. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Radiata pine thinnings and toplog kraft pulp qualities.  Appita J. 44(4):247 – 251 (1991).
69. Kibblewhite, R.P., Bawden, A.D. and Hughes, M.C.: Hardwood market kraft fibre and pulp qualities.  Appita J. 44(5):325 – 332 (1991).
70. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Blends of extreme high and low coarseness radiata pine kraft pulps: Fibre and handsheet properties.  Appita J. 43(3) ­­­(1990).
71. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Fibre and fines characteristics of radiata pine TNP.  Proceedings of the 44^th Appita Annual General  Conference, Rotorua, 1990.
72. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Fibre and fibre wall response to refining in softwood and hardwood kraft pulps.  Proceedings of PIRA Conference "Current and Future Technologies of Refining".  Birmingham,  1991.
73. Kibblewhite, R.P.: New Zealand radiata pine market kraft fibre and pulp papermaking qualities.  Proceedings of the 14^th International Korea TAPPI Conference on Pulping and Papermaking Technology.  Seoul, 1990.
74. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D.: Structural organisation and papermaking qualities of kraft, neutral sulphite-AQ, soda-AQ, polysulphide and polysulphide-AQ pulps.  Appita J. 42(4):275 (1989).
75. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bawden, A.D,: Structural organisations and papermaking qualities of kraft, soda A-Q, neutral sulfide A-Q, polysulfide and polysulfide A-Q pulps.  Appita J. 42(4): 75 - 281 (1989).
76. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of pulp drying and refining on softwood fibre wall structural organisations.  Transactions of the 9^th Fundamental Research Symposium, "Fundamentals of Papermaking", Cambridge, 1989.
77. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Refining behaviours and fibre characteristics of kraft pulps of yield 49 - 67 percent.  Appita J. 42(5):364 (1989).
78. Duffy, G.G. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: A new method of relating wood, pulp and paper properties using a fibre analyser.  Appita J. 42(3):209 (1989).
79. Yamauchi, T. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Pore structural organisation and behaviour during the consolidation of TMP paper webs.  Appita J. 41(5):383 (1988).
80. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bailey, D.G.: Measurement of fibre cross-section dimensions using image processing.  Appita J. 41(4): 297 – 303 (1988).
81. Bailey, D.G. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Automated measurement of pulp fibre cross-sections.  PAPRO Report No. B46, 1988.
82. Yamauchi, T. and Kibblewhite, R.P.:  Pore structure of paper webs made from radiata pine TMP.  Appita J. 41(1):37 – 42 (1988).
83. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Some properties of kraft and neutral sulphite-anthraquinone pulps of yields 49 to 69 percent.  Appita J. 41(6):45 (1988).
84. Kibblewhite, R.P., Corson, S.R. and Graham, Kaye L.: Chemimechanical and thermomechanical pulps of radiata pine corewood and slabwood.  Part 3.  Factors determining paper quality.  Appita J. 40(2):121 (1987).
85. Bawden, A.D., Kibblewhite, R.P. and Bailey, D.G.: Guide to the automated measurement of fibre cross-section dimensions.  PAPRO Report No. B36 (1987).
86. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Okayama, T.: Some unique properties of neutral sulphite-anthraquinone pulp fibres.  Appita J. 39(2):134 (1986).
87. Johnston, R.A. and Kibblewhite, R.P. Reconstituted products and other uses.  Proceedings of the Conversion Planning Project Team General Meeting, 1986.
88. Corson, S.R. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Chemimechanical and thermomechanical pulps of radiata pine slabwood and corewood.  Part 2. Characteristics of fibres and fines.  Appita J. 39(5):379 (1986).
89. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Qualities of kraft and thermomechanical radiata pine papermaking fibres.  Transactions of the 8^th Fundamental Research Symposium, "The Raw Materials of Papermaking and Their Effects Upon the Papermaking Process and the Properties of the Paper", Oxford, 1985.
90. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Levack, H.H.: The radiata pine resource - its qualities and quantities.  Proceedings of the Conference "Forest Products Research Needs for New Crop Radiata Pine", Forest Research Institute, Rotorua, 9 - 11 November 1982.  New Zealand Forest Service, FRI Bulletin No. 86 (1984).
91. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Fibres and fines of some radiata pine corewood and slabwood thermomechanical and refiner mechanical pulps.  Appita J. 37(8):650 (1984).
92. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Radiata pine wood and kraft pulp quality relationships.  Appita J. 37(9):741 (1984).
93. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Hamilton, K.A.: Fibre cross-section dimensions of undried and dried radiata pine kraft pulps.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science 14(3):319 (1984).
94. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Radiata pine wood residue qualities and some utilisation options.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 14(3):382 – 394 (1984).
95. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Lloyd, J.A.: Interrelations between the wood, fibre, and kraft pulp properties of new-crop radiata pine 12-year-old thinnings.  New Zealand Forest Service, FRI Bulletin No. 44 (1983).
96. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Lloyd, J.A.: Interrelations between the wood, fibre and kraft pulp properties of new-crop radiata pine corewood and slabwood.  New Zealand Forest Service, FRI Bulletin No. 45 (1983).
97. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Some observations on the transfer of new forestry and forest products technology.  NZ Journal of Forestry. 28(3):314 (1983).
98. Kibblewhite, R.P.: The fibres of radiata pine mechanical pulps.  Appita 36(4):272 (1983).
99. Kibblewhite, R.P.: The qualities of radiata pine papermaking fibres.  Appita J. 35(4):289 (1982).
100. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Development and setting in position of kinks in the walls of pulp fibres.  Transactions of the Technical Section CPPA. 7(1): TR22 (1981).
101. Kibblewhite, R.P.: The fibres of mechanical pulps - drying and latency effects.  Appita J. 35(3):216 (1981).
102. Kerr, A.J. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Method of treating lignocellulosic or cellulosic pulp to promote the kinking of pulp fibres and/or to improve paper tearing strength.  United States Patent 4,227,964, October 14, 1980.
103. Cown, D.J. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effect of wood quality variation in New Zealand radiata pine on kraft paper.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 10(3):521 (1980).
104. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Radiata pine corewood and slabwood, and their interrelations with pulp and handsheet properties.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science 10(3):533 (1980).
105. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Kerr, A.J.: Fibre, wet web and paper properties of bisulphite pulps treated with gaseous ammonia.  Appita J. 33(4):275 (1980).
106. Kibblewhite, R.P. Brookes, Diane and Allison, R.W.: Effect of ozone on the fibre characteristics of thermomechanical pulp.  Tappi. 63(4):133 (1980).
107. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of pulp freezing and frozen pulp storage on fibre characteristics.  Wood Science and Technology 41(2):143 (1980).
108. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Light scattering and sheet density: A comment. Tappi. 63(9):145 (1980).
109. Fullerton, T.J. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Lloyd, J.A.: Variation of Pinus radiata kraft pulp yields with wood density and tree age.  Proceedings of FRI Symposium No. 23 "The Pulping and Papermaking Properties of Radiata Pine Corewood (Juvenile Wood)".  September, 1980.
110. Kerr, A.J. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Andrew, I.A.: Effects of gaseous ammonia pulp-treatment variables on handsheet properties.  Appita J. 32(6):433 (1979).
111. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Application of fibre characterisation techniques to industrial papermaking operations.  Appita J. 33(2):111 (1979).
112. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Kerr, A.J.: Gaseous ammonia treatment of pulp: The effects on fibre kinking and paper properties.  Tappi 62(10):119 (1979).
113. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Fibre collapse in relation to paper stretch.  Appita J. 30(6):488 (1977).
114. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Paper properties of high yield bisulphite pulps and kraft, refiner and bisulphite pulp blends.  Appita J. 30(5):395(1977).
115. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Fibre characteristics and chemical compositions of kraft and sodium bisulphite pulps.  Appita J. 30(4):320 (1977).
116. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Production of papers with high tensile and low stretch properties.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 6(3):466 (1976).
117. Kerr, A.J. and Kibblewhite, R.P.: Development of tearing strength and fibre kinking by treatment of pulp with gaseous ammonia.  Appita J. 30(1):55(1977).
118. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Dimensions and collapse behaviour of kraft and bisulphite fibres in wet pulps and "in-situ" in handsheets.  Appita J. 31(2):111 (1977).
119. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Pulp blends of beaten and unbeaten fibre: Effects on paper properties and possible commercial implications.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 7(2):250 (1977).
120. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Structural modifications to pulp fibres: Definitions and role in papermaking.  Tappi. 60(10):141 (1977).
121. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.:  Fibre, beating and papermaking properties of kraft pulps from New Zealand beech (Nothofagus) species.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science.7(3):425 (1977).
122. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Distribution of chemical components in the walls of kraft and bisulphite pulp fibres.  Wood Science and Technology. 10(1): 39 (1976).
123. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Fractures and dislocations in the walls of kraft and bisulphite pulp fibres.  Cellulose Chemistry and Technology.10(4):497 (1976).
124. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Production of papers with high tensile and low stretch properties.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 6(3):466 (1976).
125. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Brookes, D.: Factors which influence the wet web strengths of commercial pulps.  Appita J.28(4):227 (1975).
126. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of beating, beaters and wood quality on wet web strength.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 5(1):110 (1975).
127. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Interrelations between pulp refining treatments, fibre and fines quality, and pulp freeness.  Paperi ja Puu.57(8):519 (1975).
128. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Fibre and fibre network behaviour in strained wet webs.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 4(3): 552 (1974).
129. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Technique for examining the internal ultrastructure of pulp fibres.  Wood Science and Technology.8(1): 33 (1974).
130. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of beating on radiata pine kraft paper properties: Effects of beaters.  Appita J.27(6): 418 (1974).
131. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of fibre kinking and pulp bleaching on wet web strength.  Tappi.57(8): 120 (1974).
132. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of beating on wet web behaviour.  Appita J.26(5): 341 (1973).
133. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of beating and wood quality on radiata pine kraft paper properties.  NZ Journal of Forestry Science. 3(2): 220 (1973).
134. Kibblewhite, R.P. and Thompson, N.S.: The ultrastructure of the middle lamella region in resin canal tissue isolated from slash pine holocellulose.  Wood Science and Technology. 7(2): 112 (1973).
135. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of chlorite delignification on the structure and chemistry of Pinus radiata wood.  Cellulose Chemistry and Technology.7(6): 659 (1973).
136. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of alkaline extraction on the structure and chemistry of lignified and delignified Pinus radiata wood.  Cellulose Chemistry and Technology.7(6): 669 (1973).
137. Kibblewhite, R.P.: Effects of beating on fibre morphology and fibre surface structure.  Appita J.26(3): 196 (1972).
138. Kibblewhite, R.P. Thompson, N.S. and Williams, D.G.: A study of the bonding forces between the epithelial cells surrounding the resin canals of slash pine (Pinus elliottii) holocellulose.  Wood Science and Technology. 5: 101-120 (1971).

Lodged on the website 13 July 2017